The San Francisco call., 1896-03-23
A Taste of What Nautical Men
Have Been Subjected to
for Years.
DELAYED ONCE TOO OFTEN.
The Harb bors and Rivers Convention
Delegates Remembered Their
Lesson in Washington.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,
a0S Broadway. March q.

1sf
90S Broadway, March %.
The somewhat sudden determination of
the War Department to attend to the
rickety distractions across the estuary had
its origin in one of the most trivial of cir
cumstances-yet one OF the most common
in this city. OF course the necessity for
the work has been placed before the de-
partment on several occasions and it
would have eventually been undertaken.
But the suddenness of Colonel Suffers
summons that the old bridges were "un-
reasonable distractions" is said to have
originated in a very simple incident.
When the delegates to the Harbors and
Rivers Convention, which met in San
Francisco few months. ago, made a tour
of inspection OF Oakland harbor the bridge
man was little too attentive to his mas
tiers. He heard the tug, on which were the
delegates, whistling for the bridge to open
and he also knew that in few minutes a
rain wou Id come along. 1t was nothing
TO keep steamer waiting an hour or so,
but the Southern Pacific train must
not be stopped at any cost. So the
tug captain whistled and the autocratic
delegates, consisting of United States
Senators and Congressman and men of
wealth and influence, fretted and fumed at
the delay, and some are credited with
swearing little while they waited the
pleasure of the bridge-tender. There were
some aboard the boat who had experienced
the same thing, only in a worse form,
hundreds of times. Senator Perkins, who
is interested in tugboats, was one of the
company; Mayor Davie was another dele
gate, and when the mad company were
told that what they were experiencing
was only taste of what the nautical men
on both sides of the bay had been treated
to for quarter of a century they made
some secret resolutions. These were not
forgotten when Washington was reached,
and as a result there is more than ground
for hope that one large steel bridge,
placed where it will least inconvenience
navigation, will soon take the place of the
two old rickety structures, whose exist
ence is likely to be soon terminated by the
teredos. There is no doubt that an at
tempt will be made to foist as large
share of the expense as possible upon the
county. Three years ago, however, that
would have been a much easier matter
than it is to-day.
In his speech at the Tabern-cle last
Thursday night Hon. w. r. Davis made
a few remarks that have significance
other than political. He spoke of the
many advantages that have been lost to
Alameda County in the past, because of
the chronic warfare that has existed polit-
ically. socially, philanthropically and
commercially. This reference has direct
bearing on the great social event that will
be held on May Day for the benefit of
Fabiola Hospital. Last year this great
charitable festival was inaugurated, and
was a pronounced success. It's success was
solely due to the fact that all parties,
factions and cliques combined for the oc-
casion and forgot for few brief hours that
they were not born to bicker. This year,
the same spirit is being manifested, only
in a more marked degree. Fabiola is Oak
lands only large hospital, and it is in
charge of ladies who manage it as labor
of love and thus minimize its expenses.
Without it hundreds of sufferers would
annually be forced to suffer ten-fold more
than their ailments demand. Fabiola Is
open to all. Patients who are able to pay
are not permitted to be burden on the
funds that are intended for the needy, and
the latter are not turned away because
they are destitute. The institution is the
crowning piece of Oakland's philanthropy,
and it is comforting to know that
whenever the needs of Fabiola have been
made known they have invariably been
supplied. This years floral fete will be
no exception.
Gavin Dhu High, the newspaper man,
has announced his intention of starting a
penny evening paper next week. This is
a novelty, and the public mind OF Oakland
is wondering how they can be purchased.
Not a quarter of the people of Oakland
have ever seen penny and would disdain
il if they saw it, AS an evening paper
must naturally depend upon street sales,
oninion is divided as to whether readers
will he required to buy five copies or
whether the medium of exchange VIII be
one-cent postage stamps. Mr.. High set
the thinkers at rest to-day. Il have Or
dered 25,0o0 pennies from Washington,
he said "and shall get them this week
through the sub-treasury OF San Francisco.
This will be the beginning OF the use OF
penuies and l think it will not be long be-
fore they are in common exchange" The
introduction of pennies has been fire.
ouently discussed, and the coming exper-
iment will be watched with interest.
Very few people are aware that the whole
ofthe executive department OF the city's
government is dependent upon the whim
of one man. Under the present constltu-
ton of the Board of Works one man is
like third wheel to a bicycle, and either
of the other two can do as he pleases.
Just now Messrs. Wilson and Peirsol are
pitted against Mayor Davie. Attheir next
meeting they could if they like, change
the entire personnel of the police, fire and
dpaen's The duo st have y plaseD ssed
n,eased and the Mayor is relieved OF the
responsibilities attaching to patronage,
because he has none. For some time there
has been rumor that Wilson and Pelrsol
were not as united outside the board room
as their votes would indicate. A rapture
would upset the whole government, as an
alliance with Davie would Immediately be