The San Francisco call., 1908-09-29
HARBOR REPORT IS
Big CITY VICTORY
Southern Pacific Comedies TO
Oakland All Rights of
Water Front
Measure Submitted to Council
Contains Clauses of Vast
Importance

OAKLAND. Sept 2S.-A report in
volviug propositions of tremendous i'm
portance TO the city of Oakland in the
development of its water front was
submitted TO the city council tonight
by the board Of public works. The re-
port shows that the Southern Pacific
company is ready TO acknowledge that
the control Of the wharflng out privi-
leges on the harbor front is vested in
the city, and that in return for the
granting of q so year franchise for
the Oakland mole and other smaller
franchises, including about $50 feet of
frontage Immediately south of the mole,
the road win agree not TO appeal from
the decision Of the circuit court of ap-
peal in the case of the Southern Pa
cific against the Western Pacific, and
will grant TO the city numerous valu-
able concessions on the water front.
These concessions include the dis
missal of the injunction on Broadway
wharf and the deciding of the wharf to
the city; the deciding to the city of the
lands held by the Southern Pacific on
the East Oakland basin. embraced in
the so called Stratton patent; the re-
moval Of the long wharf, which is val
Ced by the company at $3.50 ,o00, and
has a life of Is years. within eight
years; the free dedication TO the city
by the Southern Pacific and Western
Pacific companies Of a street so feet
wide, running from the corner Of First
and Chestnut streets TO the city wharf
10 be located on the so called white
meat" between the Western Pacific and
Southern Pacific properties; the reduc-
tion Of the number of Southern Pacific
tracks which would cross that street
from I3 TO ;. with the understanding
that the Western Pacific will have only
TWO tracks on the crossing, and the
replacing Of the long wharf of the
Southern Pacific by pier south of the
passenger wharf. The Southern Pa
cific viii be permitted to maintain its
First and Seventh street local lines as
they now exist, and viii dedicate a
grade crossing at Fifth avenue across
the street These are only a portion of
the benefits which the city viii derive
from the agreement
REPORT Il REFERRED
The report was referred to the COM
mittee OF the whole for detailed con-
sideration al its next meeting.
The report as submitted contains Is
stipulations proposed as an arrange
ment between the city of Oakland. the
Southern Pacific, the Western Pacific
and the San Francisco, Oakland and
San Jose railroad company.
The first stipulation provides for the
definition OF the duties Of the Oakland
harbor board Provision is then made
that the Southern Pacific relinauish all
claim 10 the Broadway wharf and to
its lands held under the "Stratton pat
ent" The harbor lines are TO be de-
fined and the present rights of way of
the Southern Pacific recognized. In
the sixth stipulation it is set forth
that the city Of Oakland is to have the
right to extend elevated avenues across
the Southern Pacific tracks.
The following paragraphs propose
that the Southern Pacific cut the long
wharf down TO the length of the pas
senger slip and that the company rec
ogEiZe the right of the city of Oak
land TO build wharves and docks
The eleventh clause proposes that
the Southern Pacific and the Western
Pacific dedicate, without charge
street so feet wide across lands owned
or controlled by them from the vicinity
Of First and Chestnut streets to run
nOrtherly adjacent to the right of way
OF the Western Pacific and TO connect
with such wharves as the city OF Oak
land may determine TO build. The elev-
enth stipulation contains the proposal
that the Southern Pacific agree TO make
final the decree of the circuit court of
appeals in the recent water front suit
which was decided to the advantage of
the city of Oakland.
In the thirteenth stipulation the
Southern Pacific is granted a so wear
franchise over its present wharves
on payment of a sum proportionate to
that paid by the Western Pacific The
fourteenth clause states that before or
at the time Of the removal of the long
wharf, the Southern Pacific company is
70 build wharf adjoining the 800 foot
slip near the proposed buIkhead. The
final stipulation sets forth that the
memorandum refers to the physical
properties as they now stand and adds
that the term Southern Pacific shall
apply also to its leased lines and to the
corporations severally owning them