The San Francisco call., 1909-11-06
lUMBFRMEN'S Plan
GETS ENDORSEMENT
Merchants Association and Po-
trero Manufacturers APP
prove Dredging Project
Proposal to Improve Apex Of
India Basin and Build
Mills Is Favored

Through action taken yesterday by
both the Potrero commercial and manu-
facturers' association and the board of
directors of the Merchants association
the India basin controversy. which
flourished so luxuriantly at the time OF
the last general election, has been given
a new stimulus. The two organizations
mentioned have given their indorse-
ment to the proposal of certain lumber
interests that they be allowed to inn
prove five blocks of land at the apex
of the Islais creek basin, and the whole
argument concerning the India basin
harbor proposition bids fair to be re-
opened
MERCHANTS FAVOR PLAN
The action of the board of directors
of the Merchants association was taken
despite the refusal of a joint commit
tee representing several commercial
organizations to indorse the plan few
weeks ago, but was based on vote
taken among its own members This
poll. carried out by a postal card vote.
showed the members of the associa-
tion to stand eight to one in favor of
the plan proposed by the lumber inter-
ests, and the affirmative action of the
board of directors resulted. This took
the shape of a formal Endorsement by
resolution of the plan of immediate i'm
provement submitted by the attorneys
for the lumber companies interested.
The action taken by the Potrero COM
mercial and manufacturers associa-
ton was practically the same as that
of the Merchants association. The Po-
trero organization was largely respon-
sible for the original plan to create an
inland harbor from the Islais creek
basin and was influential in securing
the passage of an act before the legis-
lature for the submission of a 81, ,000, 900
bond proposition at the next general
election.
WOULD AID DEVELOPMENT
The association. therefore, gave close
attention to the proposition submitted
by Attorneys Harding and Monroe. rep
resenting the lumber interests, and has
finally acquiesced in the plan. The
stand is taken that the carrying out of
the proposed improvement would not
jeopardize the ultimate success of the
inland harbor proposition. but would
be an object lesson illustrating the
feasibility and desirability of creating
the inland harbor, and would materially
aid In creating sentiment In favor of
the proposed bond issue
In spite of the action of these two
commercial bodies, however, decided
opposition to the lumber companies
proposition has developed among the
most earnest proponents of the original
India basin plan. This was illustrated
by the refusal of the joint committee
of the Merchants association, the mer-
chants exchange and the chamber of
commerce to indorse the proposition
when it was first under discussion sew
eral weeks ago.
DETAILS OF PROJECT
The plan proposed by the lumber
companies attorneys is that the owners
of the five blocks in the apex of the
India basin tract be allowed to i'm
prove their property Immediately. The
proposed improvement consists of the
filing in of the five blocks, the build
ing of a seawall, the dredging of
channel in Islais creek to Kentucky
street and the construction of wharf
10 feet in width. In the event of the
passage of the bond issue at the COM
ing election the owners of the five
blocks propose to sell. their holdings to
the state as unimproved property at
the price named by condemnation and
to accept compensation for the i'm
provements made by lease on four of
the five blocks. on which they propose
to build lumber yards and mills.