The San Francisco call., 1906-11-06
MILLIONS ORGANIZE
To OVERWHELM
HARTMAN.
Industrial Capital of Oak
land Combines Strength in
Fight for Harbor Front
INCORPORATES TO
BUILD BELT LINE
Purpose Keeping Road Open
for Uses of Competing
Railways That Enter City

OAKLAND. Nov. 5.-MiIlfOnS of dol
lars in industrial capital have been or
ganized 70 hsht r. II. Harriman's at
tenpf 10 grab the north side of the
tidal canal and complete the loot of
what little remains of OaI<Iand's har-
bor frontage uncontrolled by corpora
tion interests.
The declaration made two weeks ago
before the City Council by Attorney
Robert VI. Fitzgerald that his clients
would resist the Southern Pacific COM
panv's attempt TO get a cI0sed-track
franchise for belt line fn the new
manufacturing district along the tidal
canal has been realized in actual moves.
At that time Fitzgerald told the
City Council hts clients would organ
ize railway company and build the
s'industrx' line itself unless the south
ern Pacific Company should agree to a
provision in the franchise that the
tracks should he open to all railways.
This the Southern Pacific attorney, P.
" Walsh. refused point blank to con-
sent TO. and now the war is on.
Announcement was made today that
the articles Of Incorporation of the new
railway are ready TO be drawn. and
VIII be sent TO Sacramento this week
The fnaorporators have been selected.
and they represent some of the largest
industries in the United States now
located along the shores of the Oak
land basin and the tidal canal n,
Heading the list is George D. GRAY of
the George D. Gray Lumber Company.
Following are oscar F. Long of the Pa
cifc steel and Wire Company, T. H. P.
whitelaw Of the big wrecking firm.
James s. Hawkins Of the STANDARD Gas
Engine Company. ". J. Casey of the
Union Gas Engine Company. John R.
Hodge and Julius A. Landsberger
WILL ASK FOR FRANCHISE.
These men have determined to ask
for q franchise for an open belt line
railway that shall extend from Fruit
vale avenue west along Glascock
street and following through private
property. most Of il belonging TO the
big concerns interested. 10 point near
the Pacific Steel and Wire plant. at
Twenty-third avenue. The projectors
traverse the same route selected by the
Southern Pacific Company. the track
line being arranged for the convent
ence Of the shippers in handling the
enormous volume Of business grown up
in the new district The intention OF
the incorporators is to carry the belt
road as far as First and Harrison
streets thus giving all the industries
along the harbor front and tidal ca7
nal from Harrison street to Fruitvale
avenue, opportunity 10 get facilities for
handling freight that will enectually
block the Southern Pacihc's attempt to
uonopolize the business in this dis
trict
The Southern Pacific Company in
tends. il granted q closed track fran
chise by the Council and the Board
Of Supervisors, to connect its main line
AT Fruitvale avenue with this indus
try track. which will run south of the
main line and parallel the tidal canal
With no other company able to run
its cars over this line, the shippers
VIII be AT the mercy of the Southern
Pacific Company. Here is where they
have baked They are assured of max
ing connections with the Western Pa
cilc Railway Company's tracks. which
parallel the Southern Pacific line into
Oakland. They are assured that the
Western Pacific. the Santa Fe or a
third company. not named. will build
the line they have projected. provided
ST is an open line for all railways to
freight over
DUAL JURISDICTION.
The projected line covers territory
within the Jurisdiction of the Board of
Supervisors as well as the City Council.