The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-04

OF ebon eyes 10 the cherished project OF
Alameda-the tidal canal.
Alter reviewing the work that has been
done on the canal, and which cost over
$3.50 000 Colonel Suter actually recon-
mends that it be undoae and that the ditch
already dug be filed in. lie acknowledge
that the Alameda en- of the estuary is at
present an ill-smelllng nuisance, but says
its abatement l. a question of municipal
rather than United States Government
business.
Colonel Suter recommends Q) the COM
pletion of the harbor below. e., west OF
the bridges; (2) the completion above the
bridges, and 81 the tidal basin. This work
will cost S725 496, and the Enquirer says:
The work thus outlined seems all that is re-
quired TO max the harbor of 0 ,kIann all hat
was ever 60 ltemplated, or that seems justi-
lied by pres Mt expectations TIC largest
ships that resch n Francisco w ,uld be ebl .
TO enter at ITS nigh tide and discharge al lis
wharves. Moreover, there is no present rea-
son for uTposing that 1t would not be reason
ably permanent and exempt from deteriora-
ton. while the possible maintenance charges
would be small.
1t will be noted that the canal to San Lean
dIo BAY is not Included in this programme
6 original conception was as an integral and
in fact vital portion OF the work, but the OBJ
ject of The IMPROVEMENT it is now seen can
H.
factor it has now no value whatever Its only
advocates are people who object TO the stencil
arising from the sewer polluted waters OF the
tidal basih or from the deComposi z bodies of
fiji which have been. poisoned by the ,tye
stuffs discharged through the sewers OF Brook
Ign. This Is very annoying, no doubt, but is
strict n quesi n of municipal sewerage and
not of harbor improvement. We're the canal
opened it is quite possible that the
nuisance complained OF might be somewh /
diluted, though hardly entirely abated but
no "a n NV n
vantages are To be expected. The present ba-
SIN would probably Ill, up m UGH more ran
id as the scourings rom the mud fla S in
San Leandro Bay, now found i'll the cas- end
of the canal, wou.d undoubtedly be deposi t.
lhere in addition 10 all those which are now
noied. Navigation in San Leandro Bay would
be entirely cut off by the tidegate necessary
al its outlet and no vessel. unless prope led by
steam could pass through the narrow cana
ana the three or more bridges that must of
necessitv be built over ii. The only alterna-
tive would be a TIDAL .ock TO san Leaudro Bay
which would be costly construction.
can, therefore, see no reason whatever for
recon meudtng th- CONF elton OF this canal
but. on the contrary, am OF the opinion that
the west end should be bulk headed off and
filled up by lump drrdges TO at least high
water mark This wtu d al least prevent II
fro m rema iniug a st grant cesspool.
In case, however, It is deemed essential to
carry out this part OF the original plan the
following estlm to = cost Is present ed:
ExcAvst ng, S260653; two bridges over
canal 1856 900; dam aud tidegate, San Lean
dro Bay, sos 600; diversion OF Sau.al Creek.
$246 622: c n'ingencies, 10 per cent, SIS, $50 ;
total, 1884, t35.
AS This wor- would not in anv way modify
thai T, CURED for the harbor proper this last
estimate should be added 10 the frs TO get
the tnral cost of the project, making a tot al of
ST., $50 63l
In regard TO the harbor work the unit prices
are somewhat uacer tain, and on them viii de-
pend the amount OF work which can be done
under authority of the present existing law,
The order of work should be, fl rst below The
bridges, second above the uridges, third tho
Tidal basin; the tidal canal, if CONSTRUCTED.
last OF all.
The following opinions have been given /:
Captain E. A. Won schm DIT, the we.known
civil engineer and op-rator of dredger..
VINO has made study OF the har..
Dor for years, was outspoxen in his
advocacy OF the competition OF the
canal He combated the proposition that
the mud would wash in from San Leandro
Bay into Oakland narbor and fl 4 it up, and
said that the hardpan is nearer the surface
in San Leandro Bay than it is in Oakland har-
hor, that The hardpan ri>es as you go east
snd south. He further sad that should the