The San Francisco call., 1910-01-06
EVENTS COUNTIES THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO
FIGHT TO PROTECT
HARBOR PROJECTS
Congressman and City Officials
Make Appeal to Army Engi-
neers' Board

OAKLAND, Jan 5-Through congress
eionsI representatives the city OF oak
land is now battling 70 protect its
water front Improvement plans from
being eurtailed By the adverse action
II washington, D. C, OF the board OF
engineers for rivers ana harbors- That
body has announced that unless reason
can be shown for change IN their at
tiIude they VIII report adversely on
Colonl Biddls's recommendation tnat
the local hzrbor Be deepened in prepa-
rztion for the wharf construction, for
which bonds have been voted by The
city
WORD came from washington that
Cougressmsn J. r Knowland and Sen
stor George c. Perkins went before the
board Of engineers today 20 support tne
recommendations made by Colonel Bid
die. Y these recommendation be over
ruied the federal government viii ap-
Dropriste only money enough Tor the
Completion OF the projects now under
way II Oakland harbor. II Biddle Is
sustained congress viii appropriate al
once $500. 900 70 dredge z 90 foot chan
rel IN the estuary as far as the draw
bridges. and IN all sI.I00,000 viii be
expended IN deepening the oakland
t7Tzter front approaches
DATA SENT TO CAPITAL
The city officials. informed by Con
gresham Knowland, are sending 20 the
capital data on the hsrbor requirements
and plans Additional information re-
ceived by Mayor Mott from knowland
today included copies OF the letter writ
ten ~ Lieutenant Colonel II. c. Lang
Gtt OF the engineer corps which gave
the 6rst futimation that Colonel Bid
dies recommendation mad not met with
favor IN the board OF engineers This
letter follows;
he chef II Engineers. L :. Army, Wash
81: ne bosrd hzs under consideration
tbe report q the district of1ce1 o. survey
~ Oakland lsrbor, teAifornis, in Wnlcn ne
T-eseats q plan fo- the further improvement
- his hsrbor contemplating s channel 80
fhs tidzl bssiu: . feet deep and 80 feet
side zrcu1d The tidal basin aud j feet
deep along the tidal canal TIE total cost OF
roEk be uecoI1E1EBdz that TIE 20 foot channel
- far the drsEhridees - first constructed,
~ Is esrisnsred eost of Sp1roxinatelv ss00.-
fao. TIE remainder % Re undertaken gradn-
inc bosTd i fuIiy coFnizant q ;he nsgni-
TIDE ri me ccul-erce n rnis hsrDor ana De-
lieFas that .r is worthy q Improvement %
snch eTtart - Is esssntisl % meet existing
aud iDnedlstely prospective needs II AZ
I1rded ~ vurk uucer the existing project
-iii adequately care Tor the commerce Of the
z-rr for thc present and immediate future
TIE cou.p pietion = This p-ntect awaits the sp-
nrapr.stiou of neeesszry funds bg congress,
srf unriT h tss teen cl,r1pIered and tie In
nroTeuf1r utilized 70 its fullest capacity tEe
iesrd De- not feel justified in recommending
flrtaer extension = facilities a. the ex-
ueuse - the United States
Before tekiLE anal sc.lyn II this matter
The h8srd requests rbst Tire district ofscer b
asked - tltoru those interested q TIE
srzrus ct tie case - EXPRESSED above. II
der thst they nay have the usual three
weeks cpPortunity 70 submit statements II
they desire- covering tbese particular fea-
tGsss q tie PrsPozirion
kNONLASB EXPLAINS STU ALTON
The city officials started action 70
forestsu q setback 70 the harbor plans
HegeTsi days ago. when knowland sent
20 the mayor a telegram setting forth
tae import OF Lieutenant Colonel Lang
htts iettc- Today there came from the
congressmsn the following epistle. ex-
planning more fully the situation in
whIcE the Alameda county congress
sIOnzl presentslyes find the hsrbor
projects
Last ueek resd Colonel Blddle's report,
aHl, - 4 have already written you, his
esoulaenosrions. following resurEey q
- 7eDort is aot svsiIshle al the present
r-lle- ycu viu see ELen I an able 10 send
tnzt lis recommendations were very
s;roag and that he Spoke most glowing
u the future Of the har5or and rec
He slso called stteatioa 70 the recent
bad election. showing the interest mani
Tested ~ the people 4 Oakland il the bar-
Dor matter. That Colonel Biddle's report
GbouI1 not be scqufesced in by the board Of
eugizeers vas indeed q great surprfse- As
you VII note from their letter, they do
ror claim that the contemplated improve
nieEt EIH not Be- needed IN the future,
but seen 70 feel that the present project
snould BE- completed first I might say in
this connection that resUrTeys and recon-
n1encztionE for new projects are not gener-
ally made until present projects are con-
pieted. although In the last general river
and hsrbor act We managed 70 Obtai5 su-
fhor!zztion for resurFey on the ground
that The present project was nearing conS
tkink II might be well for Senator Per
kinS snc myself % present % the board
70 the immediate necessity for 30 feet.
after CONSULTATION with the chamber Of com
nerce- alth0agh must say that colooel
Bidcles report covered the ground very
co1eress can not act upon the report Of
local engineer Until that report has the
Endorsement Of the board Of engineers for
rivers and hsrbOrs, composed Of army Off
cerS This board. as I have previously
stated. rcvieys al Recommendation and
either approves or disspproFes them before
they sre sent 70 congress. and the
nittee rivers and hsrbors q the house
and the committee commerce OF the
senate never appropriate for projects which
bsve not been approved by the department
anxious 10 Do 1hstever .her car n this
matter. ard have the board reconsider their
sctton II deemed advisable.
The problem before the congressman
and the city officials IS so serious that
Il will be taken up tomorrow night at
e special meeting OF the wharves and
water front committee Of the city coun-
ell Mayor Mott having officially noti-
fed the city council OF the impending
ezigency. Committees Of civic bodies
summoned by the mayor are at work
collecting data 70 be sent TO Washing
ton At once.