The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20

the channel, restores to the state the
use of the seawaIl in front of the
China basin, said basin being held un-
der lease by the AtchiSon, Topeka and
Santa Fe railway company for a term
of 80 years. This Improvement will
make possible the construction of docks
along the front of China basin, which
Will permit the docking of vessels of
a modern type. Until recently, how
ever, when the federal government, at
the request of the harbOr commission,
extended the pier head line, only short
docks would have been possible, un-
able to care for a modern vessel.
The San Francisco depot act for the
construction of union depot and ferry
house was passed by the legislature
and approved March II, 1891, and was
ratified at the general election held in
November 1892. The bonds amounting
to 100000 were sold February 9, 1898.
Construction was commenced on the
foundations of the ferry building May,
1898. and on the building in June, 1895,
the building being opened to the public
July II, 1898
The San Francisco depot sinking
fund showed a balance January I, 1910,
of s534.09s principal and S370,000 in
terest, total OF s9f0.095.
A MODERN PORT
entire interior of the ferry building.
replacing unsishtly wooden partitions
and poor conveniences with marble and
plate glass and the most sanitary and
convenient waiting rooms, toilets, rest
rooms, etc. The interior of the ferry
building now presents a most pleasing
aspect of cleanliness, which makes il
second to no other public building of
the same character. It is a credit to
the state and city and to the board of
state harbor commissioners.
About this time the lighting system
was completely changed. The old
style arc lamps were replaced with
tungsten lamps in graceful clusters,
thus increasing the lighting capacity
nearly rs per cent and reducing the
consumption of current and the cost of
maintenance about so per cent
OF the smaller but no less important
improvements the board erected a con-
crete office building at the foot of Clay
street for the chief wharfinger, re-
placing an unsight1y wooden two story
structure. This work was done at a
cost of $3,454- 1t also ordered the con-
struction of two concrete office build
ings on the bulkhead at Washington
street wharf for the accommodation of
the river traffic, thereby giving first
class facilities to passengers travel
ing from up river points by boat. that
regular transbay ferry passengers in
the ferry building.
The port charges of the harbor are
very reasonable and bear Favorable
comparison with other ports of the
civilized world There are three
charges imposed on shipping by the
state through its board of state harbor
commissioners. which are as follows:
I 1. 'DockaSe. The charge made for
vessels occupying berths at the wharves
or moored in any slip or channel
3 Tolls The charge made for mer-
chandise passing over state premises.
8. Wharfage. The charge made for
leaving merchandise on state premises
longer than the time specified in ths
rules.
There is also charge made for
rental. which is not against the ship
ping. but is for specially assigned space
on seawan lots and concessions in the
ferry building and for specially as
signed berth spaces to steamship COM