The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
Colonel Biddle Reports on
River and HarbOr Work
Engineer Discusses Projects on the Pacific
Coast and Makes Recommendations


made in connection with. the improve
ment of Mare Island strait and can not
be separated
The maximum available depth June
81, 1903. at low tide is about ~ 1eet.
The ordinary range of tide is from 30
feet to SIS feet.
Improvement is needed to permit
naval vessels to reach mare dsian ~
navy yard at all stages OF the tide. 1t
is not required by the present COM
merce, and has had no effect on freight
rates.
The funds on hand will be used to
make examinations and to dredge any
small shoal places that may develop.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
The commerce of the San JOAQUIN
river is reported by j. M. Eddy, esecre-
merce. as reaching 736, Az tons during
the year 1907, valued at S25.00V,ooV, ex-
elusive of the freight carried py the
steam and gasoline Launches plylns, pc
tweens Stockton and the many river
islands which are under cultivatlon'
and which carry large amounts Oh sup
plies and produce, but OF Wnlch no aT-
curate account can be obtained. NeaI ~,
all of this freight is carried on the
lower San Joaquin river DeioW SloCh-
ton, the commerce of the upper oan
Joaquin being small The commerce
is reported to be lighter than last year
on account of the stoppage or naV1ga-
ton In Stockton channel during sew
eral months.
Inc nature OIL the commerce. nelo n.y.
been changed by these improvements.
The improvements have undoubtedly
had effect on freight rates, tnougn the
amount can not be ascertalned.
Funds appropriated viii pc used IN
dredging and snagging for the extern
sion of benefits. -
On March z, 1908, in accordance with
act of congress of March 2, 1907, sur
vey was ordered of this river and its
tributary, Stockton channel, from san
Francisco bay to Stockton, Cal., with a
view to 8. II and Is foot navigatlon.
There are now five survey parties en-
gagged on this work in conjunction with
similar survey of the sacramento
river, and it is expected that 1t VIII
be completed and a report thereon sub
mitted early this fall
July l. 1907, balance unexpended. $S3. GIT IL
June 30, 1905, amount expended dur
ing fiscal year for maintenance OF
Improvement ...-...-...........- oi,o44'i
July /, 1908, balance unexpended... s1,T33 .06
Amount that be proftably ex-
pended in fiscal year ending June
80, 1910. for maintenance OF i'm
provement, in addition TO the bal
ance uuexpended July ], 1905. $50, 600 .0O
Submitted in compliance with requirements OF
sundry civil act OF June 4, 1897. and or section
{ of the river and harbor act of 1899
HUMBOLDT RIVER AND BAY
Since the Improvement the popula-
ton of Eureka and vicinity is claimed
to have increased from 1000 to about
creased. Deeper craft vessels and more
of them now run regularly to Hum
boldt bay.
During July September. 1907, an ex-
animation and survey of the entrance,
jettieS and channel was made. This sur
vey showed considerable deterioration
in both channel and jetties since the
last survey Of 1903.
RECOMMENDATION
Stockton and Mormon Channels-An
appropriation of $751; 900 is needed for
carrying on the work now being done.
The engineers in charge of the Cali
fornia work will presently make re-
ports on the following proposed i'm
provements:
First-San Francisco harbor, Cali
fornia, with a view to removal of Mis-
sion bay rocks, Packard rocks. Whiting
rock, Fifteen Foot rock, Invincible
rocks. MONDAY rocks, Anita rock, Cen
tissina and Sears rocks, and rocks near
Mail dock in Bonita channel.
Second-San Joaquin river and Stock
ton channel from San Francisco bay to
Stockton, Cal.
Third-Suisun channel, California.