The San Francisco call., 1897-03-27
RAIL ROAD AWAITS
THE SUPERVISORS
Shall There Be More Than
One Bridge Across the
Estuary :?
Superintendent Curtis SAYS That
Doub e-Dacked Draw Is
Feasible.
On No Account, However, Would the
Southern P cific Take the Upper
Portion.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANc1sco CALI

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI
90S Broadway, March 26
II now seems very probable that there
will be two bridges across the estuary in
stead of the one large structure that was
proposed by those interested in the ma
rine traffic of the estuary. The influence
OF those interested in the railroad travel
across the wafer Will probably prevail.
For several months the Supervisors and
the railroad company have been trying to
arrive at an understanding, but nothing
definite has been done. The Supervisors
are ready to agree 10 a double deck bridge
if the railroad company will go overhead.
This they declare is absolutely impossible
son account of the two approaches that
would have to be built TO make the system
practicable.
W. G. Curtis, the superintendent of con-
struction of the Southern Pacific, said to-
day that the railroad cannot under any
circumstances accept the overhead ar
Iangement.
tsUnder no condition Z" said Mr.. Curtis,
''can we accept the proposition to go over
head in the event of but one bridge being
built.
Suppose Oakland owned the railroad
where would it be placed? There would
be no question then of taking the upper
berth. Why should we be expected to go
above when our trains are heavier and
much less easy to handle than the other
cars or teams which will use the bridge !?
"Yes. q single bridge for both cars and
pedestrians is feasible enough, but there
would be much danger of accidents at
tached where the tracks have to cross the
roadway. With the overhead plan acci-
dents in this respect are entirely avoided,
and this is an important matter for con-
sideration.
"Tne War Department has only sug-
gested that one bridge take the place of
The two. There has been no order 10 this
effect, nor do think any is contemplated.
The department has demanded both the
railroad and the county to repair The
bridges, though.
There is no getting out of the question
that the single bridge for both would cost
each of US fully as much as separate
bridges will Il is only for the interest of
Oakland's commerce on the wafer front
that the matter is being considered at all.
We want the people TO understand that
we are trying to reach an amicable con-
clusion whereby the county and the rail-
road can cooperate.
1T is unreasonable to suppose that the
company will pay more than its share of
the cost, as some of the Supervisors have
suggested, nor is it right to expect US to
participate in meeting the expense of the
long approaches which are necessity tn
the double deck bridge.
''The Southern Pacific Company Is ready
and waiting for the Supervisors to make
b proposition, now that the Legislature has
removed the obstacles in the way. We
want this matter settled definitely so that
we may know whether to put up our own
bridge or join with the county.
"If the Supervisors intend to stand by
some of the ideas l have heard the COM
pany will of necessity have TO act alone"