The San Francisco call., 1908-12-30
BATTLE OVER
NORTHERN END
OF THE HARDOR
Southern Pacific May Encounter
Strong Opposition to Its
Inland Basin Plans
Fear That Railroad Would
Create a Private Port Near
Fort Mason
Suggestion Made That the State
Take Control OF the Sub
merged Area

merged Area
The coming legislature may be called
upon to determine at least two impor
tsnt Issues relating to San Francisco
hsrbor. The Islais creek bond PROPOSE
lion win come up. and it now appears
shat battle may also be fought over
The northern section of the front. The
bone OF eonteotion at the northern end
of the harbor is the submerged area,
which, it is stated. the Southern Pacific
sntends to convert into an inland basin.
II has been stated and not denied that
The Southern Pacific proposes to create
hsrbor OF its own near the govern
ment docks NOW being built at Fort
Mason. AS the law now stands, the
railroad could go forward. build its own
wharves and bring in such freight as it
desired without paying tolls to the
state in fact. it has been pointed out
irat not only could the Southern Pacific
bring in freight without paying tolls,
bat il could effect an arrangement with
the Northwestern Pacific and the Santa
fe by which they could bring in such
goods as they desired over the railroad
O. wharves without submitting to the tax
imposed by the state. Such a situation.
it is argued would not only deprive the
state Of a very large part of its harbOr
avenues. but would enable the Southern
Pacific to operate what. in effect would
be an opposition harbor.
1T Is known that the matter has re-
=-1.~
interested ia The welfare Of the port,
and there have been suggestions of an
inspeHding fight on the floor of the leg
islatUre.
The means whereby the state could
place itself in complete control OF the
'siul harbOr arc at hand. but the rail-
fad strength in the legislature viii be
s. sch that bitter fight is anticipated.
BOARD LACKS JURISDICTION
As.matters now stand the board OF
larbor commissioners is without Juris-
diction over that part OF the harbor
which the Southern Pacific is said TO
have planned TO adopt as its own. In
fact the harbor commissioners have
been without this jurisdiction since 1878
The harbor line as outlined officially
runs seaward beyond the submerged
lots which ID is stated are TO be con
Eerted into an inland basin. One way
hv which tae harbor commissioners
could assume control Of the situation
would be through the administration OF
the seawall
Tt appears that under the original
harbOr acts the outline for the sea
wall extended along the full length
of the ao.,lesn side Of the harbor
redching as lar as the eastern bound
airy Of the Preside. Under the acts
The people had the power TO extend the
seawan at any time as far as the Pre-
sidiO- This would have cut off the
approach from the sea to the sub
merged lots north Of Fort Mason and
n inland basin would have been i'm
possible
Tt appears. however. that in 1873 an
act was passed which limited the
northern extension Of the seawan to
the foot Of Taylor street and left un-
incumbered that section between the
foot OF Taylor street and the Pre-
sidlo. 1t is within this section that the
submerged lots lie. AS matters stand
therefore, at the present time. the peo-
pie have forfeited their right to con-
struct the seawall from TAYLOR street
TO the Preside. That section of the
act which deprived them Of this right
follows:
so much Of the line for a harbol
embankment or seawall of the port OF
san Francisco. adopted September u
1877. by the governor. the mayor of the
city and county Of San Francisco, anC
the state harbor commissioners, and in
dicated on the maps filed in the Office
u the said board of harbor commits
sioners and Of the recorder of the city
and county Of San Francisco, as extends
from the east line of Taylor street tc
the boundary line between the city and
county Of San Francisco and the county
Of San Mateo is hereby ratified and
confirmed, and shall be known as the
water front line Of the city and county
of san Francisco, and so much of said
line OF harbor embankment or seawall
as extends from the east line Of Taylor
street to the eastern line of the Pre-
sidio reservation is hereby annulled and
vacated"
METHODS OF PROTECTION
Members Of the legislature who have
studied the question stated yesterday
that there were two methods by which
the state could protect itself and pre-.
vent the creation Of a private and op-
position harbOr- The method suggested
was the adoption OF an act providing
Tor the extension of the seawalI line
10 the Presioio. This would bottle up the
proposed inland harbOr and make its
construction impossible Against sucl
action it was argued that the tides and
winds at this point We're too strong L
make berthing satisfactory al wharve.
eNtended into the bay from the sea wal
The second method suggested b,
which the state could block the rail.
road. II il so desired. was the condefn.
nation for state purposes Of the sub.
merged area designated for the in
land basin II was pointed out tha
ihe state could then create an inland
basin OF its own. such as has beer
proposed al Islais creek.
The harbor commissioners are TAX
ing no part in the fight. but are in
terested spectators.
We are taking no part in this con
troversy." explained President ". Y
stafford OF the board yesterday. sbu
we viii take care Of anything whicl
The people may desire TO place undei
our control"
STRANGER KILLS EX-CONsPABI.E
Ell PASO. Tex, Dec. 29.-Manei
clements. former constable Of Ell Paso
was shot and killed tonight, in tn