The San Francisco call., 1910-01-15
DATA ON HARBOR
!. SENT TO kNOWlAND
Mayor, in Telegram, Points Out
Errors in Report to Army
Engineers

OAKLAND, Jan. 1.-THE following
telegram relating to the report sub
mitted by Lieutenant Colonel John Bid
die to the United States board of arml
engineers. upon which the fate of th'
federal appropriation for tn
of Oakland harbor rests
was forwarded by Mayor Mott to Con
gresham Joseph r.. Knowland a
Washington this morning:
Oakland. January IA. 1901.
Hon. Joseph II. Knowland, House OF Repre-
sentatives. Washington. d. G.
Have examined Biddles report when
stafes water front is owned and occupied
by private interests excepting some SVV
feet owned by city aud that latter not used
pelate court granted city control all water
front beyond low tide line, latter being
however, considerable distance inside OF pier
head lines.
Report also states city about to issue
bonds for 81 000, ,0e0 for improvements to he
expended in estuary and In bay on west
side. This is erroneous. Bond issue calls Tor
expenditure S2 600. 600 in estuary alone,
partly for acquiring land lying landward OF
low tide line from Broadway to Myrtle
street, distance 2,750 feet. Under federal
decision frontage lying easterly from
Broadway to present city wharf reverts TO
city. which will make, after carrying out
proposed improvement. unbroken frontage
from Webster street bridge 10 Myrtle
street. Plan of improvement calls for con-
struction of concrete quay wall. sheet iron
freight houses, space for railroad tracks and
dredging so feet
Present city wharf now used for general
public business and with completion OF
project west OF Broadway the section lying
east thereof will be reconstructed. In ad-
dition bond issue provides, expenditure of
S175.G00 In tidal basin. Improvements as
outlined will proceed Immediately and likely
to be finished within IL months. Shall be pre-
pared and expect to dock ocean going YES
sells Of deep draft, therefore recommend
ntions of Biddle with reference to depth
of channel should be approved. City proposes
ia build and operate belt line railway con-
Meeting with proposed wharf improvements
In addition. Western and Southern Pacific
railroad companies parallel and viii
have access thereto. Increase of commerce
of this city and San Francisco harbor de
mands these improvements, and to be prop
erly available must have 30 foot channel as
recommended
Chamber of commerce forwarding add-
htional data. Nut likely to reach you, how
ever, by Monday. Would therefore sug-
gest that continuance be obtained
FRANK X. MOTT, Mayor.
The three principal commercial bod
les of San Francisco, the chamber o
commerce. Merchants exchange and th'
Merchants association, have sent tele
grams to the California congressiona
delegation indorsing the proposed ap
for Oakland harbor
The greatest argument in favor o
the appropriation said Victor II
Metcalf, former secretary of the navy
lis the large amount OF money whici
the city has voted in it's recent bon,
issue for the Improvement of the har
bor."
A telegram was received from Con
gresham Knowland at the chamber o
commerce yesterday asking that dat;
on harbor improvements be forwarde,
to him at the earliest possible date il
order that he might submit it to th
chairman of the rivers and harbor
of congress. In compliance
with this request a skeleton of all th'
available data will be forwarded t
him tomorrow by wire.
knowlands telegram was as follows
Washington d. c.. Jan. 13 1910.
l. Fl. Clay. President Oakland Chamber Of
Commerce:
Wire me latest possible date that you can
send data TO rivers and harbors appropra-
tion commission, now framing omnibus meas
ure. and, while chairman has assured me
that he will grant hearing, despite fact that
hearings have been closed it is imperative
that this be held soon, as, after the favor
able commission report some time viii
elapse before the appropriation will be sub
mitted to committee from congress. and
there be no action until that time. Get
Endorsement from San Francisco commercial
bodies. this is Improvement of San Fran
cisco bay, and send Endorsements to COM
mission. J. X. KNOWLAND.,