Alameda County, CA History
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
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Past and Present of Alameda County California
Joseph Baker, Editor, Volume I, Illustrated
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1914
CHAPTER VII
THE HARBOR, WEBSTER STREET BRIDGE, ETC.
When the harbor improvements were planned in 1873 San Antonio estuary
did not receive much drainage and was apparently filling up with surface waste.
The upper part became a mud flat at low tide. Other portions were over twenty
feet deep at low tide and to a considerable distance from the mouth the current
kept a channel open to a depth of twelve feet. About a mile from the shore the
current spread out and there a bar was formed within two feet of the surface at
low tide. The engineers, G. H. Mendall, C. S. Stewart and B. S. Alexander,
concluded that if the tidal flow were confined to jetties or training walls the
current would scour out the bottom, the amount of scour being determined by the
volume of water flowing out of the estuary. To secure the necessary amount of
water it was further concluded that the waters of San Leandro bay should be
turned through Oakland harbor. To accomplish this they proposed to dig a canal
across a mile and a half of low land separating the head of San Antonio estuary
from San Leandro bay and by putting gates at the mouth of the bay within Bay
Farm Island and Alameda force the bay to discharge its water through Oakland
harbor. It was estimated that the cubical contents of the tidal prism of the
estuary were 157,000,000 feet and of the bay 165,000,000 feet. The following
order of work was recommended: (1) Build two training walls of stone to control
the flow of water out of and into the estuary; (2) dig the San Leandro canal;
(3) build the dam on San Leandro bay; (4) excavate the basin at the head of the
estuary to give a greater tidal prism. The total cost was first estimated at
$1,335,435, which included 10 per cent additional for contingencies.
Appropriations were made and expended from 1874 to 1877 when the dispute over
the titles to the submerged lands checked appropriations and work until 1881
when labor was again resumed under an adjustment of titles. On several years
there were no appropriations, owing to the quibbles or crochets of Congress. By
1899 there was expended about one million eight hundred thousand dollars, with
about seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars more to be used to complete the
work. The current did not scour as expected, which made it necessary to dredge
extensively between the training walls. It was only in 1899 that the originally
proposed twenty feet depth of water between the training walls was
secured�twenty-six years after the work commenced. Work upon the tidal canal was
begun about 1890. In 1896 Congress designated $666,000 as the amount to be
allowed to complete the work as originally intended. At this time Colonel Suter
succeeded Mr. Mendall as engineer in charge. He reported that the tidal canal
was not a necessary feature of the improvement and that more money would be
needed than designated by congress to complete the work. This report opened a
big controversy between Alameda and Oakland. The former demanded the speedy
completion of the tidal canal as a vital necessity to its sewerage system. For
fifteen years a makeshift was used by discharging the sewage of Alameda into a
small cove in the bay where thorough scourings could not be secured. Oakland had
always contemplated a series of intercepting sewers to carry the discharges to
the extreme end of West Oakland to be there deposited in deep water, The natural
order required that the sewerage of Alameda should be poured westward from
Alameda Point to deep waters, but instead the discharge was turned eastward to
the upper end of the harbor. This was done in 1885 to protect the baths along
the Alameda shore and at the point. The return which the Alameda people asked
for the concession of dredging between the training walls was Oakland's consent
that after the twenty feet of water had been obtained from Webster street bridge
westerly the improvement of the channels to the east of Webster street bridge
should be the next portion of the improvement commenced and finished. But the
aid of Congress was uncertain and accordingly, after much hard and patient
effort, Senator Perkins and Congressman Hilborn succeeded in 1896 in securing a
place on the continuing contract list to the amount of $666,000 to be paid in
$20,000 installments. The next year an additional appropriation of $200,000 was
made. All the improvements, it was provided, should be carried on along the
original plans regardless of what subsequent engineers might think was best.
The above is a general outline of this important improvement, but now
will be given a more detailed account of the progress of the work, showing the
steps that were taken.
On the 24th of February, 1873, articles of incorporation of the Oakland
Harbor Improvement Company were filed, its object being to dredge and open a
ship channel across the bar at San Antonio creek and protect the same by
suitable means; to improve and make navigable the waters of the creek and
estuary; to connect by a canal the bay of San Leandro with the creek or estuary;
to construct along their line and adjacent to them suitable wharves and
warehouses for the accommodation of trade and commerce, and to construct across
the mouth of San Leandro bay a suitable dam with flood-gates sufficient to turn
the waters of the bay through San Antonio creek. The object also was to purchase
and acquire all necessary property, franchises, rights and privileges for the
carrying out of these objects. The principal place of business was declared to
be at Oakland; the capital stock was $2,000,000, and the directors were G. W.
Bowie, William Graham, F. Chappellet, G. M. Fisher, W. H. Gorill, Elijah Case,
Z. Montgomery, E. W. Woodward, John Doherty, R. C. Gaskell and C. H. Twombly,
all of Oakland.
The first appropriation for the Oakland harbor was made by Congress in
1874. In that year the freight business amounted to 154,300 tons. By 1882 the
freight amounted to 1,225,266 tons and the passengers carried to 858,352. In
August, 1882, $263,389 was available for continuing the harbor improvement. At
this time, with a harbor channel only two feet deep, Oakland's commerce was as
follows: Traffic by ferry, 60,000 tons; traffic by vessels, 94,300 tons; total,
154,300 tons. In 1888, with a channel twelve feet deep, the traffic by steam
ferries was 1,876,633 tons; traffic by vessels at railroad temporary wharf,
492,417 tons; traffic by vessels at city wharves, 221,370 tons; total, 2,590,422
tons. Recent dredging was a great disappointment, because it widened instead of
deepened the channel to the city wharves. What Oakland wanted�had begged for
from the start�was a channel of sufficient depth to permit large ocean-going
steamers to reach its docks.
In 1875 prominent citizens undertook to arrange that the land required
for the tidal canal, 86 2/3 acres, should be obtained without cost to the United
States other than the cost of survey and of legal condemnation proceedings. In
the autumn of 1875 these proceedings were instituted in the state court with the
view to obtain thereafter a special legislative act authorizing the city to levy
a tax sufficient to pay for the land condemned. In April, 1876, the Legislature
authorized the city to raise $25,000 by taxation for this purpose. It was not
until September, 1882, that the condemnation proceedings were completed, at
which time the court made a decree assessing the land at $39,696, of which the
city was to pay $25,000, and the United States $14,696. It was found that nearly
twenty thousand tons of stone were required to complete the jetties. A contract
was made for 11,650 tons, leaving 8,950 tons to be supplied under a second
contract. The channel-way, which was completed June 21, 1882, resulted in a
300-foot cut, ten feet deep at low water and a central 100-foot cut deepened
from 10 to 14 feet at low water, which depths were afterward maintained in spite
of some shoaling by sandy washings from the banks. This lack of tidal prism was
remedied by suitable operations in the inner harbor. The next operation was to
increase the tidal prism and was accomplished by dredging a tidal basin and by
cutting a tidal canal connecting Oakland harbor with the San Leandro estuary.
This was the situation in February, 1884.
Work on the harbor improvement progressed rapidly during 1873. A large
gang of Chinamen were constantly employed in unloading the scows which brought
rock from the quarries; they remained on the works night and day and their home
was in a rough board house built on a scow. They were at work on the creek route
to San Francisco.
In 1876-77 Congress refused to include in the appropriation bill any
amount for continuing the improvement of Oakland harbor. Mr. Page asked for
$100,000, but this allowance was opposed on the ground that a private
concern�the Oakland Water Front Company�claimed all the submerged land along the
point out to a depth of twenty-four feet and also claimed the whole of the San
Antonio estuary. The company had dedicated for purposes of navigation a channel
300 feet wide, but claimed the submerged land up to the banks of this channel,
the right to build wharves thereon, and the ownership of the tidal basin of
Oakland harbor. As long as these claims existed, or were unsettled, it was out
of the question to secure from Congress an appropriation for improving what
might prove to be, when settled in the courts or otherwise, private property.
The permanent channel contemplated required a tidal basin to receive the
inflowing tide and to disburse it again in the bay. It had been proposed to
connect the San Leandro and San Antonio estuary by a canal to cost in all
$500,000, but this step was also opposed, because it was not yet settled who was
the lawful owner of the San Antonio estuary. The Water Front Company began
operations of proprietorship which were stopped by the Government on the ground
that it was exceeding its rights. Soon the company agreed to yield all claim to
any portion that would interfere with the contemplated improvements. Time passed
and the House committee reported the bill without the harbor appropriation. Mr.
Page then undertook to defeat the whole bill and succeeded. He then began again
to remove all objections. He returned home, consulted all persons and companies
concerned and finally in April, 1877, obtained the consent of the Water Front
Company to deed to the United States all their right, title and interest in and
to all the submerged lands of the estuary, or bordering thereon, which might be
necessary for carrying out the plans of improvement of Oakland harbor. It was
during the terms of office of Mayors Durant, Spaulding and Webber that the
Oakland harbor improvement was inaugurated and pushed forward with vigor. These
officials did everything in their power to keep the project everlastingly before
Congress.
The Oakland harbor plans in February, 1884, provided that all available
money should be applied to the completion of the jetties and to the excavation
of the tidal basin. The contract provided for dredging to the amount of 600,000
cubic yards, of which 92,055 yards had been accomplished in 1883. The dredging
was novel in being removed through a conduit of iron pipe at a distance. The
capabilities of delivery were extended to a distance of 1,200 feet, with
possibilities of much further delivery. This system was found to be much cheaper
than any other. The next requirements of the situation asked for dredging at the
basin, the extension of fourteen foot water from the head of the jetties to the
bridge allowing ships to reach the Oakland wharves, excavation of the tidal
canal connecting San Leandro estuary with Oakland harbor and the payment of a
portion of the award made by the state court to the owners of land condemned for
the purposes of this canal.
The failure of the government in 1884-5 to provide for a continuance of
the work on the Oakland harbor was a grievous local disappointment and was
followed by the almost certain and serious damage to the work already done. The
original estimate of the improvement was $1,814,529.20, of which amount there
had already been appropriated in June, 1885, $874,600. It was urged that the
appropriation should be sufficient to meet the annual estimates and that meager
appropriations prevented economical operations. At the (then) present rate of
appropriations it would require ten years to complete the work, but only three
or four years with liberal appropriations. The original depth before the
improvements were begun was about three feet; now it was fourteen feet at the
entrance. The money was applied to increase the tidal prism by continuing the
dredging of the tidal basin and by the excavation of the San Leandro canal.
In May, 1885, the Oakland council passed an ordinance allowing the
Alameda County Terminal Wharf and Warehouse Company to erect and maintain a
wharf and warehouses from the western end of Powell street in Oakland township
to deep water in San Francisco bay; they were required to expend $15,000 the
first year.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR OAKLAND HARBOR
1874 $100,000 188160,000
1875 100,000 1882200,000
1876 75,0001884139,000
1878 80,000188660,000
1879 60,0001888350,000
1880 60,000 1890250,000
The old city wharf extended out 150 yards from Franklin and Webster
streets in 1888 and was joined at the end by another wharf forming a hollow
square. The new wharf being constructed early in 1889 consisted of three piers
extending out almost as far as the old pier and far enough apart to allow
dockage along the sides and at the end. The old wharf was removed section by
section as the new one was built.
In May, 1891, E. C. Sessions carried out his large project of dredging
and docking in the harbor near Clinton station. A canal 1,200 feet long was
dredged in the marsh where he owned a tract of about sixty acres. The canal
alone cost about forty thousand dollars, and Mr. Sessions in all paid out about
one hundred thousand dollars for the canal and wharf improvements.
Late in December, 1892, the government awarded two important dredging
contracts in Oakland harbor�one for a semi-circular channel between four
thousand and five thousand feet long, beginning at the Larue reservation and
thence extending eastward past the cotton mills to the new San Leandro canal,
and one for a canal twenty feet deep and about four thousand feet long,
extending from Webster street bridge westward toward the bay. There was involved
in the two contracts about one hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars.
The important question of how Alameda and Oakland could unite on a plan
for the improvement of the harbor and the construction of the tidal canal was
duly considered by mass meetings, committee discussions and private conferences
in November, 1896.
The plans for harbor improvement in 1897 were those presented by Colonel
Suter and included a channel twenty feet deep to be carried well up toward the
head of the estuary and the completion of the training walls. One new bridge was
planned to take the place of the two old ones across the estuary.
The desideratum in 1900, it was realized, was the elaboration and
completion of the harbor so that ocean vessels of high draft and in large
numbers could lie in safety at the wharves, or could ride at anchor in a
land-locked and secure harbor. Until this improvement was an accomplished fact
the city could not expect to take its share of the immense transport business
which still went to San Francisco, nor be the real terminus of the
trans-continental railways. In other words the great object of Oakland at this
time was to bring together ship and car at the wharves and docks of the city. In
the fall of 1900 work on the harbor progressed satisfactorily in the harbor
proper, at the Alameda end, and at Sausul creek. The establishment at this time
by Balfour, Guthrie & Co., of docks, coal bunkers, warehouses, etc., and by
Boole & Co., of a shipyard at the foot of Union street, showed that the
improvements to the harbor were appreciated and that the work was bound to bear
abundant fruit.
In January, 1901, the county board adopted resolutions, in accord with
the report of Colonel Heuer, asking the government for a harbor channel
twenty-five feet deep at low tide. This was the unanimous action of the
supervisors. Congressman Metcalf at once prepared a bill to that effect.
The harbor improvement needed was a channel 500 feet wide and not less
than twenty feet deep at low tide extending from deep water in San Francisco bay
to Fallon street; thence a channel 300 feet wide and seventeen feet deep to the
tidal basin, and thence a channel entirely around the basin 300 feet wide and
twelve feet deep, the estimated cost of which was $646,293. At this time it
became the consensus of opinion that a twenty-foot depth of channel would be
insufficient for the requirements of commerce. When the harbor was planned in
1874 a twenty-foot depth was probably sufficient, but with the passage of time
came much larger vessels and accordingly a deeper channel was needed. Of the
tonnage passing through Oakland harbor, eighty-nine per cent was
trans-continental railway freight. No vessel drawing more than twenty feet could
enter the harbor at low tide and had to be lightened outside in order to reach
the wharves. This was an unnecessary and costly item. Or they could unload at
Long wharf upon paying wharfage and tolls for hauling, The excavation of a
channel twenty-five feet deep and 500 feet wide from the bay to Fallon street,
and thence 300 feet wide and the same depth to and around the basin was
estimated to cost $1,687,818. The excavation of the tidal canal by the Atlantic
Gulf and Pacific Company was rapid and satisfactory, Their contract with the
government called for the removal of 1,000,000 cubic yards of earth per month.
Late in 1901 the Southern Pacific handled over one hundred car loads of earth
daily from the excavations.
In January, 1902, the board of public works adopted the following at the
request of the board of trade: Whereas, the business of Oakland harbor has very
materially increased during the last few years; and Whereas, the draught of
vessels has also been increased necessitating deeper water in the waterways
and Whereas, the Oakland harbor, owing to its shallow depth, is unable to
accommodate the shipping interests at this port, therefore be it Resolved, That
this board request the mayor of the city of Oakland to wire Congressman Metcalf
to use his best efforts for the furtherance of the Rivers and Harbors bill now
before the congressional committees to obtain an appropriation for the deepening
of the Oakland harbor to a depth of twenty-five feet at low tide.
The Leavitt bill in the Legislature early in 1907 provided for the
creation of a board of harbor commissioners for the Oakland water front.
During 1907 the Southern Pacific Company reclaimed a large area of land
south of the broad-gauge mole with a new ferry slip and expansive dock. The
Western Pacific Company reclaimed an immense area and prepared generally for the
terminal ferry which was to be ready as soon as the western end of its
trans-continental road was put in operation. It also reclaimed from the marshes
of the inner harbor about one hundred and thirty acres.
At the close of 1907 the enormous progress in harbor improvement was
manifest. Lumber yards and mills lined the water front for miles; several new
wharves and docks had been built; the lumber fleet had nearly doubled in one
year; one wharf was long enough to accommodate nine vessels lying end to end,
with nineteen feet depth of water at low tide. The government was well advanced
on the work of dredging the channel to a depth of twenty-five feet at low tide.
Thus in line was a harbor with a channel 500 feet wide and deep enough for any
merchant vessel entering San Francisco bay.
It was apparent in 1908-9 that, owing to increased cost in various
improvement lines, the old continuing contract for harbor funds from the
government was inadequate to complete the project as had been contemplated. It
was estimated that from $400,000 to $500,000 more than had been expected would
be needed. The sum available on December 31, 1908, of funds appropriated was
$141,545, and the amount remaining to be appropriated which had been authorized
under the acts of 1905 and 1907 was $255,000. Outstanding obligations amounted
to $244,108, leaving available for future operations $153,436.
Early in 1909 Congressman Knowland secured an appropriation of $256,000
for the continued improvement of the Oakland harbor; he managed to have this
measure attached to the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill.
In February, 1909, the county board authorized the city of Oakland to
proceed with the annexation of about six square miles of the water front and
tide lands in the western part of the city between the long wharf and Berkeley
as a part of the general scheme for the improvement of Oakland harbor.
By November, 1910, the Government had spent in round numbers $3,500,000
on the Oakland channel and harbor and was virtually under pledge to dredge the
channel to a depth of thirty feet at low tide and a width of 500 feet from ship
channel in the bay to the line of Fallon street.
In 1911 the new project under which Oakland harbor improvements were
carried on provided for a channel thirty feet deep and 500 feet wide from the
bay to the tidal basin, for a channel twenty-five feet deep and 300 feet wide
around the tidal basin, and for a channel eighteen feet deep along the tidal
basin. The plan was to build the thirty-foot channel at once, and to add the
other improvements when needed. In 1910 $250,000 was appropriated to commence
operations.
What determined the board of engineers at Washington to approve the
thirty-foot channel project was the fact that such a channel had been granted to
Los Angeles and San Diego, neither of which had as large an annual harbor
tonnage as Oakland. This fact, when presented to the board, caused it to reverse
its former action and to approve the recommendations of Colonel Biddle. The
amount of commerce was the paramount item of importance when seen by Congress.
In addition Congress looked with greatest favor on those localities which were
willing to assist in any water or harbor improvement project, and thus regarded
Oakland which had authorized a bond issue of $2,500,000 for harbor improvements.
Previous to 1911 Alameda had done nothing for its harbor, but late in the year
the mayor of that city appointed a board of harbor commissioners which began
action.
Succeeding the authorization of the bond indebtedness late in 1909, the
Livingstone street concrete pier wharf was soon completed, but other projected
improvements with that fund were held up. But work on the western water front
was commenced�the Key Route basin. Still by January, 1914, the city was but
little nearer deep water navigation and commerce than if the voters back in 1909
had not authorized prompt work to secure that result.
In 1870 the project of a bridge across San Antonio creek between Oakland
and Alameda was considered by the Legislature, but was bitterly opposed by
residents of Brooklyn who thought it would obstruct navigation and thus
interfere with the prospects of their town. However, the bill became law and the
Webster street bridge was constructed. In this matter, at the meeting of the
council, Mr. Spaulding offered the following resolution:
"Whereas, It has come to the knowledge of this council that there is
dissatisfaction among the residents and property owners of Brooklyn and San
Antonio respecting the action taken by this council in the matter of giving
their sanction for the passage of a law for the construction of a bridge at the
foot of Webster street to connect with Alameda; and
"Whereas, It is not the wish nor desire of Oakland or its
representatives to obstruct or in any way to impede the progress of our
neighboring towns; therefore be it
"Resolved, That the citizens of Brooklyn, San Antonio and Alameda, by
their representatives, be requested to meet this council at their rooms to show
wherein or how they will be injured or benefited by the construction of a bridge
at the point above named."
This special meeting was called, but in the meantime a protest was
received from Brooklyn township. A meeting of the citizens and property owners
of Brooklyn township, held at Swett's hall, unanimously adopted the following
resolution:
"That it is the opinion of this meeting that the construction of a
bridge over the San Antonio creek will be detrimental to the inhabitants of
Brooklyn township in an eminent degree; also injurious to the interests of the
county in general, by the creation of a very costly structure to be foisted upon
the county at great expense for the care and keeping the same in repair." A
printed protest was also received from thirty-three citizens of Oakland to the
following effect: "The undersigned hereby protest against the erection of a
bridge across San Antonio creek, as is now proposed by parties in Alameda. In
our estimation a bridge would seriously obstruct navigation and impose
unnecessary expense upon Oakland. We would suggest that the proposed connection,
if necessary, be made solely at the expense of residents of Alameda, and by road
and ferry only in accordance with the original proposition." On February 28th
citizens of Alameda and Brooklyn being present were invited to express their
views on the bridge question. The following resolution was then passed, "That
the city clerk be authorized to communicate with Calvin Brown, George E. Gray
and A. F. Rogers and ask them to give this council, on or before Monday, March
7, 1870, their opinion of the effect of the erection of a bridge across San
Antonio creek, especially as effecting the depth of water therein; and that the
opinion of any other scientific gentlemen on the subject who may favor us with
the same will be cheerfully received." The bridge as then planned was 1,000 feet
in length with a draw of 200 feet, and the cost was $25,000. Early in March,
1871, it was completed. On April l0th, an ordinance levying a special tax was
passed, and a special levy of twenty-five cents on each $100 of property was
ordered to be levied for the purpose of defraying the expense of the bridge.
On April 24, 1876, an ordinance was passed authorizing the construction
of a bridge across the estuary of San Antonio between Eighth street and East
Ninth street, and fixing the dimensions thereof. On the same date the name of
Middle street was changed to Ninth street; and on November 27th the contract for
building the Eighth street bridge was awarded to the Pacific Bridge Company, at
$30,000.
The big new bridge across the tidal canal was dedicated January 23,
1892. There were long processions and various noisy demonstrations by both
Alameda and Oakland. The speakers were Edward K. Taylor, city attorney of
Alameda, and Hon. W. R. Davis of Oakland.
It was in August, 1910, that the grant by the harbor commission of 2,000
feet of the quay wall to be erected on the south side for the docking of deep
water ships was made.