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orized 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 thirtyfoot 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 r.garded 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

Vol. 1-9

"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 10th, 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.

CHAPTER VIII

MILITARY AFFAIRS

A military company was organized at San Francisco in 1849, which in July had forty-one men, and in September numbered 100. It was named the First California Guard, and though intended for the artillery arm the men were drilled with muskets. The officers of this company were Captain H. W. Naglee; First Lieutenants William O. O. Harvard and M. Norton; Second Lieutenants Hall McAllister and David F. Bagley; Surgeon Samuel Gerry and Sergeant R. H. Sinton. The company retained its organization later under the laws of California, and is at present known as Company A, Light Battery, N. G. C. In 1850 it went to Sacramento to assist in quelling the squatters' riots and in its absence two other companies were organized which still belong to the N. G. C. About twenty more companies existed at the time that the war of the rebellion broke out in 1861.

There were in 1854 six companies at San Francisco formed into a battalion. The militia of the metropolis has been called into active service on only three occasions, to wit: In 1856, during the existence of the vigilance committee, when they received orders to report to the Governor; in 1871, when several companies were despatched to Amador county to prevent a collision between miners and mill owners; and in 1877, during the three days' riots of the Kearney mob, when they were ordered to guard the armories and other property. The alacrity with which the officers, rank and file responded to the call of the legally constituted authorities proved the usefulness of their organization.

The state was in 1850, pursuant to an act of the Legislature, partitioned into four military divisions with a major-general at the head of each, two brigades commanded by the respective brigadier-generals constitute one division. The command-in-chief of the national guard was vested in the Governor, and the chief officers of the staff were the adjutant-general and quartermaster-general. San Francisco had a regularly organized brigade, and the first commander of the Second division was Major-General Dimond, afterward superintendent of the mint, now dead. There existed also a number of independent companies.

The territory on the Pacific was constituted by order of the President of the United States in 1849-50, the Third division of department No. 11; but in 1851 the commands of departments No. 10 and 11 were merged in that of the Pacific division, and Brevet Brigadier-General Ethan A. Hitchcock became its chief, with headquarters at Sonoma; he was afterward Secretary of the Interior under President McKinley. In February, 1854, Major-General John E. Wool took the command.

At the time the Civil war began the only fortifications on the coast of California and Oregon were Alcatraz and Fort Point. At Alcatraz were 130 men under Captain Stewart. Fort Point was not occupied till February, 1861, when 160 artillerymen were stationed there, whose officers were Lieutenants Kellogg,

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