The San Francisco call., 1909-12-09
GREATER OAKLAND
BECOMES A FACT
Annexation Proceedings End
and City Officials Assume
Powers OF Government

OAKLAND, Dec. S.-Greater Oak
land was born at noon today. As
mayor L extend the hand of greeting
to the outlying sections which have
MADE themselves part of our commu-
nifty. What has been accomplished I'm
fact today is only a harbinger of the
future TO which we, citizens of Oak
land, may aspire. i have expressed nay
own feelings In this matter before, and
I cnn but repeat that we rejoice to have
with us in one great city the estimable
men and women who were short time
ago under separate governments. Our
interests were the same then-our flu
ture Is the same.-Mayor Motifs greet
ing to greater Oakland.
Greater Oakland came into legal ex-
istence today. With the fling at Sac
ramento with the secretary of state of
certificate showing the results of the
annexation election the laws require
ments were met and the new city was
automatically established with Mayor
Frank K. Mott the first chief execu-
tive of the greater municipality
About the same hour of fling the
board of public works issued orders
for improvements in the new territory.
so that the first day of greater Oak
land saw the first public betterment
work in the lately acquired district
actually commenced.
The most important action by the
board was its resolution authorizing
Superintendent of Streets Howe to es-
tablish a branch corporation yard in
the annexed district. He was allowed
$50 month for the rental of lot
and building. and $4,000 for equipping
the yards. Added to the implements
which the city will buy are IL sprin-
king cars and other apparatus owned
by the former road districts in Fruit
vale and Elmhurst. The total value
of the equipment which the district
commissioners will turn over to Howe
is about $4,000. So. that street work
can be commenced at once in the new
territory the council set aside $4,000
additional, for the purchase of mac
adam rock. The paving and grading
will be done by city employees, directed
by Howe. The extra crew of men
needed to work from the branch cor
poration yard will be hired at once
Howe was directed to employ three
foremen, 10 laborers and 10 teamsters,
who will work only in the annexed dis
tricts.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Chief Engineer BAH of the fire de-
partment reported that for the present
he must run the outside fire depart
paid man and the rest volunteers. As
soon as possible the police and fire
commissioners will reorganize the COM
panies on the order of the Oakland
companies. Ball will make an inven-
tory of all the property owned by the
various fire districts. and will give the
commissioners receipts for the things
turned over to him as head of the Oak
land fire department.
Funds in each of the disfricfS ara m
be turned in to the city treasury.
When these moneys are obtained the
city will plan its improvements. The
Melrose district commissioners have
about s1,500 on hand, and the Fruitvale
district has fully as much.
The Allendale citizens will probably
go ahead with their plan of establish
ing fire station. At a mass meeting
last night called by the fire protection
auxiliary of East Fruitvale a commit
tee was named to take over a site for
the engine house, the lot being donated
by P. Angelo. Subscriptions for a
$4,000 chemical engine will be taken
This will serve until the city is able
to provide a steam engine The site
committee is composed of ]. F. Dietz-
mann, w. H. Wreenn and o. L. South
wick
DETAIL OF POLICE
Chief of Police Wilson put his first
detail of police into the annexed dis
tricts today. He took two men of the
regular force to serve, Patrolman Ely
detailed for day service in Fruitvale
and Melrose, with Duane on duty at
night In Fitchburg and Elmhurst Pa
troiman Gilbert will do day duty, and
Gunter night AS soon as the force can
be so arranged 10 men will go into the
annexed country. The sending of two
men TODAY to Fruityale and Elmhurst
relieves Constables Allen and Tom Car
roll from their exclusive functions as
peace officers in that part of Brooklyn
township.
In the sparsely settled stretches of
country mounted men will do duty. The
police and fire commissioners today
gave Chief Wilson power to buy what
ever horses he needs.
CONTROL OF SCHOOLS
The board of education will assum.
control of the annexed schools next
Tuesday, when the committees OF,
schoolhouses and sites and on classi-
fication will report on the Fruitvale,
Elmhurst and other annexed districts
The last meeting of the board of trus-
tees of the Elmhurst school district
was held last night. They adjourned
themselves out of power, the Oakland
school directors falling heir today. The.
schoolhouse is worth $4,000. The trus~
tees were George B. McHale, ]. w.
Graydon and Frank Storer.
The completion of the annexation
means that the Oakland officials hold
jurisdiction now over the territor>
lying between Grizzly peak back of
Berkeley, Redwood peak back of .Joa-
quin Miller's ranch, Redwood CANYON.
San Leandro bay and the bay of Sar,
Francisco.