The San Francisco call., 1908-09-20
MAGE HAS been
Misunderstood
Accepted the Committee Chair
nlansIlip Because OF his
Local Pride
His Clients Are Not Benefited
by the Recommendations
for HarbOr

The following statement concerning
the Islais creek controversy has been
received from Thomas Magee:
The chief reason l accepted the
chairmanship of the Federated mar
Dor. Improvement associations was De
cause Il had no interest in any property
that would be benefited by any harpor
Improvements which might pe hiaue n,
nv only interest In this work mas peen
that Of an uptown property owner anu
my conviction that the greatness ol
san Francisco harbor, as Tar as an!
commercial benefits to the CITY are con-
cerned will be measured not only oy
its size and shelter and depth OF Watei'
but by the amount Of commerce that
can be induced 10 come mere ana tue
facilities that viii be provided for the
handling Of that commerce L belleNe
that san Francisco. before the end or
the twentieth century, viii be the
largest and greatest city on earth. and
J believe that most Of her business VIII
come and go through the Golden gate
because of the Panama canal and the
commerce OF the far east.
FOreseeing this, and being property
owner selfish enough 10 DO all IN my
power TO aid in the upbuilding or the
city and especially the harbor, l have
comprehensive plan for improved ship
ping facilities and harbOr improve
ments and extensions, which points
out how. for the next 80 years, the
Ny only clients who might derive
some benefit by this report are MRS.
Vanderbilt and Mrs Oelrichs l ap-
pealed 10 their public spirit TO help IN
this great work, and also showed them
that incidentally they would also bene-
fl. because Of their ownership near the
Preside. They contributed TO the
fund. 1t so happens, however. that no
seawaIl exists in front Of their prop
erty the seawall ending at Taylor
street Therefore the s4.000,00o allud-
fr.7T q daxr u fCh Will
some day be expended on their prop
erty. must be expended by them. They
contributed $1,000 TO this fund, and
the benefit they derive from that con-
fribution consists of recommendation
by competent engineers as TO how
their property should be eventually
treated. When il is improved every
dollar must be expended by them, as
their land holdings and the water
blocks In front of them are entirely
in private ownership. l think they
paid Sufficiently for the suggested
treatment shown in the report.
Mrs. Oelrichs has lately sold the
bulk Of her holdings there. and Mrs.
Vanderbilt now has a recommendation
of intelligent engineers TO improve her
property. If she so desires. She has
no intention of making any improve
ments there AS property owner here
/ wish she would
In the engineers report suggestions
are made for the treatment of every
thing along the water front, including
Goat Island ana the AldIleCd SnOIt.
The reference TO the Nanderbilt-Oel
richs holdings is only suggestive OF
what might be done some time within
50 years. The state can build an iso-
lated section Of seawall. If il chooses
from the Fulton iron works eastward
but the government reservations or
both sides prohibit connection with the
present seaWali. and II Is doubtful. II
my mind if this section of seawall VIII
ever be contemplated or ever built.
have never made any effort, nor have
fort, TO have this section Of seawal
built there.
CLIENTS NOT INTERESTED
If 1 had considered my clients only
regardless of the interests of Sar
Francisco. ] would have strenuously
opposed building a basin near Islais
creek. l would have favored, in the
strongest terms. development to the
west, that my clients might then de-
rive Immediate benefit; but, believing
must be handled south Of Market street
10 Hunters point first. and that any
development near the Preside or For
Mason must come last, l have contin-
uously and consistently favored the
lslais creek basin. Our engineer
agree with me in this and in our re.
port. which speaks for itself, w'
recommend that $40 900 900 be expended
along the water front, a third o.
which shall be used for the acquisition
dredging, bulkheading, wharving anC
viii be expended by the harbor com
missioners as they think best, but the,
can not expend one dollar west of For
Mason, for they have no jurisdiction
there.
There is no controversy between oui
committee and the people Of the Mis-
sion regarding the advisability of ;
basin at that point We simply diffe
with them as TO how best TO accom-
plish the required results. The fore
word which l have recommended to tn
executive committee for them to adop
and insert as a fyleaf in the report 1
as follows:
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
Forew,srd OF the Executive Committee Of tn
Federated Hsrbor Improvement Association,
In January, 1906. delegates appointed by tn
following organizations held a meeting TO devils
WAYS and means to raise money and employ er
flneers 70 formulate a comprehensive plan fC
the improvement and develOpmeuf Of the harbc
of San Francisco: Chamber Of commerce. me-
chants association. merchants exchange. adOrT
ment and improvement association. water fror
federstlO San Francisco labor council. real e
tate board, ship owners association of the Ps
cihe coast. California Promotion committee
board Of trade Commonwealth club and built
ing trades council
An executive committee composed of Thoms
Nagee, K II. Swain. W j. Barrett. James
Phelan and F'W. Dohrmann, representing the
civic bodies. carried out this work
Believing Il inadvisable 10 employ local eI
glneers. the committee wrote to Alfred Noble
New York. inviting him TO come here and NAL
the plan. Because Of his duties In fhe east
declined Then the chief engineership was O
fcred 10 Luther Wagner Of San Francisco WI
accepted. Colonel ". H. Heuer OF the Unite
States army engineer corps (retiredl agreed
act as consulting engineer.
Sufficient money was raised by private sui
scfiption TO pay the expenses Of the enginerir
investigations in this country and abroad. and
pay for making and printing the following r
port.
To finance the enormous improvements whic
This report cOnfenaplafes will require most ear
ful thought and consideration
After mature deiiberation the committee re
oumends that the money required to do tn
work should be raised needed under the pls
Of - year bonds the sinking fund 10 commen,
- years after issuance The proposal 70 perm
such bonds 10 be issued win be submitted 10 II
&. yoter as constitutional amendment al Il
November election, and this committee hopes
wifi be adopted.
We earnestly recommend this report, plsnniI
the most important measures for the extensis
and handling Of the commerce OF this city al
state. 70 the consideration Of the citizens al
tax payers Of San Francisco and California
THOMAS MAGEE.
Chairman Executive Comnafffae