davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

20 originality can be claimed for
EA the plan of public development OF
II the water front of San franclsco'
4 Y Other large ports have belt Islll-
ways, ferry depots and union Pc
senger stations, seawalls ana alnPie
wharfage accommodations for all Inc
ships that may come to seek their use.
But it will be always recollected tiat
the commerce of the port is respol,slO,e
for the creation of solid land from MOie-
gomery street to the present seaWetIu iii-S
OF the water front.
ing from the old shore line out INTO 1IF
bay. Then there were crGss INES -
bridges that denoted the outlines o4 % aId .IlJ
streets actually to be constructeu & nilG
which have since become the avenues
through which the wholesale business %
San Francisco has been moving 20 dilc
from ships and cars for many years
When the network of whaTVeS aHu
bridges was in existence the hlhnS III u-
lands proceeded. -
Heaven gave San Francisco sand IN
more than one sense and enough to carry
her through many difficulties. There was
enough of the movable material 10 MI IN
to the present water front A glance INTO
history gives an idea of the contour on
the bay side of earlier San Francesca anu
incidentally, furnishes a measure py
which to estimate the local opinion thi'l
the people, if they did not have business
area adequate to their needs, were certain
to create it for themselves with the facil-
The following general facts OF interest
are cleaned from Hittells history, relat-
ing to the period of 1850. According 10
HittelFs account the first city charter.
passed by the Legislature on, April 10,
1850, had fixed the SOutherly boundary OF
San Francisco by q line parallel 10 Gay
street two miles south of the center OF
Portsmouth Square, and its western
boundary by a line parallel TO kearny
street a mile and half west of the
same center, having its northern and east
ern boundaries commensurate with those
of the county. The area OF land above
high water mark included within these
there was very little, if any, that was
fit for building sites without some change,
either of excavation or filling up, ana
hardly a spot, when it was to be covered
with buildings, retained its old surface.
The Original Limits.
Fortunately most Of the uneven surface
consisted of sand, which was moved with
comparative ease, and the work OF grad
ing proceeded as rapidly as even space
was required While the hills and ridges
OF sand In the city, many OF them upward
the material was used 10 elevate hollowS
and also 20 an in mudfiats, great guam
titles of piles were being brought into the
city from far and near to build wharveS
and to extend the city front into the bay.
In the course of 1St9 the Broadway
wharf. $50 feet in length, had been con-
structed, and by the end or the same year
another wharf had been run out on the
line of Commercial street, from Mont
gomery street eastward about 500 feet.
The last mentioned structure was con-
sumed partly by fire In June, 1850. but 1t
was almost Immediately afterward re-
paired, and by degrees was extended
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

used in the construction about 100000
pounds of steel and cast-iron, 1000 cubic
feet of granite, 900 square feet of mar
bic. $1,000 cubic feet of sandstone, 1.450 900
common brick, 125,750 square feet of ex-
panded metal and concrete floor arches
10000 square feet of mosaic flooring and
375,000 pounds of galvanized iron includ-
ing roofing. The ferry building covers
100000 square feet Of surface, or more
than ten times that of an ordinary com
mercial building.
The structure was authorized by the
voters Of the State who thereby ex-
pressed their desire to aid in the increase
of the commercial impoHance of this CITY,
The Legislature of California passed an
act, which was approved by the Governor
March IL, 1891, to create fund for the
construction and furnishing by the State
Board of Harbor Commissioners of a gen
eral ferry and passenger depot, and to
provide a, sinking fund for the payment
of bonds to be issued to defray the cost
of the large work to be undertaken I'm
der the provisions of the act the PROPOSE
ton was submitted to the voters of the
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

board was securing the extension of the
pierhead line between Folsom street ana
Van Ness avenue. The legal length for
wharVcs in that large area is now 500 feet
Pierhead Line.
The extension of the pierhead line and
the increase IN the wharfage accommoda-
tiOns Of the port were advocated by the
entire commercial community OF San
Francisco. In communication addressed
10 Governor Gage the Harbor Commits
sioners recognized this when they set
forth the following:
should the business OF this port in
crease TO such an extent as is now gener-
ally conceded that IL viii legislation will
De necessary 10 enable this commission to
accommodate the modern-built vessels
with wharf facilities. The present outline
OF the San Francisco water front was ar
length OF The vessels entering the port
was from 200 TO 800 feet. At the time
when these conditions existed the Legis-
lature prohibited the Harbor Commission
ers from extending wharves out more
than 600 feet from the bulkhead line, in
asmuch as the vessels then arriving four
OF them, two on each side, could be
moored alongside Of a wharf 500 or 600 feet
in length.
Vessels now ahoat and being built in
the shipyards OF the world vary from 400
TO 700 feet in length. Such vessels have
been coming to this port and their num-
Der Will henceforth increase. Therefore
1t can be seen that our dockage room at
minimized- The law should be amended
TO permit the extension of wharveS out
n distance of 500 feet from the bulkhead
instead Of 500 feet as provided by the
present law"
This communication was signed by all
the Commissioners, Paris Kilburn, p ].
Harvey and Rudolph HerOld Jr.. and also
by eX-GovernOr Budd, Howard c. Holmes
and William ID. English, all being con-
necteo with the board. The Legislature
gave the relief that was asked for and
new era IN wharf building was begun.
Terminal Facilities.
\ In recounting the advantages on the wa
ter front Of San Francisco for the encour-
agement Of commerce, the belt railway
should not be lost sight of. This is one
the new administration of the Harbor
Commission. The road extends from
Powell street to Broadway. The seawall
on the north end of the water front and
lots acquired by the State in the con-
room, sidings and freight depots. Prior to
the construction and operation Of the belt
railway the several railroad companies.
excepting the Southern Pacific Company.
had no freight terminals in San Fran
cisco.
The freight car terminal of the North
Pacific Coast road was at Sausalito; that
Of the San Francisco and North Pacific
road NOW the California Northwestern
was at TiburOn, while that Of the South
Pacific Coast Railroad was in Alameda.
This condition of things occasioned trans
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

purchased by the ayuntamientO In Aug
ust, 1S49, for prison. IL was anchored
streets and continued In use as prison
tor several years.
Another of these vessels was the ship
Apollo, which was anchored near the
corner Of the same streets. ft had been
used as store ship, but when B@ttery
street, being piled and capped, CloSSd tt
In, II was converted into a lodging-hO0se
and drinking shop. and was called SRe
Apollo saloon. AS a considerable portiOfT
OF the hulk rose above the level o. the
streets when they came TO be filled ln.e
the vessel, located In the middle OF the
business portion Of San Francisco, sur
rounded on all sides by blocks Of sub
Stanttal edihces, presented an object Tor
curiosity and astonishment.
The hull Of the ship Thomas Bennett,
on the south side of HowisOn's pier near
the corner of sacramento and Sansome
streets, served as the headquarters for
the young blades from Baltimore until
the building of the Monumental ensine-
house.
Perhaps the most notable of thess\
vessels which were destined to erd~
their. existence on solid land was the
burden. 1t had been hauled up on a lot
on the northwest corner of Clay and San
some streets. After the masts and rig
moved piles were driven on each side to
steady the hull, which was then used for
storing merchandise. Meanwhile this
land was filled in all about 1t and the
city moved on eastward beyond it. The
fire of May, 1851, destroyed all of the
old ship Mantle excepting such portions
as were under ground.
Found in a Basement.
Soon after the fire of 1851 a hotel, known
as the Mantle House, was erected on
the remains of the old hulk which served
as a foundation. That was a popular
house for some years, but it was finally
succeeded by more pretentiOus places.
In 1872 the Mantle House was torn down,
and the lot was excavated for the large
brick structure which now stands on the
site.
In digging the wOrkmen found the bot
tom of the old hulk filed with dirt and
covering various articles of merchandise,
including several cases of "JacQuessOn
Fills champagne, which had been buried
there for upward of tWenty-One~ years.
The Bottles were in good order, but The
wine had seen better days. 1t had dOubt-
less been deposited there before 1851, and
the dirt washed in at the time Of the fire
or in the filling in of the lot No one
thought of or inquired for the meFchan-
disc in the meantime.
From Hittell the facts are also derived !.
concerning the subsequent history Of the
water front The filing in of the mudT
flats continued and progressed rapidly.
General kearny, by a decree of March
10, 1S41, purpOrted to release to the CITY
Of San Francisco all the right, title and
interest OF the Government to the water
front, excepting such lots as might be
reserved, provided that the property
should be divided into lots and sold at
public auction.
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
Of THE HaRsoR LOOKING SOUTH FROM FERRY DEPOT

State. At a general election, which was
held on November s, 1892, majority voted
in favor. In the February following the
actual construction cf the building were
opened by the Board of Harbor Commits
sioners.
There We're delays occasioned by con-
troversies of various sorts. and the orig
inal plans and specifications were reject
ed. Another set OF bids was opened in
May. 1898, and the construction work be-
gan as soon afterward as convenient. The
Date OF the steel contract was let March
26 1896 The building was completed July
II, 1898, About twenty -eight months, taxi
ing out the time consumed i'm litigation.
was the period of actual construction
work after the foundations were ready.
Illustrative Exhibits.
In the ferry depot in addition to the
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

railway departments are housed other in
gress.
The State Board of Trade has an in
structive exhibition of the products of
California on the third floor. The museum
of the State Mining Bureau is on the same
the mineral possibilities of the State, IL
Illustrating the diversity of minerals and
the vast geographical range of territory
in California that has been demonstrated
to be rich in ores.
On the second floor of the ferry depot
is also the office of the Pacific CONNER
cial Museum The purpose of this institu-
ton, which is headed by Irving M Scott
vate subscriptions of the great CONNER
cia1 houses of the city, is similar-to that
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
THERE is HISTORY
FOR EVERY M00RING
Strange Stories Told of Happenings in
Which the Present Has a
Piquant Interest.

portion of it's business quarter, was oullt
on piles. Between the long rows or these
piles and under the houses as well as the
wharves, ebbed and flowed the tides AS
the sand hills were removed and thtA IL
ing in of the mudfiats progressed Ne
wharvcs became streets, and the houses
rested upon q foundation of earth. but
not until many OF the piles nad become
hOneycombed by the teredo and numerous
instances of collapse into the brine and
oOze were a part of the local annals OF
the tine.
West of where the Bank of California
now stands the first water lot to be hlled
in engaged the enterprise Of Captain JO-
seph l. Folsom. The work was very eX-
pensive but the value of the property ap-
pre- eciated so rapidly that the cost was
found to have been q Scood investment,
and other citizens followed the eXamp .
of Captain Folsom.
MEANWHILE as the wharves extended
into the bay, the cross streets We're built
on piles, much like an Occidental Venice.
thus inclOsing blocks of water between
them, and number of old hulks or dis
mantled vessels that had been drawn up
on the mudfats at high tide and convert
ed into business places We're shut IN.
There were about twenty of the old hulkS
that were so utilized.
Romance of HuIks.
One Of these was the brig Euphemia,
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
MILES OF FRONT ARE
LINED WITH WHARVES.
Opportunities Are Offered That the City
improves Upon Scale Suit
ing Occasion

W~~ HE San Francisco wharves are
distant from one another from 175
TO 2o0 feet. This supplies a con
E siderable bulkhead space, that is
available for small sail and steam
craft. Deep water in the berth spaces Is
maintained by the continuous use OF the
State dredgers. The increase of business
has compelled the Board of HaTbor Com
lnissiOners to enlarge certain wharVes
The freight space at the Jacl1son-street
wharf has been increased by the board
from 24.000 square feet to z2,0e0 square
feet. A new wharf has been built at
Howard No. 3. z59 feet long. 100 feet wide
and accommodating 12.000 tons of freight
To accommodate the United States
transport service the board has length
ened the Steuart-street wharf TO 760 feet
adding 300 feet. Accommodations have
been furnished TO the Santa E'e Railroad
Company to enter the city by ferry. Four
new wharves have been constructed for
the fishermen at the foot OF Taylor street.
The Main-street wharf has been length
ened go feet, making il 500 feet long. in
stead of SO feet. The wharfage facilities
at Jackson and Howard streets have been
largely added TO. There are other addi-
tiOns Of Importance, which il would take
too much space TO mention.
The great act OF Importance by the
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
WORKING FOR PORT COMMERCE

IT
the Qrd otan
0rd
it ) gerry
The Chamber organisation
Pacific
further and
suhnA
Chan6er largely G 0hat has
n e Wash
State and in
brilliant future 7rtch
reach
Secretary of Commerce.
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
Of the commercial museum of Philadel-

of the commercial museum of Philadel-
phia.
While this last matter has been dis
cussed at different times the present is
for giving some information concerning
an institution which has for its sole and
direct aim the building up of commerce
between the ports of the United States
and the countries bordering upon the Pa,
cific Ocean
This work is proceeding upon practical
lines under the guidance of Eugene Good
win, the director of the museum. Agents
and other Asiatic countries and in the
States Of South and Central America in
vestigating the markets afforded for
American products; collecting complete
lines of samples of all the wares that
are successfully and prohtably vended
in these lands mentioned, that the mer-
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.

President N. P. Chapman reports to the
California State Board of Trade the fol-
lowing concerning the beet sugar indus
try of California: ''It is not possible to
exaggerate the Importance of the beet
sugar Industry to the farmers of this
State. The factories are now so distrib-
uted as to bring a large portion of the
agricultural lands within their reach.
Some important facts were laid before
the public In recent bulletin issued from
the Census Bureau, prepared by Special
Agent Spencer California makes a fine
showing In the report, and the figures
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

give a clear idea of the permanent nrofit
and commercial success of beet sugar
making. Of the thirty-one factories in
fornia, nine in Michigan, three in Ne
braska three in Utah, two in New York
ana one each in Colorado, Illinois, Mime
ton. All but two of these factories are
controlled by corporations. The total
capital ca t6 Lei interested is $2O95S519 of which
N.Y. I,d; ,l;Ss,ISO is in California, s4,O1S,748 in
The total value of the product for the
year ending May 81, 1900, was 81. 323 S57
OF Of which California furnished sS49s 9Se
NJ eMaiseanigan sa1 ga 6O2,266 and all other States
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

chants who desire may see how the goods
are packed and what are the styles and
materials, etc.; also ascertaining the
important knowledge of the financial abil-
ity of the merchants and dealers of for
eign lands; again, discovering what ma
terials are produced abroad that can be
profitably employed at home in manufac-
lures and the arts and commerce.
This, in word, is equivalent to MAX
ing exhaustive inquiry into all things
that can give knowledge of the ways in
which shipping may find freights to and
from this port.
In the ferry depot, also, is collection
provided by the liberality and enterprise
of the Alaska Commercial Company, IL
Illustrative of the conditions under which
life in Alaska is found This collection
has been donated by the Alaska CONNER
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
Builders Spend $1,000, 600.

Besides these wharves, which were gen
orally owned by private companies, there
were several piers owned by private in
dividuals, such as Howison's pier, between
California and Sacramento streets, and
Cunningham's wharf and Lewis wharf.
near the foot of Green street. Altogether
there was more than 5000 feet of wharf
age, which cost more than 81, 100000 The
wharves named after the streets were the
extensions Of such streets. AS they moved
forward the piling and Gaping of the lots
between them followed
So by degrees as the city advanced all
its lower portion, including the greater
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

cial Company to the University of Cali
fornia, and 1t is kept open to the plb-
lie on certain daYs in the week.
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

distance of 1000 feet into the bay. 1t con-
stituted then and for years was known as
Long Wharf.
Other wharves were then also begun
and gradually run out into the bay.
Among these was the Market-street
wharf, which by October, 1850, extended
600 feet; California-street wharf, 400 feet;
Sacramento-street wharf; 500 feet; Clay
street wharf, 900 feet; Washingt tOn-street
wharf, 275 feet; Jackson-street wharf, 500
feet. and Pacific-street wharf. 525 feet.
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

vO originality can be claimed Ior
EA the plan of public development OF
VI the water front of San Francisco
4 Y Other large ports have belt Islll-
wavs ferry depots and union pas
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
Denot on the Front

The ferry depot is CSC feet long and ITS
general width Is 159 feet From the CEN
trail portion on Market street a bay pro
jects 2S feet and l44 feet wide There were
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

One of these was the brig Eupl
The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-10-05

Educate Your Bowels With Cascarets.
 Candy Cathartic, cure constipation forever x FOn 95c If c. c. q fail drurrists refund money
The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-10-05
THE "DAMN THE TEXAS' MATTER.
Between Schley aud
 HOdgaon Made Pnblic.

Washington, Oct. 4.-Copies of core spondence between Lieutenant Hodg- son and Admiral Schley during the per iod from June 6, 1899, to August 25, 1901, were given to the press to-day with the statement that the correspondence will be submitted to the Schley court of in- quiry by Lieutenant Hodgson while on the witness stand Most of 1t already has been published in the newspapers although part of it has not been made public heretofore. On June 6, 1899, Ad- miral Schley wrote Lieutenant Hodg- son, enclosing an editorial from the New York Sun, alleging that a collo- quy had occurred between Schley and Hodgson on the bridge of the Brooklyn during the battle of Santiago, in the course of which the admiral is reported to have said:
 Damn the Texas, let Der look out for herself" in reply to Hodgson's remon- strance against turning the ship to starboard. Characterizing this as a 'grotesque lie" the admiral asked Hodgson Ito write me your denial of this oft-repeated calumny."
 June Hodgson responded in a very long letter, dated at the New York navy yard, denying he authorized the publl- cation of any conversation and making a long explanation of whatfh says oc- cured during the battle He added that what was printed as a part of a con- between you and me Is sub- stantially correct, though not so as to the manner in which it took place."
The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-10-05
FRANK s. PLATT, New Haven, Conn,

house, 115 Devonshire street, Boston, before noon of Monday, October z.
 In view of the extreme urgency of the situation, special appeal is made to the business community for prompt and liberal response, we believing that all advances will prove simply g. tempora- ry investment certain not only to yield the largest satisfaction in the saving of a precious life. but also, in all prob- ability, to be returned intact
 Miss Stone is an American Christian patriot. She is in imminent danger of assassination. Even moments are pre- cious. Will American Christian patri- ots come to her rescue? (Signed)
 JOHN L. WITHROW, Pastor Park Street Congregational
 Church.
 GEORGE c. LORIMER, Pastor Fremont Temple Baptist
 Church.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-10-05
THE MASSACRE IN SAMAR.
Official Details of the Surprise of
 American Troops.

l Washington Oct. 1.-The war depart ment tonight received this dispatch from General Chaffee, dated at Manila. giving further details of the disastrous 1 attack on the Ninth regiment:
 Manila Octo. 1. "Adjutant General, Washington: From those who escaped following: l September 29 while at breakfast 6:45 l morning, company was attacked at sig | nal ringing convent bells by about 450 Bolomen, 200 from rear of quarters, 200 front simultaneously attacked officers quarters. Company completely sur prised, force attacking front gained pos sessions arms. Fight ensued forthwith in which many met death in mess room in rear Enemy beaten off temporarily by about twenty-five men, who gained their arms. Sergeant Dettron assumed command endeavored collect men, leave in boats, reattacked by enemy. Strength command three officers, sev- enty-two men. Killed three officers, forty enlisted men: missing six; wound ed thirteen present thirteen. Party attacking officers in convent entered through church, large numbers led by pIeSlllGHlt. IlODdply IoI iiicS "ie'' company, twenty-six saved, fifteen of lost (rifles) bolts drawn, 25,000 ammu- milton lost. Ninety-five prisoners out side Quartet joined in attack at signal. Boat of missing men capsized. Captain Bookmiller may pick up men.
 Lieutenant James P Drouillard,
 Ninth Infantry
 September 30--Have returned Bal angiga. Drouillard explains conditions correctly. Landed yesterday inhabi- tants deserted town, firing one shot. Buried three officers, twenty-nine men, number bodies burned, uarters build ings fired as we entered. Secured or destroyed most of rations. All ordnance gons Insurgents secured fifty-seven serviceable rifles, 2S,000 cartridges, for weight men of Company c, Ninth in- fantry. (and) one hospital corps man killed or missing, twenty-eight men ac- counted for, found two in boat en route here. Buried dead, burned town, re- turned to Basey.
 "'Captain Bookmiller
 '''Ninth Infantry De Russey has sent strong company to chastise savages if found.
 Hughes "No other details. Names of killed to be determined by elimina tion of sur vivors as soon as possible. June mus ter roll probably, latest evidence to be | had. Chaffee."