The San Francisco call., 1908-09-09
$1,125,OOO BONDS
FOR HARBOR
Mayor and Public Works Board
IndOrse Plan for Water
Front Improvement
Condemn Scheme for $4,500,000
Issue in Special Message
and Report

OAKLAND, Sept. s.-The city council
received two important messages to-
night upon the harbor front situation,
which were presented by Mayor Mott
and the board of public works. The
board filed a report recommending that
$1I25, 900 be called for in bond issue
for harbor Improvements, to consist of
piers between Broadway and Jefferson
street along the south harbor front and
a pier at the foot of Livingstone street
in East Oakland.
IN his special message TO the council
the mayor indorsed THIS plan. He de-
clared that the proposal TO bond at TINS
time for S4,500,000 was an excessive
proposition. The message was filed and
the report was referred to the commit
tee of the whole.
Councilman Jackson made an attack
on the board, slurring the members and
declaring that they were holding Sc
cret conferences with Southern PACING
officials. Jackson was supported only
by Councilmen Burns, Aitken and Stach-
ler
In his message to the city council
Mayor Mott said in part:
The question of calling election for sub
mission TO the voters OF certain bonding propo-
sitions, primarily among which is that for the
development and improvement OF the water
front, is one OF very great Importance and re-
Quires our best thought and judgment
Under a recent court decision, il was deter
,,,;1aS r.. - It, a. Sastad ,-i+l, ,rbardnp
ont control of the city front, which control
may be exercised either in the granting OF
franchises TO private interests quasi-puble
corporations, by building and controlling
piers and wharYes by the municipality itself
the city the former method Of development
may be used, provided the public interests be
the only wise course for the city 10 pursue
is 10 proceed with the Development of the
water front, owning maintaining and manag-
ing IL for the general good. L am strongly
in favor Of this policy, and ! firmly believe
the people in full accord and viii sane
tion the expenditure of an amount OF money
sufficient TO substantially begin the undertak-
The amount of money necessary to begin
this great project can only be ascertained ty
a close and thorough study Of the situation.
The board Of public works has already fur
nished s general plan Of Improvement and that
body is about 10 make another report Of what
in its judgment should be done now. COM
mend to your attention these reports and their
recommendatlons. and trust care1ul perusal
thereof viii result in your determining upon
council, namely, 81. SOC, 600. In my judgment.
this amount is far in excess Of what is neces-
sary at the present time, and to submit a
bonding proposition Of this magnitude would he
not only unwise but would seriously Jeopardize
II not defeat the project.
With the issuance of an amount suited TO
present needs. the funds be put to imme-
date use, and later, as the demands OF busf-
ness warrant. subsequent propositions can be
OF interest than would be obliged TO pay
AT this time. As has already been said, the
people of Oakland in my judgment. strongly
favor the municipal control and Development
OF the water front but, in order TO obtain their
consent TO the issuance of bonds, must be
prepared 10 show them that every dollar asked
for is actually needed at this time
The board OF public works submitted
a report supplementary to one showing
the general plan Of improvement of the
entire water front. In tonights report
the board said in par:
Immediate development of the whole of the
water front is not justified by the necessities OF
our present commerce. and the expense neces-
sariiy involved IN tie development OF this large
territory is practically prohibitiTe Of such
dertaking at the present time
In our opinion Improvements should be first
inade in that portion of the water front nearest
and facilities for shipping should be located at a
point most accessible TO those commercial
factors.
After careful consideration Of this subject mat
ter the board Of public works would recommend
that proper facilities for shipping be constructed
along San Antonio estuary between Broadway
and Jefferson street, and to this end and purpose
that the city be bonded in the sum of $3.50. 900
for the purposes Of acquisition OF land, dredging
and wharf construction, and the board of public
works further recommends that a pier be erected
IN the East Oakland basin at the end of Liv-
ingsto2 street at a cost of $175. 600.
With reference 20 that portion Of the water
front lying between Emeryville and the north
training wall at the entrance OF Oakland harbor
serious consideration. and viii report concern
ing the matter at early date.
Accompanying the report was the fol-
lowing detail of estimated cost:
Pier No. ! s-.--..-......--... $4,000
Shed for No. l. ls-..........-. $4,000
S95fOO0
Pier 10 ? .c-...--.....--.- $4,000