The San Francisco call., 1898-04-09
A "JOKER" MAY
 MAR THE PETITION
Davis Suspects a Re- quest of the C. C. Brock
 Company.
On It's Face the Doc cunent Asks for a Change in the Lines of the
 HarbOr.

OAKLAND, April Swallowing is the petition to change the pier-head lines of the harbor that has been filed by the c. C. Brock Company with the Government engineers:
 The undersigned corporation, the C. C. Brock Company, is a co-owner in sixteen vessels en- gagged in the bay and coastwise trade in and around San Francisco, Cal
 We are advised that the Government engi- neers who established and laid out the exist ing pierhead lines in Oakland, Cal. harbor, inasmuch as the entire water front the time Of such survey and location claimed by private corporation, so adjusted such pierhead lines as not to trespass upon private property for the purpose of avoiding condemnation pro- ceedings and like expenditures.
 That since said lines were established, to-wit: within the past ninety days a decision has State which finally settles and determines the holding of said corporation claimant, which said decision leaves outside of said pierhead lines and between them and the property of said corporation wide strip of water which is declared to be in public ownership.
 That said water front corporation and other riparian owners have the right, however, sub struct wharves out to said first established pierhead lines
 CT in said harbor is about to subdivide and sell Its water front holdings in said harbor. which will invite and result in the construction of great number of wharves and permanent improvements out to said pierhead lines and both sides of said harbor
 That the construction of such wharves will greatly narrow said harbor and render it a strip or water or varying width put averaging to 500 feet only.
 That such narrowing will greatly increase the cost of shipping from said harbor, inasmuch as 1t will make towing in and out of said harbor a necessity, and will prevent ships anchoring in the stream, increasing dock charges.
 That further, the selling and improving of said water front will largely increase the commerce of said port, while it will diminish the facilities for conducting such commerce. and that, too, in localities most used by com merce.
 The imaginary lines now laid down in said harbor offer obstruction to commerce, and litigation having heretofore suspended the con- struction of wharves. the full width of the estuary has been and is to-day much used by commerce though formally dedicated thereto, which we, your petitioners, seek to perpetuate and secure before extensive i'm. proVements will render the same less easy, and perhaps impossible. to effect.
 Your petitioners therefore pray that said harbor lines may be wdened as to include within the established pierhead lines all pub lie lands or waters therein, and so prevent the construction of wharves beyond the line Of private ownership and forever preserve to con- merce the full width of said harbor And your petitioners will ever pray.
 THE c. c. BROCK CO,
 By T. J. shannon, Secretary.
 w. R. Davis of counsel for the city in the waterfront suits thinks there is something underlying this petition and will attend the meeting of the 18th inst, at which it will be considered.