The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
BLAME It ALL
ON DR., Mclean
Little Hope for Oakland
Harbor for the Next
Two Years.
A Statement Drawn Up al
Washington That Caused
Great Surprise.
The Doctors Colleagues at This En- !
Were Not Aware of His New
Move.
OAKLAN:1 OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, [
IL. -


908 Broadway, Feb. Is. !
The Board of Trade and Merchants Ex-
change directors were considerably sur
prised to-day to learn that all appropria-
tions for the improvement of Oakland
harbor had been cut out OF the Senate bill
on account of large error. The last in
formation received on this point was to
the effect that Colonel Sutter had been
ordered to proceed with the work, and il
was expected that as soon as specifications
were drawn up contracts would be let.
Instead, however, it now appears that
additional information has been placed
before the House committee, ,whic has
upset all calculations. a few months ago
an agreement was reached between the
Oakland and Alameda au horities as 10
the recommendation that should be made
to the War Department. According TO
this agreement the Oakland end of the
harbor was to be deepened first, after
which the tidal canal was 10 be cut
through.
DR.. Mclean, Alameda's Health Officer,
went 10 Washington supposedly for the
purpose of furthering the work. but when
the fact became known that the appropria-
tions had been cut out of the bill inquiry
was at once made for the cause. 1t was
found in a statement prepared by DR.. Nc
Lean after he had got to Washington, and
of which nobody at this end knew any
thing.
The statement prepared by Dr. Mclean
is headed "a Deficit and the Cause Of the
Same in the Appropriation for the Com
Pletion of Oakland Harbor. Under the
Continuous Contract System at the Last
Session, Which Should Now Be Corrected"
No one IN Oakland was aware of any de-
hclt and they are greatly surprised to
learn that such state OF affairs had been
brought to the attention Of the committee
by DR.. Mclean, as IL was understood that
he was working actively to have WORK on
the harbor commenced as soon as posi-
Bile.
1t appears from his statement that, find
ing IL useless to advocate the com pletion
OF the tidal canal before the improving of
the Oakland end Of the harbor, he looked
aoout Tor new point OF attack ard found
1t as he supposed. But those who are
familiar with all the facts assert that DIR.
McLean's latest move is without merit.
There is a general feeling tnat instead of
picking flaws In the manner OF the appro4
prlation, DR.. Mclean should have used
all his energy to secure the use OF the
money already appropriated, after which
another effort could have been made at !
another session of Congress to have Sc
cured the alleged deficit. 1t now looks as
If nothing would be done on the harbor |
for the next two years.
the section OF DR.. McLeans statement /
which fully explains the peculiar dis !
patches published to-day is as follows:
Colonel G.. H. Mendell, corps of en- /
gineers, lately in charge OF Oakland Har. /
bor, in his annual report for the year end
ing June, 1895. states the amount REQUIRED /
for the completion OF the harbor to be |
$741,OOO This was the official statement |
upon which Congress. acted in the river