The San Francisco call., 1898-12-01
OAKLAND AND VALLEJO FIGHT { FOR A DOCK
  A Million-DolIar Prize in Sight.
OBJECT TO MARE ISLAND
MIR. HILBoRN's RESIDENCE IS IN
 EVIDENCE.
oakland's Water Front Said to Be an Ideal Place for a Huge. Government Dry
 " dock. :.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call, Q00 Rrna aduaU NnV 2n

SVo bTOdUWdy, 1>ON oV.
 The largest vessels of the United States navy in huge drydock, giving work to hundreds of men, Is the possibility that Oaklanders see in the report of Chief En- dicott of the Bureau of Yards and Docks with reference to the shoaling of Mare Island channel.
 That Vallejo realizes there is a possi- bility of her losing the big appropriation to be made by the next Congress for huge drydock on the Pacific Coast is proved by the activity that has come into existence in that town. Chief Endicott in his report practically condemns the Mare Island Navy Yard on account of the insufficient depth of water In the channel approaching it. A prominent Vallejoite says that when old Admiral Farragut se- lected the site for the yard he did not foresee the demand to be created by the great battleships now built. It Is also stated that 1t will cost 900 to put the Mare Island channel in condition to 'ad- init the largest naval vessels to the dock at all stages of the tide. While the tax payers and business men of Vallejo are holding meetings and doing everytmns possible to obtain the appropriation Oak land is not idle.
 At meeting of the Board of Trade this morning the matter was discussed. and It was decided If possible, to bring this ap- propriation to Oakland. The. approprla- ton bill is now being drafted at Wash ington. and Oakland is interested in see ing thaA the one million dollar item for a drydock is appropriated for the Facifc Coast" and not flor the Mare Island yards"
 In the discussion a humorous incident was brought. up. Mir. Hilborn has always referred 10 his residence in Oakland as 8 reason why he has claim on this section of the Third Congressional District. Ed itor Pennycook of Vallejo publishes an article in which he says: It las been the good fortune of Vallejo in the past to have attacks on Mare Island counteracted' be- fore they have resulted in evil, and some of the most effective work has. been done by our own fellow-citiZen. and Congress- man, Hon. S. G.. Hilborn. He Is stiil at Washington, and 1t is safe to say that iie has not been idle since Endicott Droke loose" =. This reference to MT Hilborn' as fel- low-citizen of Vallejo caused some com ment and now that MT. Metcalf, solely of Oakland (from residence point or. yieW) has been elected to Congress, tnere is additional interest in the struggie pc tween Oakland and Vallejo TOT that mii- lion-dollar appropriation.
 K C. Sessions, one of the eSt-posteu men on water front matters in thls clty has already communicated with the Secre- tary of the Navy, giving all the data nee. essary to create a favorable impression or Oakland's advantages as place TOT puilu. ing a large drydock. He sets forth that the substTata lying under Oakland is in finitely superior for drydock purposes to anything that can be found in san fran- cisco, and also that Oakland narDor IS accessible or can easily be made so 10 vessels of any draught at any time
 The Board of Trade has taken up the matter in earnest, and Senator Perkins has already promised to give 1t carerul consideration,