The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
Two Tunnels, Two Big Termi-
mails and Traffic Changes in
Prodigious Plan
Purchase of Fort Mason Water
Blocks First Move in Big
Undertaking
Passenger Station at Van Ness
and Market Included in
the Project
Hole Under Russian and Tele.
graph Hills to Land Freight
in Wholesale Section

7 1TH the favorable action
NV of the house OF representa-
v v tives upon the application
of the Southern Pacific to
tunnel under Fort Mason have come
reports of a vast Hartman project 10
obtain adequate terminal facilities in
San Francisco. 1t is known that
one of the big problems now before
the Hartman lines is that of
freight and passenger depot in this
city. Several plans have been con-
sidered and rejected. 1t is now
learned that Harriman's engineers
have been figuring on an entirely
new and ambitious scheme.
Big Property Bought
The new project. as explained by
men high up in the Hartman eoun-
cils, calls first of all for the acquisi-
ton of the Maurice Dore water
blocks near Fort Mason. The South
ern Pacific has sought this property
openly and it forms the basis for
the greatest engineering undertaking
the city has known. 1t is stated that
these lots will cost Hartman about
S8OO,OOO.
The purchase of the water blocks,
which lie near the foot of Van Ness
avenue. will be followed, according
to these same reports, by the erection
of a system of docks and slips IN
tended to accommodate a vast traffic.
Two Tunnels Under City
The rest of the plan includes two
tunnels under the city, one running
the length of Van Ness avenue to
Market street, where it is under
stood a terminal depot will be con-
structed in conjunction with the
Ocean Shore railroad, and the other
tube extending diagonally under
Russian and Telegraph hills, emerg-
ing at Sansome street in the heart OF
the wholesale district. where a big
freight terminal is contemplated.
The docks at the foot of Van Ness
avenue, according to the scheme now
under consideration, will be used in
conjunction with another water base
at Sausalito. to which trains will be
detected over the new Napa route.
Trains to Sausalit0
1t is stated that it is the intention
to run passenger trains from the up
per Sacramento and possibly the
overland traffic to the Sausalito shore
and from there operate line Of ferry
boats to the proposed depot at the
foot of Van Ness avenue
With an entrance into the city at
the foot Of Van Ness avenue the
Southern Pacific would be in posi-
ton to duplicate the work that has
been done by other large lines in
eastern cities. The double tunnel, as
proposed in the tentative scheme.
calls for the separation of the freight
and passenger business. 1t is adj
mitted that the Ocean Shore at Mar
ket and Eleventh streets holds the
most desirable position for a pas
senger depot. The plans drawn for
Hartman call for a tube under Van
Ness avenue for its entire length.
This would bring the Southern Pa
cifc passenger trains to the junction
of Van Ness avenue and Market
street and give Hartman the Market
street depot for which he has long
struggled.
Freight to Warehouses
The freight could be distributed to
advantage through the tube connect
ing with the wholesale section of the
city. 1t would practically enable the
Southern Pacific to deliver freight in
warehouse for the big firms of that
district.
This latest of the Hartman pro-
jects is not intended in any way to
interfere with the Bay shore line, the
Dumbarton bridge, nor the Oakland
terminal. The business has grown to
such an extent that these new arteries
Of traffic have become necessity.