Oakland's Wholesale Trade

Tte

Walter G. Manuel.

HOUGHTFUL and far-seeing men contend that the two great commercial cities of the United States will eventually establish themselves on the two greatest harbors of the two greatest oceans; viz., New York harbor and San Francisco bay.

New York does not concern us, because that city has had time to grow, and to a large extent has matured. It required two hundred years for the "Star of Empire" to travel westward from the founding of New York to the establishment of a city of commerce on San Francisco bay. Because the waters of the bay shoaled on its continental side and were washed deep by tides on its peninsula side, a city was established, where boats could land. The city flourished, became rich, great and beautiful. It far outdistanced all commercial centers bordering that greatest of all highways, the Pacific Ocean. Rich Oriental cargoes of tea and silk consigned to New York were unloaded at her docks. ferried across the bay from the peninsular to the continental side and re-shipped to their destinations.

In the meantime, the continental side of the bay had sought federal aid, had deepened its waters, invited shipping and railroads, and was fast establishing manufactures and a large satisfied population. The great fire of April 18th to 21st, destroyed much of the vitality of San Francisco. After a sufficient time had elapsed to permit her business men to fully comprehend the far reaching effect of the dis

Mr. George Meredith,.
Secretary Oakland Clearing House.

the result that every available foot of eleven miles of waterfront is being acquired and improved for commerce.

The population of Oakland has doubled within the year, and is now believed to be 225,000, and by way of illustration, the increase in wholesale business, the statement is made that the customs house entries at Oakland have increased to twenty-five times their number of six months ago.

The present situation in Oakland with its possibilities for rapid development is apparently unparalleled. With a foundation suitable on which to build a great city; with an abundance of room to grow; with perfect drainage; fronting and looking directly out the Golden Gate, Oakland is favored geographically far beyond that of other cities.

Wholesale and retail merchants in great number, with long established lines of business, are seeking suitable locations within her borders. Building of all descriptions is so active that artisans cannot be secured, and still strictly speaking, there is not available for renting purposes a single store, warehouse or domicile of any kind in the city. From the viewpoint of the Oakland wholesalers, the only cloud on the commercial horizon is the hostile attitude toward Oakland of the transcontinental railroads reaching San Francisco bay points. With their help, I would venture the assertion that no other city on the American continent would show the growth of Oakland in the next decade. Here is presented activity and opportunity far beyond that of any city within my knowledge. As a field for the wholesaler and manufacturer, it is my judgment that the finger cannot be placed on a spot on the Pacific coast line that even remotely approaches it.

of their supplies in Oakland, and it is no small task to cater to the wants of such a large number of buyers. But the retail merchants of our city are equal to the task, even when the population of our section has been almost or quite doubled during the last three months. Scores of purchasers of San Francisco have supplied their needs in Oakland since the San Francisco fire, and we believe have been well satisfied under the circumstances. The retail merchants of Oakland rely on quality and price to sell their goods, and do not take kindly to trading stamps, coupons, fake premiums and other devices used in some localities to make the people believe they are getting something for nothing.

For many years the trading stamp craze has been conspicuous by its absence. Agreements among the different lines of merchants have kept the city free from this objectionable parasite.

The retail merchants of Oakland believe in advertising of a legitimate nature, and are generous patrons of the local press and other

Scene in Piedmont Park, Oakland.

genuine methods of making known to the public stock prices and qualities.

A perusal of the local papers will show that our merchants believe in the judicious use of printer's ink. The retail merchants have also been able by mutual agreement to rid the city of programme advertising, which is advertising in name only, without any benefit perceptible to the advertiser. Most of the retail merchants are members of the local organization, the Merchants' Exchange, and are thus kept in touch with each other. In this way the local conditions are kept in view and much needless competition is avoided. This is the day of organization, and any person who thinks he can be in a class by himself will soon find out his mistake.

Oakland as a commercial center has a bright outlook. Its manufacturing industries are increasing by leaps and bounds.

Its third transcontinental railroad is nearing completion. As a center of a large and con

Oakland harbor and the building of docks for the handling of commerce is going steadily forward.

The present contract for deeping the channel from the bay of San Francisco to the properties of the Oakland Dock and Warehouse Co. will give a 25 foot depth of water at low tide, and 31 at high, thus accommodating vessels of the deepest draught. The width of the channel is 300 feet, and the length of this point is 22,000 feet. The east end of the channel, from the Oakland Dock and Warehouse wharves, to the Tidal Basin, is 3,000 feet in length, and will show a depth of 17 feet at low and twentythree at high tide.

At the Tidal Basin the channel divides, one portion following the Brooklyn shore to the Tidal Canal, with a low tide depth of 8 feet, and the other on the Alameda side will show 12 feet at low tide. The combined frontage of the two arms is 13,000 feet.

The total pier-head lines will show 64,000

feet of frontage, or in the neighborhood of 12 miles.

The ultimate depth of the channel in Oakland harbor will be 30 feet at low and 36 feet at high tide. As an evidence of this, all bridges being built are compelled to put in foundations at a depth of 30 feet at low water.

The importance of Oakland harbor at the present time is no small matter.

Prior to the disaster that befell San Francisco, the tonnage movement was in excess of 5,000,000 tons annually, and new conditions have materially augmented this volume.

It is not an idle statement, nor yet the fancy of a visionary, but rather a forecast, founded on sound conditions, to say that the Oakland of the future will be, beyond cavil, the most important port on the western coast of the United States.

broad channel which can be kept by all kinds of vessels in all kinds of weather; a harbor most desirable in the respect that it is so absolutely land locked that no disturbance to shipping is possible, as would be the case in a more open harbor; also in the fact that it is so easy of access to all overland railroads. It will be a harbor with ample anchorage, free from rocks and shoals, with good holding ground, and with perfect protection from wind and waves; also the entrance of the harbor is in such proportion to the harbor proper as to insure perfect tranquility. Moreover, through the efforts of the large interests now locating on its water front this harbor will be amply cquipped with all appliances for loading and unloading vessels.

The original project for the improvement of Oakland harbor was submitted in 1874. The harbor was to consist of two training walls at the entrance; a tidal canal of one and one-half miles in length to connect with the tide waters of San Leandro bay, the estimated cost of these improvements to be, in round numbers $1,815, 000. This was approved by Congress, and during the progress of the work slight modifications were made, consisting of the raising of the training walls to full high tide level; increasing the tidal canal to 400 feet in width; the building of three steel draw-bridges across the tidal canal, and of diverting the silt laden waters af Sausal Creek into San Leandro bay.

This project, with the exception of the building of the dam at the entrance of the San Leandro bay (which may not be necessary) is now completed, and up to June 30, 1905, cost $2,643,032.

The tonnage of the harbor in 1874 aggregated 154,300; in 1904 the tonnage aggregated 4,708,672.

In the River and Harbor act of 1901., Congress provided for an examination of Oakland harbor, with a view to its improvement to meet the needs of present and prospective commerce.

The project calls for a channel 500 feet wide and 25 feet deep, from San Francisco bay as far as Cestnut street, Oakland; thence 300 feet wide and 25 feet deep as far as Fallon street; thence 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep to the Tidal Basin; then 300 feet wide and 12 feet deep around the Tidal Basin.

In June, 1905, a channel 400 feet wide and 20 feet deep at low tide had been obtained as far as Chestnut street; 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep as far as the tidal basin; 300 feet wide and 12 feet deep on the north side of the tidal basin, and 300 feet wide and 8 feet deep on the south side of the tidal basin.

Sufficient money has been authorized and is available to produce a channel 300 feet wide and 25 feet deep at low tide to Fallon street, and Assistant U. S. Engineer L. J. LeConte, who has had charge of the work from the first, is sanguine that a very generous appropriation will be made by Congress this year for the improvement of this harbor. The money thus far spent is practically all for extensions in width and depth for the benefit of commerce.

of Oakland Harbor

By May Elder Leslie.

AKLAND harbor, owing to its unique natural advantages, is the key to the commercial situation on the Pacific Coast, affording, as it does, an almost perfect connection between the ocean traffic and the immense overland traffic, which is, and must be, carried on at this point. It is difficult to estimate what increase of commerce is likely to result from the improvements now going on in this harbor, which have, in fact, been going on since the year 1874, and the work will necessarily receive great impetus from recent events, which have turned the eyes of capitalists and investors this way.

Through the deepening and widening of the channel which is now going on, this will become a harbor for deep sea vessels, with a deep.

tenance.

Work is now being carried on by Mr. Marshall C. Harris, under contract, who has contracted to remove material at the rate of ten and one-half cents per cubic yard. 800,000 cubic yards have been taken out under the present contract. This contract will be completed in about eighteen months, and will bring the channel 300 feet wide and 25 feet deep to Fallon street.

The improvement of the harbor has naturally induced a great increase in the manufacturing industries on the shores of the harbor. On the property of Mr. James L. de Fremery, 24 acres at the foot of 7th, 8th and 9th avenues, on Clinton Basin, extensive improvements are now being made. This property has 1800 feet of water front and 1,800 feet of bulkhead are now being constructed, also one mile of roads and half a mile of spur tracks, connecting the wharves with the Southern Pacific tracks. de Fremery is also putting in a complete water and sewer system, which will add materially to the desirability of this property as factory and shipping sites.

Mr.