Year: 1860

menus IrOmodn TdnclsCO TelallNet 10 tne pro-
ject of building sea wall around that city
Every day these indignant proclamations of
the people of the queen city of the Pacific
come pouring in upon us thicker and faster.
There must be some cause for these num-
berless petitions to the press of the State.
A great wrong is in danger of being COM
mitted, or the interests of individuals are
clashing badly. There is gigantic scheme
on foot and piles of money in it.


We had proposed to give some of the most
prominent arguments of the opposers of the
Parsons Bulkhead project. But the subject
is an interminable one, the documents too
voluminous for us to pore over second
time, and we conclude instead, to give the
substance of the impressions received by
first perusal.


The facts are substantially, that the peo-
pie of San Francisco and of the State are
divided in opinion as TO the necessity of
building o bulkhead or sca-wall around the
city front of San Francisco. On the one
hand it is alleged that the wooden walls
behind which the sand and dirt from the
hills have been thrown to fill up water
lots are decaying and giving way, allowing
the sand to wash into the harbor to the Sc
rious injury of navigation, and the longer
this state of things is permitted the more
the evil increases, and that unless checked
in time the harbor is liable to be ruined, or,
at least, the cost of reclaiming it is many
fold increased by the delay. 1t is also al
legged that the present city front not being
on those lines which a scientific knowledge
of the tidal currents would establish. the
channel navigated by vessels is subject in
places to the deposites of eddies which are
rapidly impairing the passage for ships of
heavy draught. Taking advantage Of these
arguments, company of men are pressing
the Legislature to pass an act giving to them
right to build sea-wall five miles in
length, one hundred and ten feet wide on
the bottom and elevated above high tide
They ask the donation of all lands on which
said wall is to be built, estimated at the
present value at some FIVE millions of dol
lars. Besides this, perpetual monopoly
of wharfage &c. is asked for by the compa-
ny.


On the other handit is claimed, by por-
tion of those opposed to the Parsons bill
now before the Legislature, that there is no
necessity existing at the present time of
constructing a sea wall at all, and in sup
port of their position on this point the tes-
timony of Major Bache, of the L. S. Topo-
graphical Engineers, Prof. Davidson, of the
Coast Survey, and Captains Gilmer and
Alden, scientific employees of the Govern
ment on this coast, is adduced going to show
there is no imminent necessity of sea wall


around the front of San Francisco. The au-


thority is strong and not to be overlooked


by fair minded men. To such men of sci.


ence and experience should this important


question on which the destiny of San Fran.
cisco and the State is measurably involved


submitted and by them decided. Another


portion of the opposers of the Parsons bill
are impressed with the conviction that {
f Bulkhead is necessary, but are utterly op
: posed to placing the City and State under
the blighting dctation of soulless mo-
| nopoly which they insist the Parsons bill
! if enacted would create. They would have {
wall constructed, but not until commission


of scientific men had determined where ant
5 how it should be done. They aver that i
r should be built so as to be free from exor
= bitant exactions, and so as to foster com
e merce rather than hamper it, and to re
e dound to the good of the whole State.
a Our readers far removed from the center
e of excitement where this great question il
| warmly discussed are apt to think them
f selves not interested. They should be as


sured it is one of the most important ques
S tions ever presented for the consideration o
e the people of California. The harbor of Sar
r Francisco is the most priceless gift of Go,
i to this country. Before all the minera
I wealth of the State, it is most invaluable
That bay and that harbor should be tn
n pride of every true Californian-we ma,
h say, every American. We of the mountain
have vital interest in that imperial harbor


where yet may float the argosies of half tn


world. While selfish cabals are strugglin,


to impair the inheritance which graciou
nature has bestowed upon us all, the patri


otic voice from the uncorrupted mountain


should be heard above the tumult saying
!. "avaunt We workers of iniquity."


: We trust that our representatives will b
&c held to a strict account for the manner il
Is which they shall discharge the sacred obi
:. cations resting upon them in the disposi


ton of this question. The voice of Sa


Francisco should be freely consulted. Tha
city is doubly interested. Neither jealous
If or revenge must influence the conduct c
, one representative in the discussion of thi


question. His aims should be sanctiie


with the spirit of patriotism when the vita


interests of San Francisco and the Stat


come up for his final judgment.


BARON LrEBIG, the renowned professor of Az


ricultural Chemistry, has written letter to tn
T,ondon T;hoes on tho suhiect of in citie