Year: 1859

It the sediment and mud which lands temporarily
in and about old hulks and the wharves. With
out some solid structure to prevent the tide from
ebng flowing without this line of city front, the
more filling is done the more the water Will shoal
about the wharves.


The only influence at work to cOunteract this
deposit is the current, which he says runs from
point to pont'-say from Clark's point to
Worth's point Cease to fill in and the cur
rent will probably deepen the water where it can
effect it. Capt. Chevers testimony supports this
theory as the following will show:


80. by Judge McIIcnry.-If the cove from Rim
con Point along East street, was filled from the
shore line to the wharves what would be the
effect upon the depth of water at Steuart street
wharf?


Att would depend very much on the nature
of the matter which would be used in filling in
along the water from the shore. If hard stone
were used and commenced along the line of the
city front to fill in, and if there was no obstruc-
ton to the force Of the current, the water would
shoal much less than if filed in with mud, dirt or
sand. .,


Q-How much would it shoal if filled in with
stone?


A.-Don't think it would shoal but little. if
any, and in few months time, if there were no
Instructions, such as wharves projecting out,
| there would be found as much water as there is
now.
@. by Judge McHenry.- Suppose property own
|
line of Fremont street with the usual matter
| heretofore used sand and dirt, and continue so to
fill in their lots to the grade of the street. until
all the lots were filled in and built upon to East
street. what would be the effect upon the depth
of the water outside the line of East street?


Att would shOal the water-how much i'm
mediately in front it would shoal the water, can't
say, but in time the tide would sweep it away,
| and also in time wash away portion of the
| filing.


Q.-Would not the filling in with sand and dirt,
| commencing with the top, on Fremont street, and
progressing, as stated in the preceding nterro-
eatory. force or press before it the soft mud in
this area, and what would become of this mud
after the whole mass was pushed out beyond the
| line of East street?


Al think a part of this mud would mix in
with the material Of the filling, that part which
is pass ed outside of the front; the current would
wash it away"


Major Bachc says the same in substance:
by Mr. WhitcQmb.--lf the whole curve were
| filled up with earth, and built upon with substan
tial buildings. to the line of the established water
front, what effect would be produced upon the
depth OF the water immediately outside OF that
| front line?


A-Much would depend upon the character
of the buildings; if they were placed upon a
sufficient foundation, they would push a portion
of the soil forward, portion of it would be car
| ricd away by the current. and the rest being
dredgcl away. the depth of water would be as
before, save what change would be brou ght about
by the difference between pile structures and
stone ones a stone foundation to the original
bottom is what call a firm foundation.
1t will be rccOlccted that these gentlemen hold
opinions against the necessity Of Il sca-wall. yet
their facts in my opinion. are dianetricaliy OPP
posed to their opinions Where does this deposit
come from? the wharyes do not make the mud
and sediment. it does not come from the mines,
all the evidence yet taken before the committ
now ut San Francisco is opposed to that idea.
and it cannot be ncbula or ginating in and held
in suspension by the clear. blue waters of the bay.
1t must come from the shore. where the iilling in
is don,. Without this filling in you cannot &c
commodate commcrcc-ercct proper warehouses.
and give pcrnancnce to this frontage upon the
Bay-attpmpt this without u wall or crib. to
divide the alluvium from the effects Of tides and
currents. and you ruin your hurbor. Your build
ings will press the mad out, and all will remain
insecure-Wll result in ruin.


In conclusion, he said, far as the bill itself
concerned. he had one two words to say.
and he had done. The Senator from san Fran
cisco drew most happy picture of the shipping
of the Wcstern world floating in that beautiful
harbor and discharIing tbeir rich lrcigits at our
whnrvrs and if he (Mr. AZ to judge from
the glowing pictures which he gave, he would say
that it would need facility of some three or
four miles in extent of doe ka re to accommodate
them. Ills argument in that respect was an able
argument in favor OF the passa &c of the bin as ii
was origiually introduced. But an amendment
had been adopted to it. sticting the company
to less extensive city front. 1t was computed
at first to contemplate Il line Of front of near
four mles--it was now retMced to about 2.5ths
Of miles


The Senator from San Mateo had made an ar
gument against giving this last and most sacred
franchise to this Dock and Wharf Company be-
cause it would be worth. in few years, $50 O0O-
900. Well (said Mr.. AZ if it does increase that
rapidly. all the better for the parties wishing
to purchase it, be it the State or city of San Fran
cisco. as the bill provides. They can do so by
giving twelve months notice, and by paying the
original cost for it. The State can 20 on and


let these parties build these works, and then when
they shall have increased in value as the Senator
says they will do, they can be purchased for their
original COST together with ten per cent per an
mum thereon. He mentioned that it was not the
policy OF the State to confer this franchise upon
the city of San Francisco. He thought it would
be ruinous tc any city, or ruinous to the State,
to undertake this work. The true policy of both
city and State was to give it into the hands of
individuals whose interests are there already. and
who have capital to 90 on with the work. They
who would Cbligate themselves to do the work
within the proper time-who would obligate them
selves to meet the necessities which he (Mr Az
would maintain existed at the present time. He
mad no partlalitles in the matter. and did not
know one gentleman belonging to the rival COM
panles from another. For his part. he did not
care who would do the work; he simply wanted
to be satisfied as to whether the work was neces-
sary or not-then how that work ought to be done.
Next he wanted to know who it was best for the
interests of trade and commerce and of the State
that this work should be given to. He was salts
fed upon all these three points, and he was will
ling now to place his name on record here in favor
OF this bill, and go to the jury of his country


The SuTTER CLA1M.--A dispatch, dated
Washington City, d. c., February 18TH from
VoIney E. Howard, Esq, to Eugene F. Gil
lespe of Sacramento fnrwardnd hu tho ln04