The San Francisco call., 1908-12-15
WANTS s. P. GRANT
SUBMITTED TO VOTE
Board of Public Works RecOm=
mends Election on Water
Front Proposition

OAKLAND. Dec. 1.-THE board of
public works submitted 10 the city
council tonight a recommendation that
the proposition TO grant the Southern
Pacific company franchise for certain
water front lands south of the Oak
land mole be submitted to the people
for decision This move was brought
about through an inquiry sent by the
board to City Attorney j. L. McElroy
touching the charter provision which
restricts the city from granting a fran
chise for more than 1000 feet of 'front.'
age TO any one company or companies
under one management or control.
The Southern Pacific company has
tentatively suggested that it's plans of
pier and track construction cover con-
sierably more than 900 feet. City At
torney McElroy has advised the board
that a grant of more than / 900 feet to
the Southern Pacific company. it being
a holding company for the various sys-
TENS that occupy the mole and will use
the additional land sought after, would
be illegal. A franchise for more than
1000 feet must be preceded by an
amendment to the charter.
Mayor Mott sent a special MESA ge
to the city council tonight recommend
ing that a special election be called to
annex to the city all OF the land lying
Alameda county line. The mayor ex-
planned that the western boundary of
the city was designated as ship channel
in the city charter. The supreme court
decided that low tide line instead of
three fathoms of water at low tide was
ship channel. This cost the city con-
siderable territory and leaves strip
between the city of Oakland and the
western boundary line of Alameda
Il
should be a part Of the city. To ac-
quire jurisdiction over the strip
would bring future wharf and pier con-
structions on the west side as we'll as
existing ones within municipal juris-
diction.
This suggestion was accompanied by
an opinion from City Attorney McElroy
explaining the legal procedure for an
nexing the territory desired
A special message was also sent to
the council by Mayor Mott urging that
provision be made in the proposed bond
issue for a new manual training and
commercial high school.
A special meeting of the city council
will be held Wednesday night to con-
slider the report of special committee
on all the proposed charter amendments,
including the water front proposition
submitted tonight. The committee of
s3, 500, 900 for Wharves and docks, which
will be considered at the next regular
council meeting. The vote on the
amount was not final, as several coun-
cilmen voted on that phase under mis-
apprehension.
The committee recommended that
plans and specifications be prepared for
new city hall and hall of justice
Plans were also recommended for a
manual training and commercial high
school, for garbage incinerators and for
a fire alarm and police telegraph sta
tion.
John J. Mcdonald, representing the
Dunn estate. owning the northwest cor
ner OF Fifteenth street and San Pablo
avenue, offered to deed 20 feet to the
city If Washington street were opened
on a tangent north of Fifteenth street.
Councilman Everlart said that he would
call the proposition out of committee at
the next council meeting
Read THE CALLS weekly offer on
page II.