The San Francisco call., 1907-01-18
PROPOSES
GREATER HARbOR
Suggests That Commission
Visit Other Ports and
Outline the Improvements
WILL. START A FUND


Manufacturers and Producers Asso-
citation yesterday in the rooms of the
California Promotion Committee in I'm
ion Square a letter from Henry J.
Crocker of the Harbor Commission was
read, in which he offers to contribute
$4,000 to a fund Of $4,000 to defray
the expenses of commission to visit
other seaport cities and report on the
harbor improvements best suited for
San Francisco. Crocker's letter was
not all charity, for he found space to
rap the committee from the various
commercial associations which had re-
Gently recommended certain changes on
the front Crocker says the committee
spent four days in doing what should
have taken four months and that it
brought in a report at once trivial
and without effect"
This thrust at the committee of
which T. C. Friedlander, secretary of
the Merchants Exchange, was a lead
ing member, is not calculated to i'm
prove the relations, already strained
between the Harbor Board and the Ex-
change.
TO GO TO LEGISLATURE
Crocker's letter was referred to Pres
ident AAndrea Sbarboro of the asocia-
ton, who announced that he would
place the matter before the committee
of the Legislature. which is to inspect
the harbors Of the State. The letter
follows:
wish to call the attention Of the members to
the agitation that has recently taken place
Of San Francisco. 1t is very desirable that af-
fairs OF this Importance should meet with the
serious attention of all interested.
At joint session Of the following commercial
bodies-Merchants' Association. Chamber of
Improvement Company. Draymens Association,
Protrero Commercial and Manufacturers Asso-
citation. Shipowners Association. and Real Es-
tate Board. held on December II, a committee
was elected 10 investigate and recommend and
have commission of practical men submit plans
for the consideration of the body. This commit
tee was selected and within four days brought
in report which is trivial and without effect.
1t would take committee four months at the
very least. and then only with the aid of legal
talent. reports of engineers and a careful bust
nesslike investigation of necessities to bring this
A commission should be selected to visit other
cities and confer with other managements as TO
the best and cheapest method for Improvements
Of water facilities such have.
San Francisco has s2.00o.00O voted for its
harbor improvements. other than that aid there
has been no financial assistance outside of the
harbor fronts own running receipts. Other
ports of like size and commercial Importance
priated for the betterment of service
/ will subscribe $4,000 TO fund of $4,000 to
be raised by the above associations. this money
to be spent by a capable commission in ascer-
tanning by travel, conference and plans what is
the best need Of San Francisco in this respect,
and Tor framing laws ana securing APPROPRIATIONS
that will give what need.
The water front suffered severely from the
great disaster OF ApTiI is, but what G was dedt
needs and Importance and the Harbor Commits
sioners and their assistants point with pride to
the energy they displayed at the time snd since
the quake in maintaining the facilities for the
commerce Of San Francisco and the State.
STRATTON MAKES PROTEST
A communication was received from
Collector Stratton also in which he
in his efforts to prevent the removal
by the Harbor Board of the Govern
ment scales on the front. The scales
are used to weigh imports so that the
duty charges may be figured. Private
scales were used formerly and a. large
fee charged both the Government and
the importers. The Government has
done the weighing for nothing. Presi-
dent Spear of the Harbor Board has
interpreted the request of the business
interests that all private property be
removed from the wharves and bulk
heads as including the Government
scales. Business men explain his action
as petty desire for revenge.
1t was decided that President Sbar-
Loro should intercede, that the Gov
ernment scales may be allowed to re-
main.
Yesterdays meeting was the first
held by the directors of the Manufac-
turers' and Producers Association since
the fire. 1t was decided to continue
the organization as formerly and to
secure adequate quarters to carry on
the work.
A report opposing the proposed afi-
liation with the Pacific Museum was
received.
The following directors attended the
meeting: c. H. Crocker ]. P Currier,
A c. Rulofson, c. A. Malm, A. Sbar-
boro and j. F. Fontana