The San Francisco call., 1897-01-02
OAKLAND'S HOPE
FOR N|NETY-SEvEN
Nothing Else Is Needed but
a Free Water
Front.
With a Clear Title Nothing Can
Hinder an Increased
Commerce.
An Example of What May Be Ex.
pected Has Been Recently
Furnished.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
90S Broadway. Jan. /.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,l
9o8 Broadway, Jan. /. I
The prosperity of the year 1897. so far as
Oakland is concerned, depends entirely
upon the fate of her water front. The past
year has furnished a remarkable example
of what can be done in the way of devel-
oping commerce by improving the water
front. A few months ago a new wharf and
bunkers were opened at the foot of Oak
street, and that locality has been the
busiest marine commercial scene in the
estuary since that time.
Following close upon the opening of the
Adams wharf the necessity for an imme-
diate increase of wharfage facilities was
noted and more contracts were let, which
are now being carried out. These improve
ments however, are an intinitesimal por-
tion of what would be done if the title to
the whole water front were hut as clear as
to that portion Of it bordering on the
Adams estate.
With the closing day of the. old year
came the gratifying news from Washing
ton that the Secretary of War had ordered
the recommenCement of work 1.-The bar
bor improvements, which means that the
recommendations of Colonel Suter will be
carried out. The money to be thus spent
Will materially improve the channel, and
will eventually lead to. the cutting
through and opening of the tidal canal.
But even when this is done unless title to
the many miles OF water front be decid ID
the full extent. of its benefits cannot be
obtained.
Within the past week the first vessel to
come to: Oakland without having the
rCustom-house seals broken was docked
at the new wharves, and now that Oak
land has been declared port of entry and
all classes of vessels can come here TO dis
charge cargoes and take in ballast with
out the necessity Of crossing the bay,
there is every reason 10 look for increased
commerce. People who profess. to know
declare openly that within a few months
Oakland and Corral Hollow, which is al
ready connected by rail with Stockton.
will be joined. by steam road. When
such road Is built it is equally certain
that large quantities of grain grown in the
San Joaquin Valley will be shipped direct
to Oakland and there loaded into Deep
water vessels. The. future possibility of
such enterprise cannot be, overestima ated.
All this, however, depends solely on the
freedom of the water front. With .condi-
tions such as have existed for forty years
the harbor shores will continue to be frog
ponds and marshes and Oakland will be
found at the close of 1897 no farther ahead
than at the close of 1896. Oakland's fate
for 1897 now rests with the Supreme Court.
There is growing probability that the
developments. at Emeryville which were so
suddenly terminated about two years ago
will soon be resumed. The great realty
and streetcar syndicates which are con-
trolled by f. M. Smith of borax fame and
his millions, are now passing through a
system of reorganization so as to make
them dividend paying properties. 1t has
always been Mr.. Smiths idea to make his
Emeryville property central point for
streetcar lines on this side of the bay and
from the pier which is already built there
TO run a ferry system to San Francisco.