The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-24
LOCALITY NOT OF
VITAL IMPORT NCE
The Valley Road Terminus
Will of Necessity Be
a Benefit.
A Hatei Corporation" Is the
Best Patron of "Pub.
lie Utility"
Coincidence of Recent and Old IDEAS
Regarding a Terminal on
Goat Island.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
9O8 Broad way. Nav %

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
908 Broad way, May %.
One of the most peculiar argum ents
made in regard to public enterprise is
that now being made by few interested
people concerning the probable advent of
the Valley railway INFO Oakland. These
few declare that unless it shall come TO a
certain section OF the city it will not prove
benefit 10 the whole community. This
statement practically amounts to an adj
mission that Oakland is as large now as it
ever will be, and indicates belief that it
will never grow.
While nothing is as vet decided. the
Valley railroad may be presumed 10 come
from any direction, but whatever route be
taken, it is certain that development will
follow. The desire OF the minority is TO
have the new road locate its terminus on
the south side OF the estuary, where it is
certain that there it will be necessary to
pass through two bridges before The depot
can be reached from the bay.
The majority want TO see it located
along the beach to the north OF the City,
where all sorts of advantages are claimed
for it. These assert that it matters little
Just where the terminus of the road is
located, as it is only matter of few
wears DcIOTe OdkIduu Will SlISlCu Gl6GI ~
Berkeley on one side and past Fruitvale
on the other, and that the city will of
necessity reach the depot before long.
This latter, viewed irrespective of any
particular location, Is certainly the right
one to take. In short time con ference
will be held OF representatives of Oakland
and OF the Valley road, and it IL not good
policy for any one to hamper the mission
OF the local committee.
The location OF a railroad terminus is
not a matter OF sentiment. 1t is a cool
business proposition and it needs TO be
handled in broad, generous and bust
ness like manner. In The past this city
has suffered Immensely from the sense
less behavior OF a lot of ambitious poll
ticians who made capital of seeing 1.-The
hand of the railroad" in everything.
This has disturbed the confidence of in
vtStors, and while Oakland Is altogether
100 conservative and modest along certain
mes she is much too radical in others.
The Valley road project is one that can be
met with neither conservatism nor radi-
calism nor selfishness, but requires active
harmony.
A little incident happened last night
that should delight the heart OF even the
least enthusiastic Populist. The narrow
gauge mole, owned by the second largest
railroad corporation in the country, was
lighted by electricity supplied from a
municipal plant. For a quarter of a CEN
tury all kinds CT people have vented their
opinions OF the little oil lamps at the Ala
media mole and have said a great deal
about the non-generosity of corporations
and OF the great benefits 10 be derived
from public ownership of general utili-
lies" Now it has come to pass that the
first public utility established in Ala
media County has a hated corporation"
for its best customer.
Some time ago Marsden Manson, the
well-known engineer. published an article
in which he outlined plan for the con-
tinuation of the Long Wharf TO Goat
Is and. and the esta blishment of q system
OF docks and wharves at the island.
Doubte's unknown to Mr.. Manson,
there Is a record IN this county, and has
been for thirty -one years, of an article of
incorporation Tor Just such project
In an old history of Alameda County.
under date OF 1866, appears the following:
Among the many railroad enterprises afioat
at this time was one for the construction of q
road from Oakland to Goat Island A profile
OF the proposed road was filed in the Recor-
Ger once on January %, certified by Charles.
Main, pres ldent; Periguine Fifzhugh, secre-
tary, and L. II. Short, chief engineer Tne
route was IN direct line from the outer end
OF the San Francisco and Oakland Railroad
Companies wharf to the island The distance
over which the road was to be constrnefed
was nearly two miles, and the greatest depth
of water 10 be passed over was about sixty
feet Such road would give railroad COM
mun1catlon TO within one and fVe-eip n tbs
miles of San Francisco. Goat Island was Looked
upon by railroad engineers as the terminal
point OF the transcon tinental railroad and as
early as 1863 I. d. judah, the original prc-
Jeetor oil the Central Pacific Railroad, nut his