Polk's Oakland (California) city directory, 1928, Part 4

Author: R.L. Polk & Co
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1708

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Clear Twelfth Street Dam of Car Tracks

One definite recommendation ] desire at this time to state I have placed before the City Planning Commission with request for immediate action. This is a matter I have advocated for many years, but-undoubtedly because of the influence of the Key System Traction Company in the City-have never been able to secure sufficient Council vote to put over; namely, the removal of car tracks from their present location in the center of the congested Twelfth Street Dam and their re-location on the Auditorium grounds just south of the sidewalk lining the south curb of the dam itself.

This would be an immediate improvement of inestimable worth. It would clear the dam of present obstacles without adding a single extra hazard; and, because under such a plan Auditorium visitors could be discharged from street cars directly on the grounds, it would effectually prevent stoppage of motor vehicle flow on the dam such as is now caused when such easterly traffic is held up while street car passengers cross the road- way to reach the grounds from the present tracks.

This re-location of tracks I anticipated when I had the new culvert over the Lake Merritt tidal canal constructed just south of and contiguous of the dam itself. It would cost the Traction Company not over $40,000, but the usual objections are put up. How- ever, it is as I have said a workable and expedient solution of the present dam conges- tion, and if carried out would save the taxpayers many millions that other and more grandiose solutions, often proposed, would cost them. I cannot urge the immediate order- ing of this track re-location too strongly. The new City Planning Commission, in plan- ring improvements for the City, must notforget that grand scale solution of our traffic situation must necessarily cost vast sums of money, and that such money must come from only one source, the pockets of hard-working taxpayers.

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1928

.45

MADDUX AIR LINES

Review of Ford all-metal planes at Airport.

DEPARTMENTAL DEVELOPMENT

Harbor

The Oakland Harbor, under direction of the lately formed Port Commission, is rapidly going ahead, building for the future. Although last year it received a substantial appro- priation from the tax levy, it is now entirely self-supporting.

Three large developments under direction of the Port Commission stand as eminently worthy of note. These are the completion of the Fourteenth Street dock and warehousing facilities on the western waterfront, the completion of the Grove Street dock and ware- house on the Estuary, and the inauguration and development of the now world- famous Oakland Airport on Bay Farm Island.

Airport

Most significant of these three, from standpoint of popularity and municipal ad- vertisement and prestige, is the Oakland Airport. It is this high value of the latter facil- ity that has caused me to insert the word "Air" in our slogan, "Oakland, Where Rail and Water Meet"-as witness the cover of this pamphlet.

Although less than a year ago, the Oakland Municipal Airport has already served as a starting point for five successful trans-Pacific flights, and is operating today on a sound commercial basis as a complete aerial harbor, equipped for any kind of day and night flying. It is a western base for airmail and for many commercial companies operating from San Diego to Seattle, and from Oakland to all points eastward. Its 825 acres, meas- uring from east to west 7200 feet and from north to south 8336 feet, are entirely within the city boundaries, perfectly level and tile drained, free from snow and severe rains and with little fog, unobstructed for landing or taking off, and with a 7200-foot runway straight into the prevailing westerly breeze which averages in velocity only 10 miles per hour.

Meteorologically perfect, it is no wonder Oakland Airport has been chosen for prac- tically every attempt to span the Pacific. It was the starting point for each of the suc- cessful attempts, namely, the successful flights of Maitland and Hegenberger, Ernest Smith, certain of the Dole flyers, and for the Smith-Kingsford flight to Australia via Honolulu and the Fiji Islands. These flights gave our city publicity that swept Oakland's name around the world with news of the successful feats themselves.

Colonel Charles Lindberg, in an address at the Airport during his post-Atlantic flight tour, said: "This is the best field I have ever seen;" while Anthony H. G. Fokker, noted designer and aviation authority, has stated of Oakland: "Your airport is the best in America. When completed, it will even surpass that of Berlin, which today is called the best in the world."

The land on which the port is located cost the citizens of Oakland $768,000, and improvements to date have cost in the neighborhood of $350,000. The latter consist of a complete tile drainage system and leveling and planting to tough grasses, the building of an administration building and four hangars-two of which are 90 by 200 feet, a third 120 by 200, and a fourth 142 feet wide by 300 feet long-the installation of the latest type of flood lighting and other illumination systems, the development of complete service for all types of planes, and tbe anticipated construction of restaurant, comfort stations, gas and oil supply depots, sewer system, independent water supply, first ald

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

facilities, press room, dormitory with baths for pilots, waiting room, ticket office, and aerological station. A railroad spur track comes to within 100 feet of the hangars, and a channel is being dredged from San Leandro Bay to give speed boat service from the City.

AIRPORT-OPERATION

The following statistics of the activities at the Airport, with gross revenues accruing are submitted for the periods given:

Landings

Passengers

Gross Revenue

November, 1927

2072

756

$ 356.80

December, 1927

2066

790

465.00

January, 1928

2475

1388

1133 39

February, 1928

2567

2031

1503.00

March, 1928

4648

3170

2246.78

April, 1928

6666

4514

2444.17

May, 1928

7483

4810

2729.25

June, 1928

6732

4790

2786.89

July, 1928

7268

6590

3193.18

The swift growth of Airport activity is obvious.

Airplane Factories, Testing Grounds and Air Schools

With the general developments of the airplane industry throughout the country, and with the specific improvement of Oakland Airport and the comprehensiveness of its facilities, it is now Oakland's opportunity to bring, to the thousands of acres of level land adjacent to our airport, branch or home factories of airplanes and their accessories. There are, still in private ownership, at least 2000 acres of Bay Farm Island land avail- able for factories and experimental fields. I most earnestly urge our City Government, our Chamber of Commerce, all civic organizations and all citizens to join in a concerted movement to gain for Oakland such factories. We can offer them the best of land, im- mediate transportation facilities, perfect all year round flying climate, and a decreasing tax rate all we need now is a "Get-Together-for-Oakland" spirit such as the people of the south have for their city of Los Angeles. Then we will progress in the air as we have in industries and transportation.

At this point let me state that in my annual message of 1924 I advocated a bond issue to include purchase of some 3300 acres of Bay Farm Island. As I stated at that time, "this extensive area provides excellent opportunities for both commercial and recre- ational development. There is ample area for industrial locations, together with devel- opment of AVIATION FIELDS, additional golf links, football and baseball grounds, speedway, race track, a beautiful yacht harbor, and general recreational facilities. It would pro- vide ten miles of additional harbor frontage for development of a reserve harbor, some- thing possessed by no city anywhere." I also stated that Bay Farm Island furnishes the only eastern entrance to our city for present and new-coming transcontinental railroads that expect to use Oakland's rail, ship and air terminals.

The matter, however, was not met favorably by the then Council, despite my repeated efforts to effect the purchase. If the entire tract had then been purchased the city would not only own the 825 acres now included in the Airport, but approximately 4000 acres. Had the city owned these other thousands of acres, Oakland might well have located the great Henry Ford western factory that since went to Richmond. Oakland must not be short-sighted-we have many opportunities to be great, but previous lack of a real spirit of and for our city, which we may congratulate ourselves is now taking hold, has in times past lost many of them. With the land and the climate Oakland can offer, air- plane factories should be here it is up to us to bring them and convince them that Oakland will treat them well.

Doeks and Warehouses

In accordance with the general plans of the Port Deyartment, the Fourteenth Street dock on the western waterfront, with 1700 feet of berthing space and warehouse area of 270,000 square feet, and the Grove Street dock of slightly less footage on the Estuary, have been completed, complete with spur tracks, and are now in use. These will furnish ample facitities for some time to come, and are notable additions to a harbor which, from the standpoint of climate, water, immediate railroad connection with the continent and rich productive background, cannot but some day be among the world's greatest.

At this time again, however, I wish to recommend, as I did in 1924, serious considera- tion of the continued improvement of our western waterfront. Prior to the formation of the Harbor Commission, we had before this body a plan that would provide a mole 6000 feet long by 1000 feet in width running directly into deep water from the end of the Fourteenth Street fill. This would provide 10,200 feet of berthing, 15 transit sheds 600 by 125 feet each, and 37,000 feet of storage and switching tracks. I consider the "white meat" of our harbor to lie between the Western Pacific and the Southern Pacific moles, likewise city property, and still urge, as I have often in the past, that this and the western front be given primary consideration.

Development of this logical location would make possible, too, another facility of inestimable value from the efficiency and economical points of view-namely, the con- struction adjacent to the western water front of the Union Terminal. Such a facility I

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1928

خرا فه

Start of the Dole-Oakland to Honolulu-trans-Pacific flight, witnessed by 70,000 persons.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

recommended in my message of 1922, and in another message since then. This matter will he expatiated upon later in this message under the general head "Recommenda- tions."

In the line with Port Department program also is the proposed development of Brook- lyn Basin. Here test piles are being driven, following which designs for dock structures to be erected in that location will be prepared.

The following comparative statistics indicate growth of harbor tonnage over last year:

1926-27, 10 Mos.

1927-28. 10 Mos. 12,405

No. of vessels

arrived.

Net registered

tonnage.

9126 4.870,008

6,284,675

Imports. tons

Foreign

154.787

179,478

Intercoastal

167,589

170,728

Coastwise

1,026,165

615,011

Inland Waterways

461.755

Total

1,384,541

1.426,972

Exports, tons

Foreign

41,249

101,398

Inter-Coastal

52.623

60,615

Coastwise

227.952

69,399

Inland Waterways

117,102

Total

321,824

348,514

Total Imports and Exports (Inc. Lumber).

1.670,365

1,775,486

No. of feet of lumber.

203,551,352

204,231,139

*Included in above figure.

This growth is best gauged by comparison with the figures of 12 years ago: Total merchandise cargo carried through Oakland port:

1916

1928

182,000 Tons

2,130,581 Tons

MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY

Work on the Mokelumne River project, bringing mountain water from the high Sierras, was, on July 30th of this year, well over 65 per cent completed, according to re- port of Arthur Davis, Chief Engineer and General Manager of the East Bay Municipal Utility District. Within the boundaries of our own city the Claremont Tunnel to convey water through the Berkeley Hills is bored and practically complete, with pipe line con- struction continuing at this terminus. Across the hills the Lafayette Dam unit is well under way, while the five-foot pipe line thence to the San Joaquin River is entirely laid. In the Sierra foothills the District has successfully brought to conclusion the land con- demnations necessary to the Lancha Plana dam site for the Pardee Reservoir, and con- struction of the upper Sierra dams is also well under way. Two years more work will probably be necessary hefore water will be brought in, it is estimated.

Before water is available, however, the people of Oakland and of the Oakland Metro- politan district will be confronted with the mater of a distribution system. Two means of solving this problem are available-purchase and perfection of the facilities of the East Bay Water Company, the private utility now furnishing us with water, or con- struction of an entirely new distributing system of our own. The East Bay Municipal Utility District has already voted a $26,000,000 issue to defray cost of water distribution, and one of the above plans must be adopted unless the Utility District means to sell the private water company its mountain water for the company to make private profit on in retail sale to our citizens.

Hydro-Electric Power Should Be Developed

At this point I wish again to emphasize the high value to our people of developing the upper Mokelumne for hydro-electric power. Congress has recently witnessed the strength of power company lobbies in legislative work. In fact, Congressional investi- gation has shown that even many of our great universities-which certainly should be uncontaminated by corporate influence have been engaged in propaganda in favor of private power companies as against public ownership. California cities even now are fighting raises in utility rates. All this points to the benefits of the municipal develop- ment of electric power, and it is regretable that Oakland has not included in our bonded indebtedness for water supply the development of electric power. Particularly is this true when all people know that when the original water honds were voted it was generally understood that power was to accompany the water supply. This would have aided our people individually; but even more would it have specifically and vitally affected Oak- land as a municipal corporation in competition with other municipal corporations on the Pacific Coast.

I am urged to mention that San Francisco and Los Angeles both mean to develop their own hydro-electric resources in connection with their mountain water supply. Being thus furnished with power of their own these two cities can offer greater induce- ments to industries seeking western location. Oakland's locational advantages being so .

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1928

superior to these cities we should likewise be able to offer the inducement of cheap power to new- coming manufacturing concerns. Development of our own hydro-electric sources therefore would be of two-fold benefit. One, it would give Oakland citizens themselves cheaper power and freedom from price juggling on the part of private power corpora- tions; and two, it would give our city, in competition with other communities, the means of offering cheap power to industrial and manufacturing concerns. I would, therefore, recommend that the East Bay Municipal Utility District plan for such power develop- ment and that this Council go on record in the advocacy of such a project.

SCHOOLS

With many changes and developments in the Oakland school system, Oakland still ranks among the highest cities in the country in education. Total enrollment, based upon an average for the eight months of the fiscal year 1927-1928, was 53,516 with a high average of daily attendance. The latter percentage of daily attendance is largely due, national statisticians declare, to the year-round climate of the city and to its high standing as an exceptionally healthful district close to the prevailing westerly breezes of the Pacific Ocean.

Oakland has reason to be proud of its many efficiently planned and ideally located modern school buildings and equipment. During the past fiscal year, under the $16,000,- 000 bond issues of some time ago, 7 new schools and 9 new additions, assembly halls and gymnasiums have been completed at a total cost of $1,511,289.94. Schools to be com- pleted during the coming fiscal year, and for which contracts were let during the past year, will number 14, while new additions, assembly halls and gymnasiums and shops will number 5, and construction of a School Administration Building is a sixth. The total cost of these will amount to $2,895,244.53.

Definite and detailed figures for these new school facilities follows:

School Buildings Completed During 1927-1928

Name

Cost

Date of Acceptance

Allendale Addition

$ 37.784.78

May 3, 1928

Edison

66,487.58

December 13, 1927

Elmhurst Addition

171.449.48

August 30, 1927

Franklin Assemhly

46,471.00

July 12, 1927

Golden Gate Addition.

114,062.91

June 19, 1928

Grant

71,832.29

December 20, 1927

Lakeview Junior

270,436.97

March 27, 1928

Lowell Junior

293.647.06

December 1, 1927

McChesney Addition

55,867.13

November 11, 1927

Merritt High

93,615.14

February 21, 1928

Rockridge Addition

43,195.98

December 13, 1927

San Leandro Gym and Shops.

29,296.00

November 15. 1927

Stonehurst

44,000.00

August 4, 1927

Toler Heights

35,485.70

December 20, 1927

I'niversity High Gym.

95.400.00

August 2, 1927

Washington Assembly

42,267.82

April 17, 1928

School Buildings to be Completed During 1928-1929

Name

Cost

Date Contract Let

Camden

$ 40,596.00

March 27, 1928

Krause

39,854.00

March 27, 1928

Burbank

47,563.00

April 17, 1928

Fruitvale

72,112.99

November 15, 1927

Hawthorne Assembly

44,782.76

February 28, 1928

Laurel

76,962.59

December 27, 1927

Whittier

113,778.80

Melrose Assembly

43,402.10

November 29, 1927

Horace Mann

14,243.10

March 27, 1928

East Oakland High.

501,262.26

May 22, 1928

Oakland High

735,243.78

May 5. 1927

Technical High Gym

104,443.15

September 27. 1927

McClymonds High Addition

275,000.00

November 1, 1927

Allendale-Fruitvale

140,000.00

Not yet awarded

Cleveland Addition

20,000.00

Bids to be rec. 6-12-28

Lazear

76.000.00

Not yet awarded

Peralta

32,000.00

Not yet awarded

Santa Fe

58,000.00

Not yet awarded

Clawson-Longfellow Junior

275,000.00

Not yet awarded

Administration Building

200,000.00

Bids to be rec. 6-19-28

Completion of these new buildings has resulted in the demolition or removal of 106 portable buildings which for years rendered unsightly many old school grounds, At the same time the department spent during the fiscal year $103,815 in school ground im- provements. In this connection I wish to congratulate both department and city upon the beauty of our school parking-Oakland here has set an example for the entire country to follow.

School Administration Building

As Mayor of the city 1 am particularly pleased to see the School Administration Building at last ordered. I have urged this for years, in order that the eleventh floor of the City Hall, now occupied by school executive offices, might be available for general municipal work. With the evacuation of this floor I would recommend that the Port De-

October 18, 1927

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

partment take a portion of it over, saving at least $5,000 annual rental now paid for quarters in a downtown building, and bringing it to the central location where it is inore accessible to the public.

Another change taking place at the end of the fiscal year was the cancellation of the contract of ex-Superintendent of Schools, Fred M. Hunter, who had accepted the Chan- cellorship of the University of Denver, Colorado. Mr. Hunter did much to bring the Oakland educational system before the national eyes, his activities in national education aswell as local being recognized by his election for the year 1920-1921 to the presidency of the National Educational Association. His successor, W. E. Givens, comes from San Diego with the highest recommendations and record.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

Police and Fire Departments

Mention already has been made of the efficient activities of the police department under Chief Donald Marshall. The Fire Department, under Chief Wm. G. Lutkey, has likewise maintained its former high record for efficiency.

Equipment and additional personnel, however, are needed by both departments. Oak- land's swift growth has spread over so vast and far-flung a territory that it is becoming ever more difficult for present police and fire facilities to cover the city with full effi- ciency. It is my belief that more men must be added and more equipment purchased.

Many old automobiles, maintained only at an excessively high upkeep cost, must be replaced. These are of all classes-high-powered and capacious cars for shotgun squads, and smaller but speedy two-seaters for heat-patrol officers in outlying districts. A large number of motorcycles, with side-cars, should also be purchased, ready on call at the various police sub-stations. New police ambulances likewise are needed.

The fire department, through purchases of fire-fighting equipment in the past three years, is better equipped, but here also additional equipment is mandatory. I have the highest compliments to the fire-fighting personnel in their successfully maintaining the city's low fire rate without full equipment and while needing several new stations. Among the improvements needed by the Police and Fire Departments are:

1. A new Central Fire Station, in order to remove present one located in the City Hall from crowded traffic conditions. This also would give more room in the hall for the Central Police Station and complementary facilities.

2. New Police Station in Hopkins-Fruitvale district, owing to the city's growth northerly and easterly.

3. New Fire House in the north Lake district, adjacent to the two business dis- tricts on Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Boulevard.

4. Complete new motor equipment for Police Department, including three addi- tional combination ambulance and patrol wagons to replace 1919 Chevrolets still in use.

5. At least 10 additional motorcycle officers and equipment for same, to he at- tached to station houses for immediate call.

6. At least 12 new high-powered automobiles to replace worn out and smaller cars now impede rather than accelerate police activities.

7. At least 25 new patrolmen and motorcycle officers.

So much for equipment. I wish to compliment the police traffic department and its electricians upon completion of the "stop light and bell" system in the downtown section. I recommend the latter's extension. I believe such a system should be installed wherever crosstown arteries meet north and south arteries-for example at Moss and Piedmont Avenues, Moss and Broadway, Grand and Santa Clara Avenues, Fourteenth and Market Streets, Excelsior and Park Boulevards, and so on.

The Monoplane "Southern Cross," whose successful flight from Oakland Airport to Sydney, Australia, marked another achievement for aviation.

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1928

Abers

A portion of the Western Harbor Front today. Albers Mills and Parr Terminals in the foreground. Compare with 1919 view on opposite page.

The traffic department also must be congratulated upon completion of plans for a Junior Traffic squad, already started with full co-operation of the School Department and Oakland Safety Council, to aid in protecting children when crossing congested streets in the vicinity of schools. This not only will instruct certain of our boys and girls in the handling of crowds, but will react in bringing a "safety consciousness" to the mul- titude of our growing school children. It also will relieve police officers now detailed to such duty so that they may be placed in other protective service.

STREET LIGHTING

Plans for the modern lighting if Telegraph Avenue and of Franklin Street and other arteries are now well under way, and these needed improvements will probably be com- pleted before the end of the current fiscal year. I also at this this time wish to urge the lighting of Fourteenth Street from Broadway to the western waterfront, the system to continue down to the automobile ferry slips at the end of West Seventh Street. It would be well, also, if Fourteenth Street, now being used as a route to the auto ferries by a much greater percentage than West Seventh Street, were protected by "boulevard stops." Seventh Street Viaduct

In this connection, also, let me state that the need, from the city's point of view, of a subway or viaduct where the Seventh Street auto ferry route crosses the Southern Pacific local tracks, is steadily diminishing because of the shorter and speedier traffic artery furnished by West Fourteenth. I still believe such a safety crossing should be built, however-though I am of the firm conviction that its costs should be borne entirely by the Southern Pacific Railroad, whose operation creates the hazard.

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Polk's Oakland (California) city directory, 1928, Part 4

Author: R.L. Polk & Co Publication date: 1928 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : R.L. Polk & Co. Number of Pages: 1708

Author: R.L. Polk & Co
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1708