The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26
SHIPS OF FIRST
CLASS LONGER
THAN WHARVES
Modern Vessels Need
More Room.
IMPROVEMENTS A NECESSITY
MoNEYED INSTITUTIONS ARE
INTERESTED.
IMPROVEMENTS A NECESSITY
INSTITUTIONS ARE
INTERESTED.
Banks, Insurance Companies, Large
Estates and Capitalists Have Ad-
dressed the Harbor Commits
sioners Asking for Action.

The discussion concerning the lack Of
facilities on the water front to accommo-
date the shipping of the future at this
port increases in interest. T. G. Fried
lander. whose utterances were reported in
an interview in The Call. insists that the
wharves are entirely too short for vessels
OF the first class, such as are in common
use on the transatlantic lines. There are
lnlrty vessels regularly running as pas
senger carriers between New York and
European ports that are over 500 feet in
length. and there are also several freight
steamers OF great size. The tendency in
ship-building is to produce larger vessels.
San Francisco, says Mr.. Friedlander. will
have to provide better facilities. larger
wharVeS and more OF them, or commerce
will not be held here. Shipping Will 20
where the best facilities are There are
already several vessels running out Of
New I ork that are over 600 feet long, and
one that is over 700, the last mentioned
being the Oceanic. The following are
among the frst-class vessels already
afioat: Campania. 62O feet long; Lucania.
Kaiser Friedrich, coo.
Figures recently published In The Call
gave the lengths Of the various wharves
existing on the water front at San Fran
cisco. Some are less than 500 feet long.
Many of the vessels in common use on the
Atlantic would therefore project beyond
the wharf ends If they were 10 put in here
TO dock. There will be a great increase in
commerce here, says Mr.. Friedlander. II
the facilities are provided for first-class
ships. The North Central Improvement
Association has written TO the Board Of
Harbor Commissioners that all the infiu-
ence of the association will be back Of
any movement 10 secure better wharves
for the section Of the city front north Of
Market street.
Among the members of the North Cen
trail Improvement Association are the fol-
Fitch. William Babcock. Alliance Insur-
ance Company, G. de Guigne. Deming
Palmer Milling Company. Joseph A. Don
oboe, John T. Coyle. Joseph Brandenstein
the Fair estate. German Savings and Loan
Society. John F. English. j. b. Haggin.
Hibernia Savings and Loan Society, r.
Bank. Main & WINCHESTER. Alfred ]. Mar
Gus. Merchants Exchange Association,
James Palache. San Francisco Savings
Union and the Selby Smelling and Lead
AS an earnest Of the associations desire
10 advance the interests OF the community
by aiding the proposed Improvement and
port. President II. r. Sonntag yesterday.
in response TO an invitation of the Harbor
Commissioners, appointed the following
committee to meet with the commission
at an early date for the purpose of de-
vising ways and means To secure the
legislation necessary TO attain that object:
Charles S. Neal. representing the Fair
estate: II. II. Taylor. representing d o.
Mills; Leon Sloss. William Babcock. Claus
Spreckels, A. J; Ralston,. a. j. Marcus.
Palache. A meeting of the committee will
be held as soon as the members have sig
nified their willingness to serve and per-
feet an organization.
There are others who urge the improve
ment Of the section south OF Market street
as soon as possible by the extension of the
seawall and the construction of modern
and sufficient piers. Mr.. Friedlander be-
lieves that the work on the south of Mar
ket street Is of great and pressing Inn
portance. and there are many who share
his opinion on that point. No one has vet
been met who does not believe that the
city must have more wharf room. The
principal point of discussion on the main
issue applies 10 the manner OF raising the
money that will be needed.
The advocates of immediate improve
ments on a large scale. commensurate
with the increase Of the commerce Of the
port point out that IL will take many
years to complete the seawall If the only
moneys to be expended are those to be
derived from the port charges and rents.
An issue of bonds would give the ready
money TO do the necessary work but even
that means a delay. There must be action
by the Legislature first. and then a bond
election subsequently. Every one appears
to think that the idea OF extending the
pier line, so that the wharves will be 500
feet long instead Of coo. as now is GOOD
An amendment of the law is necessary as
the harbor Improvement will come up be-
fore the Merchants Association at the
banquet tomorrow night for discussion.