The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-05-20
SITE FOR BIG
POWER PLANT
IS PURCHASED
New Company Enters Field
Against Bay Counties
Corporation
PLANS KEPT SECRET
Large Tract of Desirable
Land Is Secured in
East Oakland
HAS A STRONG ALLY
Western Pacific Railway Is
Said to Be Interested
in Enterprise
OAKLAND, May le.-with


millions of capital behind it and in
close alliance with the Western
power company, which it to give
battle to the Bay Counties and
the Standard for the transmission
and sale of electrical energy, has
located a site in this city for a
power station, which will be one
of the main supply headquarters
on line stretching from the
Sierras to the sea-
Quietly. and under cover of indi-
vldual names the Western power COM
pany has purchased a large tract OF
land in East Oakland on Brooklyn
basin. where the plant which is to
mark one OF the important links in
the chain OF power stations which
this gigantic corporation has planned
is TO be constructed. The site Is on
what is known as Sessions basin, just
east OF the north arm of the estuary
into Lake Merritt and adjoining the
holdings of the American magnesite
company at the foot Of Sixth avenue.
MAIN DISTRIBUTING POINT
The site has been selected as the
main distributing point for Oakland.
The company has extensive plans for
the development OF its main sources
OF supply. which will be located in the
Sierra Nevada mountains not far from
where the main line of the Western
Pacific crosses the mountains through
Beckwith pass.
The enterprise is closely identified
with the Western Pacific interests in
New York city. At the head of the
new company is Edwin Hawley and
other representatives OF capital which
are concerned directly in the Gould
railway development.
It is declared by those who are in
formed concerning the new company's
ern power company proposes to COM
pete with the Standard and the Bay
Counties for business and to extend
and virtually parallel one or both of
the other lines. This means that Oro-
Vile, MarysviIIe. Sacramento, stock
ton. Oakland and San Francisco will
be supplied with power by the new
company.
WILL CHEAPEN POWER
So far as this city is concerned, the
invasion OF the neld by the new cor
poration means the further cheaper
ing Of electric power as well as the
assurance of a tremendous increase in
that form OF energy for ali Industrial
and commercial purposes. 1t is
noteworthy fact that the site on Ses-
sions basin which has been selected
is on the line Of the Western Pacific
into Oakland just where the new road
starts TO cross from East Oakland
This has given rise to a repetition of
the rumor that the Western Pacific
proposes to use electricity Tor great
part OF its motive power. With the
Western power company so closely al
lied there is apparently good grounds
for this current talk in railway cir
cles.
The purchase Of the Oakland site.
which covers several acres, represents
an investment of sum said to be
above $4,000 for the land bare of
improvements. The secrecy mani
tested as to that transaction is not
equal TO the efforts made to conceal
the detailed plans rs TO the line of the
company into this city. It is conf
IDENTIFY believed by engineers who have
been informed generally as to the new
move that the line win come in by
way OF Sacramento. feeding across the
and probably touch at de-
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