The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-01
WILL TUNNEL If
It Be POSSIBLE.
Merchants Unite on a
Plan to Cross the
Estuary.
Opposed to the Building Of Any
Bridges at All Across
the Harbor.
The Matter Clearly Set Forth Ia
Colonel Bridges Report to the
Board of Trade.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI


OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
90S Broadway, April 30.
1t was decided tonight that on Monday
next the important project OF building a
tunnel beneath the estuary, instead OF a
bridge, will be formally presented to the
Supervisors by the joint committee of the
Merchants Exchange and the Board of
Trade.
Colonel Lyman Bridges, engineer to the
Board of Trade, has just completed his
plans and figures and they were consid-
cred in detail to-day.
The cost of the tunnel will not exceed
5000 900 according to the plans. The follow
ing statement of the engineer, which will
be presented to the Supervisors, covers the
whole OF the present situation regarding
Oakland, Alameda and the Southern Pa
cific Company, for the first time. 1t was
prepared in the form of q resolution so
that 1t need not be changed and no time
need be wasted in discussing it. 1t reads:
WHEREAS, The two bridges across the estu-
airy Of San Antonio, or Oakland harbor as it
is now called, are an obstruction to navisa-
ton ana hlndrence to the growth and pros
perity OF Alameda County and to the cities of
Oakland and Alameda in particular; and
whereas, the United States Government has
"
not be less than $50 feet clear each side of
the center piers OF SAID bridges when the
draws thereof are open, thus virtually COM
pelling the removal of the present bridges
and whereas, the conditions and cir
cumstances in force at the time when
the railroad bridge across the harbor at the
foot OF Alice street was permitted have so
changed that there is no longer a necessity
for any railroad bridge whatever across said
Oakland harbor; and whereas, there is no in
justice to the railroad company in our urging
anor n ri hair h-l
they using instead a third rail on their mar
row-gauge track on Pacific avenue to Park
street, and using the narrowgauge pier for all
Alameda ttaff1c, with broad-gauge trains
on their Fruitvale route on Park street,
adding also third rail to the
Webster street track, ana running
trains thereon to the Oakland pier, using
also, third rail on their broad-gauge lines
from Webster street First street TO their
broad-gauge pier; also extending the third
rail from Webster street to Fruitvale, and by
a shoot link OF narrow-gauge tracks from
FruitvAle to Versailles-avenue station on the
:. Z. C. r. R., or any other plan decided upon
by the railroad company 10 accomplish the
same end; thereby giving both Alameda and
Oakland better service and saving the cost of
the construction OF a bridge and the cost
Of repairs, expenses OF the operation
cidents to life and property. And
whereas, q viaduct can be CONSTRUCTED on
Broadway, commencing at the south side of
Fourth street. con tinuing with open viaduct
to Second street, thence by tunnel under the
harbor TO equal length on the south side of
said harboT, thence by open viaduct for dis
lance of 800 feet TO the present grade, there
by giving an easy grade OF five feet in each
100 feet of tunnel and viaduct and depth of
more than six ty feet below tidewater. There
fore be il
ReSoIued, That the interests of the citizens OF
Alameda County will be best served by the re-
moval OF the two bridges now crossing Oak
land Dor.
ResoEued, That every effort should be put
forth, especially by the citizens of Oakland
and Alameda, to prevent any railroad or
county bridge from being rebuilt across said
harbor.
ReSolred, That we earnestly recommend to
the Board OF Supervisors of this county that
they cause q tunnel and viaducts to be con-
strucled under Oakland harbor at Broadway,
issuing bonds therefor if necessary. said tun-
mel and viaducts to be used solely for wagon
traffic, street railways ana pedes TRANS.
1t was deemed advisab Bile to get the peo-
pie of Alameda to cooperate with the
committee, and the following was also
adopted:
WHEREAS, The citizens of Alameda will
derive Q equal benefit from the tunnel under
the harbor, and believing that they are very
much interes ted in the plan set forth in reso-
lutions pass ed by this committee; therefore
be it
ReS0Iued, That the chairman and secretary
OF this committee invite the president OF the
Board OF Trustees of Alameda to appoint a
committee to meet with this committee at its
next meeting.