The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-01-29
COMMISSIONERS
WANT EXTENSION
TO THE SEAWALL

The Harbor Commissioners, assisted
by their attorney, Ex-Governor Budd'
have very nearly reached an agreement
on a proposition to ask the Legislature
for authority to expend 100000 for sea
wall construction Various estimates
touching the cost of extending the wall
from the ferry BUILDING to China Basin
have been considered. The necessity Tor
seawAll extension on the north side IS also
under consideration. The Harbor Com
missfoners take note of the fact that there
is an annual expenditure Of $4,000 10
keep in repair the wharves and ap-
proaches to the docks south of Market
street. This sum alone would pay per
cent interest on a million dollars OF
bonds As soon as the commissioners
agree on some definite measure OF legls-
lation they will submit their plan 10
Governor Pardee and ask'for his Judg-
ment regarding the cost and expectancy
of the work.
The seawaH north of Market street
was constructed. under the supervisor Oh
the Harbor Commissioners. the Governor
of the State and the Mayor of San Fran
cisco. A similar supervising authority
will apply to the extension now IN view.
While the commissioners are conndeht
thdt not more IMAM Sl-UvV,vJV VIII bC -
quired to complete the work there IS
sentiment favorable to the submission OF
a proposition to authorize the issue OF
per cent bonds to the limit OF S2,VJV'oVV.
The proposition, however. whether II De
for Sl0000G0, or double that amount must
be submitted to the people of the state
and bonds cannot be issued unless the
voters give their assent.
1t is presumed tfrat submission 70 the
voters may take place at the general elec-
ton Of 1904 The property of the state Is
not to- be taxed to meet the interest OF
pay the principal of the bonds. Revenue
derived from harbor tolls will pay the
interest and also establish sinking 1und
for purposes of redemption. Whatever
may be the desire of San Francisco mer-
chants in the matter of increased tacil-
ties for commerce nothing in the way Oh
extended harbor Improvement can De
executed without the consent OF the
State. Yet neither real estate nor per
sonal property is subjected to a tax LOT
the work.
The distance from Market 10 Channel
street along the proposed line of tlfe wall
is GOO feet The whole work Will doupt-
less be subdivided into six sections Oh IVpl
feet each The demands of commerce Will
not permit the construction of more thah
one section at the same time. Engineers
calculate that a years time will be re-
CURED Tor the DullQllls VI CeNA4 @NNNA'-A'
therefore the whole work in view cannot
be finished before 1910
The existing seawaIl extending-from the
foot of Market street north cost ABOUT
$50 foot-or $50 900 for a section The
cost of labor is now much higher thah
it was twenty years ago, hence the future
expense may approximate $500 a foot y
rough estimate places the cost of the pro-
ieCted wall of 5000 feet at l,2OO0OO. IN
addition thereto means must be provided
for building ten substantial wharves.
Each wharf it is estimated. viii cost
$75 GEO. A further outlay for filling in Will
be required. Having in view a possible
expenditure of 81, 600 900 the commissioners
are inclined to ask the Legislature to
place that amount in the proposition to
be submitted to the voters.
Again, it ia figured that the increased
tolls as the permanent Improvement pro
crosses, together with the saving on ac-
count of repairs, will very nearly cover
the cost of construction, so that after all
things are summed up bond issue Of
$4,000 may meet all requirements To
provide for emergencies and unexpected
obstacles bonds for a greater sum may
be issued.
The bill. which will soon be submitted
to the Legislature will contain provisions
for the issue of the bonds in five or six
installments To each issue the Governor
, must assent. II Is pIONlueu thee 1ilO iiAO
of the first bonds shall be nineteen years
ana that the rate of interest allowed shall
be per cent 1t is surmised that the
regents of the university and trustees of
the State school fund will be active bid
I ders for the bonds.
At a meeting of the Harbor Commits
sioners yesterday a petition for increase
/ in the pay of sweepers was favoraby
/ considered but final action was deferred.
4 The sweepers now receive $50 a month
/ for twenty-six days work. The petition
! sets forth: 1.-THE prices of living and rent
| have advanced so high that our salary is
not sufficient to pay for the education of
/ our children and to live like American
citizens should
Darby Layton was the lowest bidder for
repairing Washington-s wharf. He
was awarded the contract on his bid of
$4C64.