The San Francisco call., 1898-01-31
HllbOrn Sends Words of
 Warning From Congress.
A Park Argument That Seems to Have Escaped All
 Notice.
Ebell and Improvement Clubs Are at Work With More Energy
 Than Ever.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
 q09 Rroadwav Ian 90

Two events have been expected dur ing the past week that are very close ly related. It is reported that the Government engineer Is now advertis- ing for bids for dredging the harbor, and Dr. J. T. Mclean, Alameda's health officer, has been granted a long leave of absence and will go to Wash ington. The doctor has Yosemite Val ley interests, which need his presence at the Capital, but he also has ideas of his own-and very pronounced ones regarding the end of the estuary that should be attended to first Nat urally the people of Oakland are somewhat anxious as to what pr. Mclean may attempt, and past his tory justifies their anxiety. It is evi- dent that if bids are let at this time. they will be for the carrying out of the work in accordance with Colonel Suter's recommendation. which is not favorable to the tidal canal.
 Mir. Hilborn has just sent word to the Oakland Board of Trade that the pres ent Congress is very much stricken with a desire for economy. This means that few new appropriations will be made, possibly none and that any of those already granted will be called in if any good excuse can be of fered for such action. As there could hardly be a better excuse needed by an economical Congress than the fact that the two cities bordering on the estuary are at swords points on the matter of harbor improvement, and have sent reports to Washington, ut terly contradictory in their import.
 It would seem to be the wiser plan for the two cities to agree on a pro- gramme and to let work go ahead as speedily as possible. It is very evident that everything at this time points to the deepening of the oakland end of the harbor first. When this be done it would not be a difficult matter to enlist the help of Oakland to secure the needed Federal relief for Alameda. Only delay and possibly loss of the appropriation now available can re- suit from further controversy. Ala medals stand has much to recommend it. and has more than sentiment for it's foundation. The problem it faces is a serious one. The Government built a splendid steel drawbridge across the tidal canal, and placing confidence in the plans of the engi- neers that a tideway could be con- structed through to San Leandro Bay. the town laid down a sewer system that depended on the daily ebb and flow of the tide. When the plans were changed the sewer system was robbed of much of its merit. This makes their grievance a legitimate one, but just now it looks as though the quickest re- lief would come by permitting the en- gineer to go ahead without protest. because Alameda, with her shipbuild- ing yards, of which there are none on the Oakland side of the estuary, would derive a benefit. even from the start
 paragraph that appeared in this column last week has created much in terest. It referred to the feeling of the general public in regard to parks, and one sentence has been quoted as indi- eating that I am not enthusiastic enough in the matter. The conclusion was erroneous, for probably no other paper has published so much news re- gardlng the park movement. Only three weeks ago this paragraph ap- peared, and no one can doubt it's truth:
 No one doubts for a moment that a city of this size should have a large ornamental tract where its inhabitants can enjoy themselves. San Francisco has derived much of it's popularity from the manifold attractions of Gold en Gate Park. By possession of a sim liar playground Oakland would also ob- tain equal valuable notoriety abroad. ["
 The agitation for a park was com menced by some of the most worthy men of this city, who were entirely dis interested, and was not given up by them till they acknowledged that there was too much difference of opinion and too much suspicion of scheming to ac- complish anything.
 In this connection there is enc argu- ment in favor of purchasing a public park that does not seem to have been accorded the attention it deserves. A good deal of the apathy of the citizens is due to the fact that there are, within easy distance of the city, several splen- did parks in which the public can ram ble at will. This being so, the need of purchasing a large tract is not real ized. It does not seem to be expected that the owners of these parks may not welcome the public as their guests forever and that they may be closed. The fact that these parks have been Kept open, and that free entertain ments have been given as means of Inducing travel must be viewed in a new light in the future In the past. the street railroad companies controll- ing the parks have offered such induce ments in the nature of competition. Now that nearly all these roads have consolidated, there is no need of com petition, because there is no more op- position.
 It must be remembered that there has not been even suggestion that any of the private parks will be closed. but it is not wise to expect charity for ever.
 Mayor Thomas's suggestion advanced last Thursday night to proceed with the city hall site matter before it is talked to death" is good one. If there be any one who will argue that there IS no need of a new city hall in this city 1t would be interesting to hear