The San Francisco call., 1904-04-11

DISC. at the same time, increased The
roads leading into Oakland The most
noteworthy Of the enterprises of this
sort in which the Merchants Exchange
has been engaged was the tunnel road
between Alameda and Contra Costa
counties. That road was projected
many years ago. Since then il has
been taken up as a dream at intervals.
About six years ago the Exchange went
al the matter in earnest and the re-
suit is that the road has been conf
pleted.
The cost of constructing the road
was quite large. Three-fif of the
tunnel is in Contra Costa County It
was evident that Contra Costa County
could not undertake three -fifths of the,
expense. 1t was therefore arranged
that Contra Costa should pay two
fifths. Alameda County two
fifths and the remaining one-fifth of
the cost was to be raised through the
agency Of the Merchants Exchange by
subscriptions. This plan was carried
out successfully. The Merchants Ex-
change raised between S11 900 and 312,-
600. The road does not reduce the dis
tance, but decreases the grade and
opens UP an easy way for the people
oe Contra Costa County to get into
Oakland 10 trade.
The Merchants Exchange also put
through the Redwood Canyon and
Moraga Valley road, otherwise known
as the Medau road. The Exchange has
also co-operated with others in the new
fccthill road from Oakland to Hay
wards That follows the line of the
lower foothills and is distinctively a
scenic drive. One provision is that
no electric or other railway shall be
constructed on the road. We cooper
ated with other bodies in that The
Merchants Exchange has assisted in
having Oakland's streets improved.
The work on Telegraph avenue is now
under way and ii will probably be
completed in six months.
FOURTH OF JULY.
Five successful celebrations of the
Fourth of July in Oakland have been
brought about by the Merchants Ex-
change. Each, in succession, has been
better than the preceding ones. This
has almost led us TO dread the next
celebration for fear that 1t will not keep
up the record of being an improvement
on those that have gone before it, In
former years Oakland would have a
fine Fourth Of July procession in the
forenoon. After that was over every
one would go out of the city.
The Merchants Exchange has real
lied that there could be a practical as
well as a patriotic side to the Fourth
Of July celebrations. In carrying out
this idea. celebrations have been de-
vised so that the visitors to the city
would remain all day. There have been
morning parades, afternoon exercises
at Lake Merritt and fireworks in the
evening. This has resulted in leaving
quite a large sum of money from out
side in Oakland every Fourth of July.
Thousands of visitors have been
brought into the city and induced to
10, Oolr
The Merchants Exchange has coop
Grated to bring people TO Oakland dur
ing the sessions of the national assem-
blies of various kinds in San Fran
cisco Oakland days have become well
known. The fame of Oakland has
been largely extended thereby. Oak
land entertained, among other famous
guests, President Mckinley and Pres
ident Roosevelt Arrangements are
making now for the entertainment OF
the delegates to the National Retail
Grocers' convention to be held soon in
San Francisco.
Recently the Merchants Exchange
has been engaged in collecting the Al
aneda County exhibit for the Louis
lana Purchase Exposition at st. Louis.
This work has been in charge Of a COM
mittee headed by Mr.. Gier. Mr.. Well
bye is now in st. Louis attending to
the installation of the Alameda County
exhibit
Cooperating with others. the Mer-
chants Exchange aided TO secure the
passage in the California Legislature |
of the bill to permit the garnishment Of
the salaries Of public employees. The |
exchange has been instrumental in the |
passage of other bills.
WORK is THOROUGH.
In general way the purpose OF the |
exchange has been to get behind one |
thing at a time and to push that to a /
finish. We have agitated in favor of /
combining Oakland. Alameda and 1
Berkeley into one city. That ought to \
be effected. The consolidation OF the /
three cities into one would make a
larger than Los Angeles. /
It would be influential by reason of the |
character Of it's inhabitants. The Mer- 4
chants Exchange is emphatically in
favor Of a greater Oakland, to extend
from the Contra Costa County line tol
San Leandro Creek. Now, within three
miles Of the Oakland City Hall, five