The San Francisco call., 1909-09-09
ROOM FOR HILL ON
OAKLAND HARBOR
Western Water Front Plans AL
low for the Entrance of
Proposed Railway
City Has Reserved Right to
Grant Franchise Beside
Southern Pacific Line

OAKLAND, Sept. s.-The Calls an
nouncement that James J. Hill, the
northern railway king, has definitely
laid out plans to strike into San Fran
cisco by way of northern California
and Oregon has been received in this
city with no little interest in view of
existing conditions on the western
water front. That Oakland has been
sn mind as on the route of a Hill rail-
way line is no secret among men on
this side of the bay who have kept in
touch with railway development during
the last few years on the Pacific coast.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC LIMITED
That HIS agents have made careful
inspections of the geographical and
other conditions along the eastern
shore OF San Francisco bay is consid-
cred a certainty. That recent move
ments touching water front affairs in
municipal circles have been made with
the strong probability of Hill road
entering the city is not questioned
among the best informed men in this
city.
In the memorandum of agreement
which was drawn up as a result OF
conferences between the board of pub
4lC AOLhS anu OlliNldlS VI the oOuAhCi II
Pacific company the city reserved not
only 1000 feet of frontage between the
Southern Pacific Oakland mole and the
Western Pacific mole. but the munich
pality forced the Southern Pacific COM
pany TO grant an so foot wide street
TO run from about the foot of Chestnut
street through the companys West
Oakland yards out to the city's re-
served strip. Ii is significant that the
board Of public works provided that
on this granted street the city should
have unobstructed right, so far as the
Southern Pacific company was con-
cerned. to give a franchise for track
laying TO another corporation.
ROOM FOR HILL RAILWAY
1t is also known that the policy OF
the municipal government in handling
the water front and dealing with the
applications of the Oakland terminal
and wharf company and the San Fran
cisco, Oakland and San Jose railway
(key ROute) for wharves, docks and
piers in the Key Route basin is TO re-
serve a considerable frontage on the
basin for use by the city.
The extensive improvements pro-
Jected by the wharf company on its
tide lands between the shore line and
available an enormous area of land for
railway purposes That in this basin
an outlet for a Hill road could readily
be supplied by the city is evident.
KEY ROUTE PLANS BIG PIER
Additional interest is taken in the
news from the north of Hills purpose
TO build toward California on account
of the recent exclusive announcement
by The Call Of the negotiations which
are pending between the Key Route
and the Atchison. Topeka and Santa
Ee railway for a terminal outlet over
the Key Route for the Santa Fe pas
senger service. The Key Routes ap-
plication for a franchise includes a
proposal to widen the Key Route pier
TO 500 feet. f: A. Heron. president of
the San Francisco, Oakland and San
Jose railway, has admitted that nego-
tiations with the Santa Fe were in
progress and he has made the signifi-
cant statement that his road would be
glad TO take part in assisting any
transcontinental system to make a ter
minal in Oakland.