The San Francisco call., 1906-05-03

merchants OF San Francisco yesterday
accepted an offer Of the Southern Pa
cific Company for the lease OF a tract
of land upon which to build and con-
duct their business for the next year
or two.
The cheering announcement was
made also that Wells, Fargo & Co.'S
Express had made a reduced rate for
expressage beginning on May 1 and
continuing for sixty days, and that
company and the Southern Pacific
Company would accept checks or due
bills from the merchants for freight.
The site accepted by the wholesal-
ers lies between Sixth and Seventh.
Irwin and Sixteenth streets The
railroad company agreed to lease this
tract to the merchants for one year
for the rental of one and two-tenths
cents per square foot per annum. with
the privilege of renewing the lease for
another year at slightly increased
rental.
Chairman Joseph kirkpatrick made
the announcement that the special
committee appointed at a previous
meeting TO select a site on which the
merchants could do business was
ready to report NJ. Trieste for the
committee reported the offer OF the
Southern Pacific Company and recc7-
-n.ended the selection o. that site. He
stated also that the Santa Fe Com
pany had offered n tract Of $4,000
square feet. bounded by Indiana.
Minnesota, Eighteenth and Twenty
second streets. and a portion OF China
Basin. between Fourth. Channel and
the bay. The Western Pacific had
also made an offer of land in the vi
cjnity. he added, but the committee
decided that the site offered by the
Southern Pacific was the best.
The committee reported further that
the insurance underwriters had de-
cl:ned to fix any rate OF insurance,
but had said that II would be be-
tween two and three cents, the differ
ence depending upon the water sup
ply. proximity to other h.. dings and
the other usual factors For the pur-
pose of facilitating business the
banks had promised to furnish an au-
tomobile service twice day to ran
between the wholesale district and the
banks.
Mr.. Sproule of the Southern Pacific
addressed the meeting and said that
TREY L. Ford and General Manager
Chapman of the United Railroads had
promised better street-car facilities in
that district. He added that the
Southern Pacific Company would put
in the necessary tracks and switches
for the facilitation OF the wholesalers
business
The site accepted Is IN such a loca-
ton that lines Of pipe can be laid into
Channel street to run to salt water
for the purpose Of protection against
fire.
In determining the location ana
the terms" added Mr.. Sproule, eve
have been actuated by desire to af-
ford you the best property available.
and terms so low that all can work
hand in hand with you for the up
building of the commercial interests
os the city"
Some discussion followed upon the
subject OF the building material TO
be used and its cost: also as to the
manner Of assessing the builders. Cor
rugated iron and wood were suggest
ed. but Mr.. Trieste said that the rate
OF insurance on each was about the
same. and that the proper kind Of red
wood was about as freproof as CORFU
rated iron- Further, there Is a good
supply OF redwood lumber In this
city. while the supply Of corrugated
iron is limited at the present time.
He estimated that a redwood build
ing 5Ox100 feet would cost about s2500
the difference in cost between that
and corrugated iron being slight.
In reply to question Mr.. Sproule
said that the lessees would be ar rih-
erty to remove the buildings at the
expiration OF the lease.
The committee was instructed m
make the allotment of floor space in
accordance with the request Of each
signer of the agreement.
!. Jacobs of the Cutting Packing
Company spoke upon the necessity OF
having the belt line OF railway on
the water front extended around the
whole front. as was the case In New
York and other places, so that tho
merchants might be enabled to han
die goods with more facility. He aad-
ed that this would have been done
long ago had not the teamsters op-
posed It. On motion OF DR.. Brenner
the chairman was authorized ITO an
point committee OF three to Law the
maatter before the Harbor Commits
sioners.