The San Francisco call., 1897-08-25
MADE A TOUR
OF THE HARBOR
Congressman Hooker Enter
tanned by the Union
League Club.
Shown How Government Money
Has Been Spent to Good
A Advantage.
Oakland and Alameda People Explain
Their Needs to the Distin-
guished Visitor.

Yesterday, Oakland and Alameda had an
unusually good opportunity TO point out
to that gentleman the needs of their re-
spectiye cities in the line of harbor i'm
proVements.
Mr.. Hooker is the chairman of the
Harbor and River Committee of the House
of Representatives. He is on a visit of
pleasure TO this coast with his family, and
was rendered the trip ab bout San Francisco
Bay by the Union League Club of this
City. Congressman Sherman was also
invited, but was unavoidably absent at
Monterey.
1t was first arranged to have the ex-
cursionists carried by one of the Spreckels
tugs. General Shaiter, however, rendered
the use of the General Mcdowell. and his
proffer was thankfully accepted. The Gov
erament steamer left Mission-street wharf
about 10:45 A. M, and did not land her
passengers on this side OF the bay again
until about FIVE hours later. The trip was
one that was enjoyed to the utmost by
every one who was fortunate enough TO be
one OF the invited.
After leaving Mission street the General
Mcdowell headed straight for Oakland
harbor. The distinguished visitors atten-
ton was particularly directed 10 the i'm
provements that had been already made
with the money that Congress had appro-
prlated in years past, and 10 what was
further needed to com plete the work that
has been so we'll commenced and carried
on heretofore.
There will be available during the cur
rent year $500, 600 for the improve ment of
Oakland harbor. The Oakland people
want this expended in deepening the
entrance 10 the channel. For distance
OF about 2O00 feet from where the training
walls begin, the water at low tide is but
thirteen feet deep. In order to allow
vessels TO enter the harbor at all times.
there should be depth Of not less than
twenty feet along the entire distance OF
the channel. This depth has been OBJ
tanned as far up as the Websters:reet
bridge, with the exception OF that portion
mentioned at the entrance OF the channel.
Alameda is set on having some of The
appropriation used for completing the
tide canal to San Leandro Bay. This
canal now ends a tile above the Park
street bridge, and at that point acts as a
sort of catch basin for all the filth that
finds its way into the harbor. The water
for some distance below is virtually stag
nant and the odors that arise from the
vicinity OF the Park-street bridge in con-
sequence have been cause OF bitter COM
plant on the part OF the people of A a.
media for some time past
When the Mcdowell reached Sessions
Point Congressman Hooker was trans
ferred to the Augusta, Frank Moffitt's
gasoline launch, and carried up the har-
Dor as far as the Park-street bridge. The
ex-senator was al the wheel but had for
gotten to take his charts with him. The
result was that he demonstrated to his
passengers that the channel at this point
was extremely shallow in several places.
He got aground two or three times, and
had finally 10 be hauled off by Pet 'rson's
little naphtba launch. No serious delay,
however, occurred.
When all the passengers had been re-
placed on board of the Mcdowell the lat
ters bow was turned to the Presidio.
During the trip across the bay lunch,
which had been provided by the Oakland
people, was served in pot-luck style. Ev-
cry body apparently had cultivated good
appetite and thoroughly enj joyed the gen.
erous collation..
At the Presidio landing carriages were
in waiting, and the visitors were driven
about the grounds and then TO Fort Win
field Scott. Here a detail of officers
escorted the party, which consisted OF
about forty ladies and gentlemen, to all
tn points of interest, and explained by
denomination the workings of the big
cannons, the mortars and the dynamite
guns. Mem ber5 of the party were invited
10 fire one OF the dynamite guns. Among
those who did so were iss Mollie Con-
Dors, Mrs. Major Groes beck and Florence,
the seven-year-old daughter OF Congress
man Hooker. Blank charges were fired.
Congressman Hooker was invited 10 try
his hand, but thought discretion the bet
ter part OF novelty and curiosity.
Most OF the party participated in this
shore diversion, but few remained on
board the Mcdowell. These were given
hn 7rifr 0f i,,-, I
Angel Island and Acatraz. On the re-
turn of the Mcdowell 10 the Presidio
every body went aboard again, and the
journey back to San Francisco was made,
a landing bsing effected at Washing tom
street wharf at about A o'clock.
While expatiating to Mr. Hooker upon
the Improvements that had been made in
Oakland harbor Senator Perkins sa d that
the money that had been used for this
purpose had brought about more satisfac-
tory results than any similar amount
spent by the Government anywhere in
the United States.
Congressman Hooker expressed himself
as having spent most enjoyable day,
and declared that he thought the Govern
ments appropriations had been intelli-
gently and advantageously expended.
Dan T. Cole was the Chairman of the
committee OF the Uni IN League Club,
which planned the outing on the water.
The other members of the committee we're
Colonel George Stone, TREY L. Ford,
Frank Mclaughlin and Frank Vail. The
latter TWO were unable TO participate in
the affair. Among the other San Fran
elscans present were: General Shafter,
Professor David son, Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel
]. Hendy. W. n. Dimmick, MIR. and Mrs.
CHARLES j. Clinch. Coneressman Loud,
Miss Marie Wells, Paris Kllburn, Charles
F. Bassett. Mr.. and Mrs. William Cuff,
Major S. W. Groesbeck, Mrs. Groes beck,
Hugh Craig. Colonel John T. Irish, Naval
officer of the Port of San Francisco, and
E. P Z. Troy.
Oakland was represented by Senate.
Perkins, Mayor w. r. Thomas, Edison +.
Adams, W. B. Pringle, president OF the
Oakland Council Supervisor John Mitch
ell, Arthur II. Breed, vice-president of
the Oakland Board of Trade, Theodore
Gier, 2. e. Bowles. Jerry Tyrreli, Miss
Mollie Corners. Cragie Sharp, Webb NJ.
Pearce, George w. Arper, president of the
Oakland Merchants Exchange, George
Roth. Colonel Lyman Bridges.
Alameda's contingent comprised CITY
Clerk Ben F. Lambor, City Engineer W.
r. Poyzer, Judge A. B. Hunt, R. J. Sloan,
president OF the North Side Improvement
Club.
An informal reception to Congress.
man Hooker was held last night at the