The San Francisco call., 1896-04-15
ASKS FOR A L|GHTSH|P
The Chamber of Commerce Pc
titions the California
Delegation.
Thomas B. Reed Also Will Be Re.
quested to Work for the Nicar.
aqua Canal Bill.

The board of trustees of the Chamber of
Commerce met at 2 P. NJ. yesterday, and
considered many subjects OF importance to
the City and port OF San Francisco.
Among them were the extension of the
belt railroad south of Market street, the
obtaining of an appropriation for a light
ship IN place of the present inefficient
whistling- g-buoy, the establishment of a
board of arbitration with legal power, as
in the Chambers of Commerce of New
York and London; the adoption of official
certificates of competency, to be given of
t1cers in the merchant service in respect to
navigation and seamanship; the establish
ment of United States department of
commerce, with a representative in the
Cabinet. Referred to the quarterly meet
ing of the chamber on Tuesday, April 81.
The official, honorary certificate OF men,
bersnip for eminent public services was
presented to Colonel Wendell, United
Stat es En- gineers. The chamber only per-
mits tn ese certificates in rare instances,
and they are esteemed an honor which
only eminent p ublic service can obtain.
A communication was received from one
of the local navigation schools and from
one of the commercial papers of the City
requesting the Chamber of Commerce to
appoint experts in navigation and seaman
ship, who would issue certificates of COM
potency, after due examination, under the
sanction of the chamber.
1t was resolved that letter be sent to
the Californian delegation in Congress re-
questing them to endeavor to procure the
establishment of lightship in San Fran
cisco Bay, near the site of the present
whistling buoy. 1t was further resolved
that a letter be sent to Thomas B. Reed :,
earnestly requesting his urgent endeavor
for the passage of the Nicaragua canal bill.
Thirty-one new firms and individuals
were elected to membership, which now
numbers 440.
The letter to Mr.. Reed ran as follows:
Hon. Thomas B. Reed, Speaker Of the House of
Represeatdtires-SIR: The Chamber of Com
merce of San Francisco respectfully but
urgently request that you will aid the enact
ment of the Nicaragua Canal bill in the Fifty
permitting its prompt consideration by the
House of Represen tatives when reported by
the committee having it in charge. The
canal question has been before Congress for
several session and has been thoroughly dis
cussed. Both political parties have pro-
nounced at National conventions in its favor
us have also Presidential candidates in their
letters of acceptance.
The development of our commerce, our in
dustries, our international influence our
political and military safety, all demand its
prompt construction under control of our
Government. 1t will more injure vested
interests than the Erie canal or the ST. Mary's
canal connecting both the Great Lakes. On
the contrary, like them, it will create rapid
development on the west coast of the United
States, which will aid inland transportation
interests. 1t VIII rapidly increase our mer-
chant marine and open the Pacific Ocean to
the Mississippi Valley and to our Gulf States.
1t will double the efficiency of our naval
forces and greatly promote our foreign COM
merce
Your former residence on this coast and your
knowledge of its necessities encourage our citi-
zens to hope that you will now aid them in this
patriotic public duty.
This Chamber of Commerce, largely repre-
serting business interests of the Pacific States
and Territories, is confident that you will not
permit the fair and prompt consideration of
this important measure to be longer postponed
to the serious detriment OF our country. With
assurances of our high respect, we subscribe
ourselves your fellow citizens,
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SAN FRANCISCO