The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-02-08
GREAT COMMERCE OF
SAN FRANCISCO

|
SAN FRANCISCO, January 2S.-
From all parts of the world a fleet
of vessels, pointing bows this way, is
bound for this port, loaded with build
ing material to help in the rebuilding
of San Francisco. An argosy the
like Of which the world has seldom
seen is spreading sail for the Golden
Gate. According to shipping authori-
ties there is listed the largest number
of vessela chartered for or on the way
| to this harLor that has ever been
recorded in the history of the coast
metropolis. According to these same
authorities the problem facing the
city is this: What she'll be done with
the vessels when they arrivel Already
the harbor is crowded with ships of
| all classes unable to get dockage
whereon to unload the merchandise for
which builders and merchants are i'm
patiently clamoring. Contracts for the
erection of great steel structures have
been let, but work has in many cases
not even been begun, for there is not
steel enough, cement enough, nor stone
enough to push the building upward
to rooted completion. Much of this
| material is in the stream without
place to be docked from the ships in
which it is loaded.
San Francisco Bay, which is the boast
of the West, has not enough wharves,
say the shippers, to take care of the
vessels row in port. The question is
asked: "Wbat will be done when the
fleet on the way, or about to start, ar
rivesi"
According to one shipper, there are
listed over seventy-fve ships which
have left foreign ports, and more than
that number are chartered FOR this city.
Antwerp is sending out fleet of
twenty merchantmen. In this fleet there
are British ship, French Italian, Nor
wegian and American; New York,
Baltimore, Camden and OTHER United
States ports are sending an equal num-
ber of high tonnage vessels; Calcutta
and Glasgow; Newcastle, Australia, and
Newcastle, England, London and Rot
terdam and finally Hamburg are all
contributing to the merchant marine
that is bringing the material that will
help make rev San Francisco.
An aggregate of nearly 100000 tons
of ships is one way of stating the
enormous shipping activity that is cen
tering to this port. Structural steel, |
cement and other building materials
make up the major portion of the car
goes carried by these vessels. From
the little Mcdea, Swedish bark bound
from Gothenburg, weighing 1921 tons,
to the Nitokris, 1000 tons, out from
Hamburg, or the giant Texan, $685. tons,
out of New York, they are all headed |
this way, and unless overtaken by dis
aster they will ride through the Golden
Gate looking for a dock at which to
rest while they give up the cargoes
from over seas.
The situation is regarded by water
front authorities as extremely grave,
and recommendations are made that |
emergency methods be employed to Sc
cure wharfage for these ships, many
of which are due to arrive any day, as
well as for the vessels that are tug
ging at their chains in the stream,
loaded with steel and iron and other |
building materials, which San Francisco
so badly needs at once.
The cement might as well be in Ant.
werp and London and the steel in New
York as to be in the holds of vessels
swinging in San Francisco Bay with
out opportunity of unloading at this
port, say the consignees.
sssssAsesssseessssAAAAAAAs
ney. G. II. Meyer. j. H. Moragne. II. |
p. Harrison, Miss Faye.
Per str. Iwalani, February g. for
Maui and Lanai-C. Gay and wife. A.
X. Gurrey.
Per str. Mikahala. February z. for
Kauai ports.-J. r. Jaeger, N. II. |
Brock. C. F. Hayes. G. f. il. Baker.
X. A. McWayne, Mr.. Rosenbladt, Hee
Fat Miss Pealani and servant, d. L. |
Austin. G. p. Denison. Mrs. Kenny
Per str. Noeau, February Z, for Ma