The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-02
GREAT future FOR
CITY OF OAKLAND
Monster Banquet at Which
Keynote of Speeches Is Ex=
pansion and Progress

OAKLAND, July Eight hundred
business and professional men, attired
in workaday garb. attended the Ala
media county industrial banquet given
by the Oakland chamber of commerce
in the Scottish Rite cathedral this even
ing.
The banquet was notable not only
for it's informality and enthusiasm but
for the greatest company of guests
on the east side Of San Francisco bay.
Dress suits were tabooed. The banquet
hall continually rang with cheers for
Oakland, progress and prosperity.
KEYNOTE OF EVENING
President L Harrison Clay of the
chamber Of commerce, who was toast
master, sounded the keynote of the
assemblage, when he declared that
Oakland and Alameda county are living
not only in the present but are concen-
trating their thoughts and plans upon
the future.
The first speaker introduced was
Mayor Frank X Mott, who responded
TO toast on oakland and Alameda
County as an Industrial Center" The
mayor said:
There are three great essentials for
the uplifting-of Alameda county as an
industrial center: Cheap and plenti-
full power. convenience to the markets
and transportation There is now
building in our city the terminal plant
of company which will start in a
few months and be able to furnish
power enough for the needs of great
city
ENCOURAGE RAILROADS
Oakland fronts OF the great San
Francisco bay, giving it the necessary
location. She needs railroads and we
have and are getting railroads We
hooves us TO see that they are pro-
tected and encouraged to give our city
the utmost benefit OF future develop
ment
Let us to see to it that we preserve
our water front rights; that we may
control the disposition of our null
tltudlnouS products. The city of Oak
iand is in unique position and abso-
lutely controls. the wharfng out rights
on her harDor. Let us preserve this
right for all time
The cities of the great northwest are
growing tremendously, but both Seattle
and Portland are now in deem concern
because they have no more available
property on their water fronts
Oakland is destined to be the great
center OF the industrial upbuilding of
the Pacific coast. Today Alameda
county has everything to attract the
tourist and the home seeker We need
the cooperation of every man here
tonight in the realization of our plans
Tor development.
PARKS AND CLEAN STREETS
Let us have parks and boulevards
and good, clean streets. We are go
ing TO build here one of the greatest
cltles OF the American nation. Let us
lend our aid to the task.
The citizens of Oakland will soon
have an opportunity to vote for the
issuance of bonds for improvements
II hiFb al Ill
rank of American cities. 1t is right
that these bonds should be carried:
they are intended for the advancement
and development of our best inter
ests. Let us lend them our support. :,
SHIP BUILDING INDUSTRY
G.. w. Dickie, a prominent ship
builder of San Francisco, spoke next
on The Influence of the Opening of
the Panama Canal on the Future Ship
Building of the Pacific Coast"
He declared that the United States
Is woefully slow in the construction of
ships and asserted that last year there
were building in Japan more ships
than have been constructed in this
country In % years
Until the United States improves its
ship building facilities, warned the
speaker, it can not hope to compete
with the great maritime powers, either
In commerce or in war. The opening
of the canal will have the effect of
bringing many vessels for repairs and
loading to Oakland and San Francisco.
THE Importance of Alameda county
manufactures was the topic of w. s.
Peters of San Leandro
Solomon Kahn, an Oakland merchant
spoke on The Merchants of Oakland. .
METCALF SPEAKS
Victor II. Metcalf, former secretary
OF the navy, was introduced as a man
who said that his proudest boast was
being a citizen of Oakland" Metcalf
said, in part:
Il swear by the American navy and
for this reason 1 do not agree that we
would be defeated if we engaged in
war with another nation The Ameri-
can nation was never better prepared
for war than today. The Atlantic fleet
left Hampton roads, circled the globe
and returned in better condition than
1t started The reason that the coal for
the feet was carried in foreign ships
was that they underbid American ship
pers 90 per cent.
The American navy was never in a
greater state of efficiency than today.
II came here tonight to say some-
thing about the city we all love. The
greatest credit is due to two of Oak
lands citizens. They spent money
lavishly, beautified and developed the
outlying sections of the city and today