The San Francisco call., 1907-03-24

TIE geographical entrance 20 the
port OF San Francisco lies be-
tween the rugged headlands that
comprise the mighty portals OF
the Golden Cate. In times OF peace
whatsoever craft that wills may enter.
may pass the old brick fort that looks
60 formidable and means so little, may
sal under the shadow OF the surround
ing hills that look so innocent but are
bristling with batteries OF heavy ar
tiliery placed only Uncle Sam and the
japanese honest-boy know where. Ex-
cept for the han OF pilot or tow boat
skipper. the visiting craft may sail or
steam unchallenged from the broad
Pacific through the Golden Gate and
snto the harbor. Once inside. however.
the ship or liner. trading schooner or
tramp. warship or pleasure yacht from
foreign ports. must acknowledge the
courtesy OF this unhindered welcome
by proceeding 70 the marine anteroom
OF Meiggs wharf and there exhibiting
credentials before being accorded the
privilege OF enjoying the freedom OF
the port
The credentials demanded by Uncle
Sam from visiting foreigners and from
Yankee ships that have visited foreign
ports are many and their exhibition In
wolves the ceremonious unwinding OF
much red tape. The men with the tspe
end sealing wax spend their official
lives at Meiggs wharf. q tumbledown
remnant OF the days before the big VI
brstion. q remnant held IN place and
together by law OF gravity and the
rusted spikes OF a bygone day, and
separated from the rest of the water
front by stretch OF unrestored sea-
wall and an ocean OF mud
The personnel OF this ofdclai and
semionicisI colony seldom changes.
Meiggs wharf ie the most ancient BIT
OF the water front and not q few OF the
Meiggs wharf "steadies" watched the
building OF the structure on which they
spene most OF the time that they are
not on the water garlanding some Wis
ttor with red tape OF seeking informa-
tion for the shipping world from the
latest arrival from the sea.
On Meiggs wharf, at what oficially
.s known as the barge once, are To-
Gated Marine Hospital surgeons who
administer the quarantine law: the i'm
migration oficials whose duty Il is to
filter the tide OF humanity always flow-
ing 20 the land OF promise. and the Gus
tom house inspectors who carry real
red tape and sealing wax and are the
ofieisl guardians OF the tariff wall.
The Merchants Exchange and the Ma
rine Exchange maintain stations at
Meiggs wharf. the United States rev.
enue cutters Golden Gate and Hartley
lie there. several boatmen make II
their headquarters. and II is from
Meiggs wharf that the bar pilots
board the yachtlike schooners IN which
they make their outside cruises.
Quarantine and immigration officials
put IN an appearance with the sun and
disappear when the orb OF day drops
below the horizon. The customs force
is always represented there and the
shipping exchanges are busy night and
day.
This little colony. bound together by
a common interest IN the ships that
arrive and isolated from the rest OF
the city by the geographical location
OF their workshop is peculiarly sum
cient unto itself and essentially demo-
cratic. Association. close and contin-
ued, intimate almost as IL on ship
board. has taught each man 20 know
his neighbor for what he is and the
fresh sea air has inspired a frankness
OF expression which leaves the neigh
Dor IN no doubt as to his standing IN
the community.
There is no aristocracy at Meiegs
wharf. Or rather there is q nobility
there, proud IN the face OF the outer
world. but without superior and in
ferior rank az among themselves The
quarantine officials as commissioned
oficers OF the United States Govern
ment may enjoy social distinction else
where. but at Meiggs wharf they enjoy
only the title DOC" and the privilege
the law gives them OF boarding incom-
ing vessels hrst and OF keeping the
rest OF the colony of until they give
the word. Every man on Meiggs wharf
attends strictly 20 his own particular
oflciaI business. As far as work is
concerned there is no tnterference. But
there arc many hours OF waiting at
Meiggs wharf and then Il is that the
colony's characteristics make them
selves manifest
Probably the oldest inhabitant 10
Alike Fitzgerald. In charEs OF tbs Mer-