The San Francisco call., 1909-11-25
OAKLAND BERKELEY HAYWARD AND SAN IEADRO
WORKS BOARD Will
PUSH IMPROVEMENT
Adopts Resolutions Looking to
Immediate Expenditure of
Oakland Bond Money

OAKLAND, Nov. 24.--In a series Of
resolutions adopted this morning the
board OF public works assumed active
control of. the furtherance of the big
bond issue improvement. Title was
asserted TO the disputed East Oakland
tidelands; the way was opened for
negotiations for the acquisition Of val
liable waterfront property; request was
made OF the federal government for re-
vision of the harbor lines, and the city
council was called upon to make decla-
ratons which viii facilitate the bond
issue work
Nine resolutions, eight of which bear
upon as many phases of the public i'm
provements sanctioned by the voters a
the bond election, We're introduced by
City Engineer Turner and adopted by
the board.
PITH OF RESOLUTIONS
The purport Of the resolutions was as
follows:
Inviting tenders Of land To be purchased
from private owners along the estuary needed
for harbor improvements
Giving notice TO ali occupants users and
claimants OF water front lAnds in the Brooklyn
basin that the city of Oakland claims jurisdic-
lion over such lands and denies private claims,
snd asks the state Of California TO resist such
3-orderng the preparation Of petition to
the secretary Of war requesting change in the
bsrbor lines in Oakland hsrhor.
f-Favoring the granting Of permission by the
secretary Of 10 the san Francisco. Oakland
and san Jose railway key Route 10 make
solid nll along ITS pier IN order TO prevent trans
verse tidal currents from sitting up channels in
The Key Route basin in the western hsrbor after
sucn contemplated channels nave been QredgeO.
Calling for consideration Immediately OF the
plans Of improvement. and the desirability Of
asking for a change in the harbor lines in the
"a tentative offer to exchange with the
Southern Pscihc company a two acre piece If
lsnd purchased many years ago for 8 pumping
station in the West Oakland marsh for piece
Of land lying south Of the Eighth street bridge.
Asking the city council what il intends TO
do about opening Washington street, as II Is
necessary for architects 10 know the lines Of the
street in order 10 plan inteligently the proposed
municipal buildings.
s-Reouesting advice on an architectural COM
petition for city hall plans Of the local chapter
OF the American institute Of architects.
asking permission OF EmeTyylIe 10 build
storm sewer in Sixty street IN order thst
the adjoining lands in the city Of Oakland may
be properly drained
WANT IMMEDIATE ACTION
The purpose of the first resolution is
10 bring about al once the negotiations
between the board and water front
property owners for the purchase of
land along the estuary which viii be
needed in fulfilling the wharfng plan
On some Of this property the city al
ready has options.
The second resolution. that asserting
title 10 the Brooklyn basin lands. which
are disputed because of the old Stratton
patent, is really legal maneuver. It
win be notice TO the occupants Of the
land that the city in the event of liti-
cation viii combat any plea Of equity
rights. Many companies now have i'm
provements on the lands; the Pacific
steel and wire company is building A
costly bulkhead- Some of the work is
on state owned property. The resolu-
tfon adopted today is considered ample
warning that investments are made
with risk by private persons or COM
panies occupying the tract.
WOULD EXTEND HARBOR
The change in the harbor lines in the
Oakland estuary, which the third reso-
luton authorizes asking of the war de-
partment is part Of the general harbor
Improvement plan. The lines at the
north arm of the estuary are far inland.
The board hopes to prevail on the sec
retsry OF war to order the lines taken
outward. so that eventually the mouth
10 the arm can be used for wharfing.
The fourth resolution looks to per-
mission for the Key Route to make a
Ill along its pier, which is desired in
the interests OF navigation. The basin
south Of the pier is TO be dredged. The
tides and currents I'll the shallow fat
so much as to be a menace to improve
ments IN the basin, but solid pier at
the north would protect the dredged
channels. With the mole constructed
as desired the maintenance Of the chan
nels would cost far less than with the
pier made OF open pile work.
The change in the western harbor
mentioned in the fifth resolution is a
proposed moving Of the bulkhead line
outward This viii give the city space
for filed land on which a water front
~ i,
would yet be erected many warehouses.
TO PROVIDE FOR STREETS
The sixth resolution. like the first
pertains to the acquisition of water
front land. The city years ago bought
e piece Of marsh land near the Oakland
mole, 200 by 400 feet in size, on which
10 build a pumping plant for the sewer
q ge system. The site proved 10 be i'm
practical owing to the extreme cost,
and the land. while worth little TO the
city, would be a valuable addition TO
the Southern Pacific West Oakland
Yards. On the contrary, the railroad
owns the marsh land south Of the
Eighth street bridge, which IL acquired
70 protect its right Of way Turner's
resolution proposes the exchange Of the
two properties.
He has in view the future need OF
more streets near the water front lead
ing through from East Oakland to the
main business section. If the city
should acquire the railroad land south
Of Eighth street. Seventh and First
streets could be opened.
The seventh resolution, relating to
the opening Of Washington street, will
be sent 10 the city council, so that the
city policy on this Improvement may be
defined at once. The eighth resolution
is merely a request for guidance.
The sewer for North Oakland men
toned in the last resolution is 10 be
built next year.