The San Francisco call., 1906-10-23
Oakland Merchants Declare
They Will Raise the Cash
to Build a Belt Road
RESENT ACTION OF
SOUTHERN PACIFIC
Lively Scene at Meeting
of Supervisors When
Railroad Recalls Petition

OAKLAND, Oct. 22.-Refusal tonight
OF the Southern Pacific Company to ae-
eept a franchise for a belt line @Indus-
try track along the line OF the tidal
canal In East Oakland, with the eondI-
tion that the tracks be open for the use
of other railroads, led Attorney r. N.
Fitzgerald. representing a number OF
large manufacturing firms already es-
tablished along the line OF the proposed
industry track. to announce TO the
Council that the firms represented BY
him would organize railroad corpora
tiOn and build line, In the franchise
for which would be embodied the con-
dition that II should be open to the use
of any and all railroads.
Fitzgerald declared that he would
form the new eOrporation and be ready
TO make application for the franchise
in three weeks, and the committee OF
the whole, after some discussion, laid
the matter over for that time.
Attorney Fitzgerald appeared before
the committee as the representative OF
the California Cotton Mills. the Pacific
Steel and Wire Company. the United
Gas Engine Company. the Standard
Gas Engine Company. George D. Gray
& Co., Thomas whiteIaw & Sons,
and n. j. Britain.
Attorney Philip II Walsh, represent
ing the Southern Pacific Company. def
initely announced that the Southern
Pacific Company would not accept the
franchise embodying the conditions
proposed by the manufacturers rep
resented by Fitzgerald and then IL was
that the latter declared that his clients
would form the independent corpora
ton and build the line themselves.
Fitzgerald said the industry line would
be constructed as soon as possible after
the granting OF the franchise either
by the Western Pacific. the Santa Fs.
or the corporation organized by the
manufacturers represented by~hin-
After hearing the argument OF At
torney Fitzgerald. Councilmen Thurs
ton and Donaldson announced that they
would not vote for a franchise for a
lire along the water front for the ex-
elusive use OF any railroad Thurston
said: Private ownership of-water front
property is already the curse OF this
city"
He then moved that the COMMITTEES
recommend that the application Of the
Southern Pacific Company be denied.
but withdrew his motion in favor OF
the amendment to postpone action for
a long enough time to allow organiza-
ton of the independent corporation.
The original application for the fran
chise was introduced several weeks ago
and called for a spur industry track
that should run along the northeast
ern shore OF the tidal canal. ostensibly
to serve the large manufacturing plants
thsre located. The demand that the
tracks should be open, TO all roads
came as a surprise tonight. for at the
outset it was evident that the South
ern Pacific Company did not expect op-
position from the manufacturers. Their
stand for an open" track has simpli-
fed a situation which by some OF the
Councilmen had been looked upon as
a move on the part of the Southern Pa
cific Company to belt line the water
front and prevent either the Western
Pacific. the Santa Fe or any other COM
peting railroad from ever gaining ac-
cess to the harbor in that district.
The committee OF the whole recom-
mended that an ordinance calling for
an election on the proposal to annex
to the city Fruitvale. Melrose. Elm
hurst and Allendale be at once pre-
pared by the City Attorney and City
Engineer. and that it be presented to
the City Council as soon as possible.