The San Francisco call., 1897-05-21
Santa ClaranS Urged to
Action by the Board
of Trade.
Its Commercial Importance Is
Shown by Prominent
Citizens.
Regardless of State or Federal Aid,
the Work VIII Undoubtedly
Be Performed.

Trade is working assid uously TOR the i'm
provement of AIviso harbor, and in the
next few months some definite action re-
garding Santa Clara Ccunty's seaport will
be taken. For the past eight years efforts
have been made to secure Government aid
to widen and deepen the channel, but now
1t seems as though the hope of the Board
of Trade is about to be accomplished. The
business men of San Jose are taking an
active interest in the matter, and it is pro-
posed to organize and appoint commit
tees to help the Board OF Trade to carry
on the work.
At present the steamer Alviso makes
daily trips between San Francisco and
half a dozen teams are engaged in hauling
freight between the port and this city. The
shipments at the place are steadily in
creasing and amount to thousands of tons
annually. With the construction of
railroad shipments will increase enor-
mously, but it is necessary that the har-
Dor be improved in order 10 admit of deep
water vessels.
In an interview with Secretary J. P.
Fay of the Board of Trade regarding the
attitude of the board toward the Alyiso
Channel that gentleman said:
This board is just as determined and
OF its efforts for the improvement OF this
waterway IS at any time in the past eight
years. 90 far as we know the sentiment
in this section is almost unanimous in IA
vor of an appropriation from either the
Government or State for this purpose,
and. in fact, every support was given to
Assem- blymau Matt Arnerich of this
county at the last legislative session in the
interest of his bill asking an sppro pria ton
of S25, 900 for needed i'm provements in
Alviso Slough.
This bill, as is matter of history,
passed both houses, only to meet its
deathblow at the hands of Governor
Budd. Many Of US felt that there was a
manifest Inconsistency on the part of the
Governor in atfixing his signature to the
dredger appropriation bill calling for an
expenditure OF $500, 600 for the purpose of
dredging the Sacramento and San Joaquin
rivers and vetoing the Alviso Channel ap-
preparation bill. The Governors action
DESTROYED our last hope OF relief from the
State, but many responsible taxpayers have
urged the propriety of the county under
taking the work OF improving Alviso
Slough. Shipments to and from the port
have increased largely within the last two
years, and when the time arrives for per-
mjttlng deep-draught vessels TO make a
landing at this port without the possi-
billty o. running aground business will
boom immensely.
"CongressmaD e. F. Loud, who sue
ceeded over a year ago in obtaining an
appropriation for q preliminary survey of
Alviso Channel and ever since has cheer
fully co-operated with our board in its
efforts for relief for navigation upon this
waterway. has assured US that he Will re-
new his efforts and will persist until con-
vinced that further attempts are useless.
The board realizes that what could be
done has been done by Congressman
Loud and has faith to believe that in
spite of all the obstacles now in the way
Alviso Slough will yet be a navigable
stream at all times and tides.
"NavigaJors have been much benefited
by the beacon posts placed along the ap-
proach to Alviso Slough and which were
secured by Congressman Loud upon petit
ton of this board. 1t is expected that an
appropriation for lights to be placed on
these posts will be obtained, and thus
another great advantage will have been
obtained"
Frank Stock, prominent memb Der OF
the Board OF Trade, in discussing the i'm
provement OF Alviso harbor, said "Alyiso
is the county's only port, and should be
so improved as to become great COM
inercial outlet for San Jose and the
southern end of Santa Clara Valley. At
present 1t is inadequate, and merchants
shipping by that route are often subject
to vexatious delays. But this could be
easily remedied by the Government ex-
pending from $40 600 to $50 000 While
Petaluma and Santa Rosa have received
appropriations for dredging their chan
nels, Alviso has been entirely overlooked.
AS 1t IS, the waterway has been the means
OF saving the merchants of San Jose
thousands of dollars in freight rates The
railroad has been compelled to meet the
cut IN rates made by the steamer, and this
has resulted in incalculable gooo. The
shipments by way of Alviso are con-
stantly increasing, and the Government
cannot longer postpone improving the
channel. The lum Der shipments alone at
the mort amount to between Is, 000 600 and
10000 600 feet annually. Add to this the
thousands of tons of produce and mer-
chandise that are received and forwarded,
and some idea OF the Importance of the
place can be imagined.
''The Board of Trade and citizens eener-
ally of San Jose should work together
with the ultimate view of securing the
needed improvements. Every one in the
valley will be benefited by the change and
there should be no laggards Aid NAV
not be secured from Congress at this ses-
sion, but We should have things in such
shape that when the proper time comes
committee, backed b. convincing stat
lstlcs, could go right on to Washington
and present the matter TO Congress. The
merchants are all for the improvement,
and by united effort we shall succeed"
Mr.. Stock is an enthusiast on the sub
ject, and in proof of what can be done
points to what progressiveness and enter
prise has done for Los Angeles.
Adolph Greeninger, ex-chairman of the
Board of Supervisors, believes that Alviso
Harbor should be improved at once. If
the National or State governments fail to
take hold of the matter he fayors the
county taking hold of 1t and making the
Improvements by direct taxation Mr.
Greeninger was member of the Board of
Supervisors for twelve years, has been
prominently connected with the Board of
Trade and is deeply interested in all mat
ters pertaining TO the Advancement of
Santa Clara County. In speaking of AL,
viso Harbor to-day he said:
"1t is essential 10 San Jose and the sur
rounding country that Alviso Channel be
improved, and it should be taken up at
once. for several years we have been try
ing TO secure appropriations from the
Government for that purpose, but each
time we have been confronted by the ad-
verse report of the Government engineers.
This delay Is vexatious. working great in
jury to this city, and if the Government
Santa Clara County should go ahead and
do the work.
al am in favor OF raising $40 900 by di-
rect taxation TO carry on the work. This
would not be felt by the taxpayers and
would be sufficient to give San Jose good
watercourse. A dredger could be secured
and force OF men put to work. In two
years time We would be independent of
the railroads and would have connection
By water with all coast towns.
Besides, the money would be spent