The San Francisco call., 1909-07-09
OAKLAND TO FORCE
RARBOR DEEPENING
Chamber of Commerce Supports
Plan TO Build Million Dollar
Wharves in Estuary

OAKLAND, July s.-The announce
rnent Of Lieutenant Colonel John Bid
die OF the United States army corps
OF engineers. that he would not con-
slider it advisable for the government
TO deepen the channel of Oakland har-
Dor until the property owners along
the Oakland water front dredge out
from the property line to the edge
Of the channel. has stirred the cham
Der OF commerce to a vigorous cam
paign in favor OF the immediate i'm
provement OF the water front.
One Of the first results of this cam
paign is the declaration that the cham
Der Of commerce and other civic bodies
will lend their heartiest support to
Mayor Motifs plan to include an al
lotment Of 81, 1,oOo.O 600 for the construc-
tion Of three cement piers on the es-
tuary in the proposed harbor bond is
sue.
THREE PROPOSED PIERS
It is proposed TO construct these
piers between Jefferson street and
Broadway, this district being most
convenient to the commercial centers
Of the city. and TO make each pier
long enough to accommodate the larg-
est vessels that now come into San
Francisco bay. In the city budget for
the fiscal year, there will be included
an appropriation for the dredging out
OF the sand bar, which has formed al
the foot OF Broadway in the harbor
and the extra dredging necessary to
permit big vessels 10 dock at the new
piers can be done without a great
deal OF added expense.
The chamber of commerce viii also
undertake an active campaign 70 in
duce property owners on the water
front TO dredge out from their holdings
as. far as the edge of the channel to q
depth OF 25 feet. which is the present
depth Of the channel.
Lieutenant Colonel Biddle has ad-
vanced the argument that IL would be
foolish for the government to deepen
the harbor channel under present con-
ditions, for the reason that the larger
vessels, which would be enabled tC
enter the channel, would find II i'm
possible to dock at any of the wharves
on the Oakland shore on account OF
the shallow water which prevails about
most OF them.
MAY COMPEL DREDGING
Recognizing the justice of this argu-
ment the chamber Of commerce is con-
sidering the advisa bility of requesting
the city council TO pass an ordinance
compelling owners Of water front prop
erty TO keep their frontage dredged
TO a proper depth as far out as the
edge Of the channel Such an ordin-
ance was at one time proposed by Johr
l. Howard. member of a former coun-
Gil. who claimed that the same obliga.
tiOns should rest upon water from
property owners as upon owners o.
property fronting on a city street The
ordinance failed to carry at the time
but II is probable that it may be re.
vived, or substitute introduced.
The passage and enforcement of sucf
an ordinance, it is claimed, would en-
sure the deepening OF the channel By
the government and would open Oak
land harbor to the largest vessel.
which enter the Golden Gate At pres
ent ii is stated that but per cent o.
the vessels which enter San Francisco
bay draw more than % feet of water
so that q uniform depth Of 80 fee
would exclude practically none. The
harbor committee Of the chamber Of
commerce will hold another conference
with Lieutenant Colonel Biddle in re-
gard TO plans for the proposed i'm
provements within day or two.