The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-11-15

cities about San Francisco bay We're
expanding in the period up TO the year
1sO0-some of them without foot of
deep water harbor-the site of Rich
mond. with deep water harbor front
age unsurpassed on this bay. was still
H. sleepy pastoral expanse, not even a
Tag station OF the Southern Pacific,
the main line of which ran through
the site of the coming city, existing
there.
At this natural site for big city,
where a battleship could tie up in still
water at the shore in some places and
where the opportunity for further
harbor development was unexcelled.
where there was already one trans
continental railroad and where ter
minaI sites for three or four more
existed, you could go out and get a
bagful of ducks any time in the sea
son at the places where wharves and
piers Of railroads and big factories
now give the solid foundation for a
city that is coming right along.
TITLES CLEARED; CITY STARTS
Many people have marveled at these
facts. not knowing the reason be-
hind it all They do not know that
the great san Pablo rancho lana
grant which embraced the location
of the present city of Richmond, was
in litigation. for 80 years, and that
no use could be made of this magnah-
cent water front and townsite until
this litigation was cleared away. inns
was finally accomplished little more
than 12 years ago, every vestige Oh
litigation being wiped out by the de-
cision of the highest courts, the land
grant being distributed to its right
full owner and titles being firmly ana
irrevocably established.
Just as soon as that was done, the
city that would have started here
quarter of a century before under oil
ferent circumstances began 70 hurl
itself around over the landscape. Ii
moved i'm with a rush, as soon as the
fence of court Injunction was torn
down. A transcontinen1al railroad,
the Santa Fe, quietly acquired iand
and established its Pacific coast ter
minal at this point, giving the town
site of Richmond two OF the olgsest
railroads in the country.
10000 IN ANOTHER DECADE
The Standard Oil company, looking
for the most available site on san
francisco bay. built it's pipe lines 500
Amiles to Richmond, and established
here it's great refinery and system Of
wharves from which its fleet of close
TO so vessels operates. The powerful
syndicate that owns the Richmond
Belt railroad. constructed that track
age, together with big wharves and
warehouses.
Ten years ago they were still
shooting ducks where big Industrial
plants and railroad shops and yards
are now forming the steel bound
foundation of a fast growing city
that is to be one of the largest sea-
ports on the Pacific coast.
There you have the reason why
Richmond was not started at least
20 years sooner and is not today
city of 10000 or more population
You have also the reason why Rich
mond in another 10 years will be
getting close to the $4,000 mark. If
there is any truth in the reports
heard so often that the Panama canal
and other features of progress are
going to do a little toward building
up commerce and industrial prestige
on this bay.
MORE RAILROADS ARE COMING
Richmond is likely to get another
railroad or two, also. and this will
help some.
But while Richmond was shut out
Of her rightful start during a quarter
century, she viii have the compen-
sation of stepping on to the stage at
a time when she can grow faster in
proportion than she ever could in the
time prior to the beginning of the
last decade. This city has the benefit
of all the development about the bay
and on the entire coast. She has
every facility needed to make a city,
and with the great forward movement
that is under way on the Pacific coast.
in the state Of California and around
the bay of San Francisco.
Get some property in Richmond
and get it quick" has become almost
q slogan with the general public. Con-
sidering the tremendous scale on
which development here is based and
which must build up a city of large
proportions with much rapidity, prop
erty in every part of Richmond is at
q low figure today. There isn't part
of this city where investments are not
good. It is all growing and will all
share in the greater development
ahead.
MANY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Richmond the progressive citizens
here are not stopping with develop
ment along that line. Wharves and
railroads have brought all the natu-
raj deep water frontage into line. and
the big inner harbor is to be con-
structed to add to this deep water
shipping that nature gave. Other de-
veIopment features that go hand in
hand with commercial advancement
of Note III a
among these is the state highway, the
extension Of electric railway facilities
for local transportation, the widening
and paving Of main arteries to take
care Of the continually increasing
traffic. the paving Of streets. installing
OF sewer systems, building of school
houses and so on.
The state highway down the bay
shore. now assured through the de-
cision Of the Contra Costa super
vfsors to purchase 5000 900 worth OF
the bonds. will be Of immense value
in the development of Richmond. 1t
viii he one of the leading scenic
Yards of California Tt wasn't ae
ouired without a battle but when men
like Supervisor Warren McBryde of
this district; Sheriff Il. r. Neale; Luz
Their Dimm. manager OF the Standard
OH refinery: z. NJ. Downer the Banker
Richmond D. w. Mclaughlin and 9TH
ers set out to carry project through,
success generally follows.
HIGHWAY BEGINS IN SPRING
This new bay shore boulevard. work
{ on which will begin just as soon as
the main rainy season is over. VIII
connect in Richmond with San PaRlo
avenue. Twenty third street and the
skyline boulevard. BY way Of San