The San Francisco call., 1909-02-16
SAYS A CLASH IN
PACIFIC WAS NEAR
Senator WEIGH Makes Signifi-
cant Statement at IsIais
Creek Inquiry
Members of Legislature Visit
Basin and Hear Persons
Interested

If YOU had seen the correspondence
.<that passed between President Roose-
welt, Governor GilIett and Speaker
> stanton that have seen you would
. know that there was only a short time
ago the danger OF conflict between
= two great naval powers of the Pacific, -
said Senator Richard J. Welch yester-
day afternoon TO party of legisla-
tors and others at legislative investi-
I. cation Of the Islais creek basin.
Weleh's comment on the dangerous
edge Of war which this country recently
trod was brought about when one of
the representatives of private interests
in the Islais creek basin made the con-
tentiOn that the argument had been
previously improperly advanced in sup
port of the movement to acquire the
submerged blocks was that there would
soon be navy yard at Hunters point.
NEEDED FOR NAVY YARD
: There win be a government navy
" Yard there, too" insisted Welch. You
viii see IL within the next 10 years"
The legislative party that made the
"Trip was composed Of the special sen
ate committee which had been in Napa
: and SOnOma counties Investigating the
state institutions at Napa. Yountville
and Eldridge. and the assembly COM
mlttee. on commerce and navigation. In
. tho senate committee were: w r.
Price, chairman r. J. Welch, Z X.
Str0bridge, N. EstudiilO. J. p. Hare, r.
. Finn. Ii. n. Hurd Gus Hartman. Daniel
y. Reilly, T. J. Kennedy and Sergeant
al Arms J. l.. Martin.
In the assembly committee were John
= j. McManUs. chairman; George J. Black,
James T Feeley. W. r Flint. Percy A.
Johnson. William Kehoe, Walter a.
J: Leeds, Frank Otis and Florence j.
p -O'Neil. President ". Y. Stafford OF
- the state board Of harbOr commission
-. .ers accompanied the party, but tool lit
lie part in the arguments.
The party accompanied by active
representatives. Of the owners of 10
blocks Of submerged land included in
the tract of so blocks which il is pro-
posed 10 bond the state TO purchase,
went from CrOwley's in launch, Wis
ited the mouth OF the basin and re-
turned 10 the landing at Howard street
. he private interests then chartered
. automobiles 10 take the party to the
property and give the legislators a
view from kentucky street.
FANORS BOND ISSUE
senator Weleh was the chief pro-
pouent Of the bond issue. He said that
tAe state had made a mistake in re-
linQuishing China basin 10 private con-
troll and insisted thar Islais creek fur
uished the only proper location along
the water front for a land locked har-
bor.. lie argued that the state should
insist. on securing the entire 60 blocks
lying east Of Kentucky street and thus
get the land TO which a ready approach
could he made.
George McRea. the Sacramento lob
byist for the United land company.
owner OF the five blocks and fractional
3 block al the apex Of the basin and also
appearing for the Pope & Talbot lum-
Der company, the Loop lumber company
and other private owners of property
in the basin, was the chief opponent of
Welch. Throughout the trip the two
men battled over the proposition. Nc
Eea's most insistent contention was
.tnat the property could not be pur-
chased for the 81 .0O0. 600 which would
he secured on bonds 10 be provided in
the Welch bill.
and the Potrero commercial associa-
tlon and various private interests We're
. also represented
The legislators were inclined TO take
Welchs view of the situation. SEN
aJor Price. chairman OF the senate COM
mittce. declined TO discuss the merits
Of the proposition. but was much inter
ested in the claim that the state might
be able 10 recover title TO the entire
property on the ground that il was
submerged land tnat could not be dis
posed OF by the state