Polk's Oakland (California) city directory, 1928, Part 6

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

USA > California > Alameda County > Oakland > Polk's Oakland (California) city directory, 1928 > Part 6
USA > California > Alameda County > Oakland > Polk's Oakland (California) city directory, 1928 > Part 6

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Date

Delegates

National Business and Prof. Women's Club.

.July 1927

4,000

Ancient Order of Hibernians of California.

Aug. 1927

1,000

Santa Fe Railroad Executives-Loss and Damage Dept.

July, 1927

250

Pacific Slope Dairy Show.

Nov. 1927 32,000

Pacific Coast Tailors Association.

Feb.

1928

300

Pac. S. W. Annual Confer. Bldg. Owners and Managers ..

Feb.

1928

500

Rebekahs

Mar. 1928

750

Teachers' Assn. and Council of Education.

Apr. 1928

2,000

De Molay

Apr. 1928

500

Oakland Kennel Club Show.

Apr. 1928

10,000

Alameda County Food Show (Natl. Assn. Retail Grocers).Apr.

1928

22,000

American Reg. Pharmacists of Calif ..

June 1928

1,000

California Assn. Dvers and Cleaners.

June 1928

1,000

Woodmen of the World ..

June 1928

1,200

CORPORATION YARD

At this point, I wish again to urge definite action in the coming year on the matter of the Corporation Yard. The Street Department, which I understand has been arranging with the Port Department for a site on harbor lands south of Eighth Street near Fallon, should place a definite amount in this year's budget for construction of a modern Corpor- ation Yard plant, and rid the city of the present unsightly, unsanitary, unhealthful, and uneconomic shacks south of the Municipal Auditorium which is constantly being visited by strangers from all over the country. I do, however, congratulate the Street Depart- ment upon its efforts to level and pave space for Auditorium parking on Corporation Yard land-this at least is one definite improvement in that vicinity.

For ten years I have placed in previous budgets appropriations amounting individually from fifty to seventy-five thousand dollars for this purpose. Each year, however, has expired discovering the fact that the Corporation Yard fund has been transferred, over my vote, to other channels of expenditure. I hope that during the coming year no such manipulation of appropriated sums will be allowed by this council.

STREET DEPARTMENT

During the year the Street Department consummated the following improvements:

Miles

Cost

Streets paved

$1,691,369.93

Sidewalks laid

34.369

182,911.00

Sewers put in

28.651

511,876.54

Improvements completed during the year, or started and soon to be finished, are: Opening of Fallon Street; improvement and widening of Hopkins as a north-town east and west arterial; widening of Bond Street; widening of First Street (certain phases still in court) ; improvement of 59th Street; widening of Franklin Street; widening and improvement of Russett Street in the eastern industrial zone; opening of Madison Street into Lakeside Drive; opening and paving of Hollywood Boulevard; development of plans for opening Foothill Boulevard (East Sixteenth Street) in Lakeshore Avenue. In addi- tion to these, some 36 other improvements have been orderell including a new arterial highway to go directly from East Fourteenth Street to the Airport and on which work is well under way.

All of the projects under the bond issue for sewers voted for in 1924 have been com- pleted, with the exception of one small project, rights of way for which are now being obtained at a saving of over $250,000 under engineer's estimates.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

The Street Department, through economies effected, operated on a sum over $300,000 less than its operation cost in the previous fiscal year. The city is to he congratulated upon the economies it put in force. I urge similar rigid economy this year.

OPEN SPECIFICATIONS FOR STREET WORK

Here, however, 1 wish to state that 1 am on principle opposed to anything hut open specifications for street work. Furthermore, after study of reports of various highway engineers, and from experience in our own city, I am convinced that black top pavement is unnecessary and its laying constitutes a waste of taxpayers' funds. The State Highway Commission is now following a general policy of laying plain concrete pavement-it is non-skid in any kind of weather, pedestrians crossing at night are shown more clearly by reason of the concrete's light color, it does not "roll" in hot weather, and it is far more economical. The same arguments pertain to city streets. I advocate, therefore, plain concrete streets for our city with all contracts therefor let on open specification. When the public understands that non-patent plain concrete pavement is as good if not better than patent paving, and in certain cases is even cheaper by as much as 27 cents per square yard, there will undoubtedly come in no petitions other than those for such concrete laid by the ordinarily accepted process. A Deputy on Street Paving to solicit petitions for street work and fully to inform the public as to type and costs would be appreciated by all our citizenship.

ESTUARY TUBE BUSSES

The Estuary Tuhe is now practically complete save for installation of ventilation service. It is expected that busses will be operated in lieu of street cars, and the question now before the city is as to the latter's routing. I wish to bring the Council's notice to the inexpediency of routing this bus service on either Broadway or Washington Street. These main arteries are already overcrowded with traffic, despite valiant efforts of the Traffic Bureau of the Police Department to remedy the situation. It is my belief that the busses from the tube should use Webster and Franklin Streets, aiding in the development of the logical business areas on and contiguous to these thoroughfares.

WEBSTER STREET LOOP

I also wish to call attention of the Council to the Webster Street Loop service planned years ago to bring local passengers from far East Oakland into the shopping heart of this city. From time to time the State Railroad Commission, though previously ordering the Southern Pacific Railroad Company to install this loop, has postponed the matter on solicitation from the railroad. It is time that the wishes of the people of this community were respected in this important matter-the loop should be installed. It is my firm belief that the State Act giving birth to the Railroad Commission be amended so as to allow municipalities, by vote of their citizens, to receive back the public utility control they gave to the Commission some years ago.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

City and County Government

First and foremost of recommendations based upon eighteen years experience as Mayor of this city, I again urge divorcing the City of Oakland from the duplicating government of Alameda County, and forming the "City and County of Oakland." The benefits of such a governmental plan are manifold.

Oakland at present maintains a duplicating governmental system that would break her if she were a private corporation. No business concern can maintain two presidents, two boards of directors, two managers, two superintendents of each department, two secretaries, two paymasters, and so on. Oakland, a municipal corporation, still does. Our

Plumas County-Tent houses at the Feather River Camp- under the Oakland Recreation Department.

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1928

Tuolumne County, thirty miles from Yosemite-Swimming Pool at Tuolumne Camp-Under Oakland Recreation Department.

citizens pay to support two local governments, our own and the government of Alameda County. We support our City Government to the amount of some $6,000,000 per year, and on top of that turn over millions to Alameda County, from a huge sum of which Oakland taxpayers get no return. Beside that, we lose annually approximately Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars that-if Oakland were a county as well as a city-we would get as our share of the State Gasoline Tax. That sum alone is equal, at present assessed valuations, of 26 cents on the tax rate-and with that sum we could pave our streets with little cost to the taxpayer. The millions we pay over to the county with no return, equal on the same basis well over one dollar. These two items total approximately $1.50 on the tax rate-and this subtracted from the present combined Oakland-Alameda County rate would leave a total tax rate, with internal economies effected as well, for Oakland- as the City and County of Oakland-of approximately $3.00.

I submit to your honorable body that the double government we now support is wasteful, inefficient, illogical, unwise and utterly indefensible. It can only he suffered by politicians determined to hold the hag of political patronage made available by our sup- port of the many duplicating offices. Such duplicating offices, which should be consoli- dated into one each, are:

Oakland City Council and Alameda County Board of Supervisors; City Clerk and County Clerk; two Auditors; two Treasurers; two Law Enforcement offices with huge personnel; two Boards of Education and School Systems; two Engineers, Jails, Pur- chasing Agents, Health Departments, Library Systems, Civil Service Departments, and so on. Oakland citizens need hut ONE set of each of these official groups-just as an industry or business corporation needs but one president, one board of directors, one treasurer, and so on.

It is absurd to support two governments and pay two taxes totalling $5.16, as we did in the past fiscal year, when One Government and One Tax of approximately $3.00 would do the same work more efficiently and with less confusion.

San Francisco is the most notable example of "City and County" government close by. Despite the fact that San Francisco has authorized $160,000,000 bonded indebtedness, has a huge civil service and teachers' pension list, must support a great traffic and police and fire system in proportion far beyond our own, has a street program far larger in the same way, must pay for the upkeep of such a great park as the Golden Gate-nevertheless our sister city has a tax rate of only $3.80 per hundred. Oakland's bonded indebtedness at present is but $10,000,000 and other programs commensurately low, yet our tax rate is $5.16. San Francisco, however, has eliminated all duplication and operates independently as a City and County-this year alone she will receive directly into her treasury over One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars as her share of State Gasoline Funds. I submit that it is easy to see -if not biased by a view of political patronage lost-that if our own city adopted the same efficient plan of independent local government, Oakland also could operate on a greatly reduced tax rate.

Los Angeles and Pittsburg Both Want Consolidation

In speaking on consolidation in his message of 1927, Mayor George E. Cryer of Los Angeles, said: "The population of this area is in the neighborhood of 800,000. It would seem that the greatest need of this great district is a unified and simplified form of gov- ernment. Separate city and county governments are becoming a thing of the past in great metropolitan areas. Progressive people all over the country are coming to realize that there is no function now being performed by either a county or by a municipality which could not be performed equally as well or better by a consolidated city and county government."

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Mr. Albert W. Atwood, writing in the Saturday Evening Post, describes the situation in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in this way: "Here is a district with more than 1,500,000 inhabitants, oll in one economic boat. The idea is to substitute for the present county government, which contains more than 120 cities, townships and boroughs, a metropolitan government. We must bring some order out of the present disorder of the metropolis."

The Oakland Post-Enquirer, speaking editorially on the Pittsburg demand, said on August 4, 1928: "Greater Oakland has reason to be interested in Greater Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and what it is trying to do-consolidate and cut out the wasteful expense of duplicate city and county governments. Its problem is similar to our problem. Please note that in the Pittsburg metropolitan district the people in the outlying communities approved the consolidation idea. That's inevitable, once the idea of consolidating dupli- cate local governments is clearly understood."

Los Angeles and Pittsburg thus see the value of consolidation, and are endeavoring to beat down the opposition of political bosses and job seekers who care nothing for govern- mental expense. They already have before them in the City and County of San Francisco, and in other great cities of the same form of economical and efficient government, what consolidation means. Again, therefore, I submit the necessity of our own great City of Oakland and urge swift action toward the same governmental plan.

Low Taxes Aid Industry

In speaking of Oakland is an industrial city, I previously declared the need for a low tax rate. This administration already has been able to enforce a reduction of the old total Oakland-Alameda County rate from $6.10 to $5.16-thus proving to the voters and taxpayers that their confidence in the administration has not heen misplaced. But Oak- land can do much better than that-we have every natural opportunity demanded by great industry-but the man-made disadvantage of a high tax rate is decidedly a draw- back. Forming the "City and County" of Oakland, bringing the total tax rate -without increase in assessments-down to the neighborhood of $3.00, will remove this artificial disadvantage and place Oakland in the class of being the most desirable city in the United States for home or industrial location.

I therefore urge upon your honorable body that on the earliest available ballot the matter of City and County consolidation be placed before the people. Oakland has 40,000 more votes than the rest of the county put together, and by our own power we can make ourselves independent governmentally and financially.

The City of Oakland from the entrance of Sequoia Park-with the Bay, Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate in the background. The hill boulevards of Oakland are noted for their scenic beauty.

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1928

The "Hotel Oakland," in the heart of the city-three minutes' walk to the City Hall, to Lake Merritt, to the Municipal Auditorium.

Charter Amendments

Adoption of the "City and County" plan would take perhaps two years to bring about. There are, therefore, several charter amendments aimed to make more efficient our present commission form of government that I urge your honorable body to place upon the earliest available ballot.

Mayor Revoke Own Appointments

1. An amendment giving the Mayor the power of revoking all appointments now authorized by charter to be made by himself. The Mayor of most cities, including San Francisco, are endowed with this right. It is most vital for the proper carrying of the policy of an administration. The charter would not give the Mayor these appointments if the peoples' desire was not to have such appointees carry out the policies of the Mayor they elect. It is but just to the people that should any appointee fail to carry out the Mayor's policy and principles, they can, through the Mayor's own hand, revoke such appointments and place new men or women in authority.

Set Sum for Park Development

2. An amendment setting aside at least Ten Cents of each annual tax rate for an appropriation to the Park Department. This would take Park Department funds out of political manipulation, giving the department an annual sum that would steadily increase with the city's growth. In this way the department could place money aside for future purchases.

Weekly Council Meeting

3. An amendment eliminating the daily Council meeting and setting aside one day of each week-probably Thursday-as Council Day. Under the present system, at least two hours each day are wasted by each commissioner and his staff in making ready for and appearing in Council. This is uneconomical and inefficient. Setting aside one day of each week for the purpose of public Council meeting will save a large percentage of each commissioner's time for office duty and-except by the ever-present and apparently employment-dodging Council Chamber "chair warmers"-will be greeted by the entire public with appreciation.

Budget Control Officer

4. An amendment creating a "Budget Control Officer." As can be seen from perusal of previous items in this message, budget appropriations evidently mean little when Council power falls into conscienceless hands. A Budget Control Officer with power to enforce expenditures of city funds only in accordance with appropriations made in the

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

ordinance adopting the budget itself, would see to it that such illicit transfers would not take place. He would furthermore be watchful of uneconomic expenditures under such departmental budget items as "general expense," and would undoubtedly not only pay for his salary, but perform otherwise strictly and only in behalf of public welfare and the safeguarding of public funds. I am informed that a movement towards the creation of such an official is endorsed and already inaugurated by the Commissioner of Revenue and Finance. If such be true and he contemplates introduction and legislation creating such an official as outlined above, I heartly endorse the move and commend it strongly to your honorable hody.

Mayor's Urgent Necessity Fund

5. An amendment appropriating $1200 a year to he designated as the "Mayor's Urgent Necessity Fund," and to he expended hy or under direction of the Mayor without the necessity of audit or the submission of vouchers. The cash from such a fund should be available to the Mayor at all times upon application, and without the necessity of his stating the reason for such demand or the necessity for such expenditure. The Mayor of the City of Oakland is under $50,000 bond and can surely be entrusted with proper and unaccounted expenditure of such a meagre entertainment and travel fund. The present City Charter allows the Mayor an appropriation of $500 per year as an Urgent Necessity Fund. Considering the fact that the entertainment of big business men, of foreign potentates, of industrialists seeking Oakland location, of Army and Navy officers, of outside officials; and considering the fact that from time to time he is called upon to visit other cities in line of duty, $500 per year is entirely too small an appropriation, and $100 a month by no means too large. Considering also the fact that much entertainment comes unexpectedly, the people of Oakland are surely just enough to allow the Mayor to have some cash ready on hand for such emergencies.

One such trip I made last year, namely to Los Angeles to be present with Mayor Rolph of San Francisco and over 500 other public officials from all parts of California at the dedication of the new Los Angeles City Hall, caused he to be out of pocket over one-third of my monthly salary. Such a situation should never be allowed.

Undoubtedly those responsible for the present charter created the present emergency fund with the idea that the money was to be at the disposal of the Mayor without his having in every particular instance, where a luncheon was to be purchased or a trip to be made, spending his own salary first and then going through the humiliation of submitting vouchers for meals and transportation to the City Auditor. Under present circumstances 1 myself, rather than suffer such humiliation, have spent thousands of dollars of my own in public entertainment and for official journeys.

In asking for a Charter Amendment appropriating $1200 per year to such a fund, let me point out that this is very little compared with our sister city across the hay. At the present time the Mayor of San Francisco is allowed a cash fund to be expended under his

Oakland Technical High School on Broadway at Forty-fifth Street-A typical example of the modern school building that has brought Oakland to the forefront in national circles. Capacity, 2,700 students.

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1928

Athletic Festival-Alexander Hamilton Junior High School-Recreation Department Cooperating.

direction and without submission of vouchers to the amount of $3600 a year. Oakland, with her great future, cannot afford to let her Mayor plead poverty in the matter of entertainment.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Downtown Comfort Stations

With the increased growth and development of our downtown husines center the need of public comfort stations has increased tremendously. Oakland is perhaps the only city of its size in the country without them. I have in several past budgets provided money for their construction but these appropriations, against my vote, also were trans- ferred to other channels. If funds are available, I urge, as I have for many years in the past, that this Council seriously consider an appropriation this year sufficient to provide such conveniences in central locations. I have already taken up the matter with the City Engineer, who is now engaged in a survey of location, type of construction, and cost.

Union Railroad Terminal

In the past, as previously stated. I have repeatedly urged the development of a Municipal Union Passenger Terminal to be used by all railroads entering our city. Spe- cifically it was urged in my messages of 1922 and of 1927, and I take this opportunity to recommend it again to your most earnest consideration.

Such a facility would be open to use by the Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, Santa Fe, Sacramento Short Line, Hill Lines, and other railroads now contemplating Oakland as the coming great city of the west. The terminal could he no better located than in the area bounded by Wood Street or Willow Street on the East, Eighteenth Street on the south, Thirty-second Street on the north-and on the west should extend down the present tracks of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company along the western harbor front. The Western Pacific Railroad today holds a franchise on Wood Street; the Santa Fe has its lines on Wood Street terminating at Twentieth and Adeline; the Southern Pacific tracks parallel the western water front. At the present time the Santa Fe Terminal is at For- tieth and San Pablo, the Western Pacific Station at Third and Broadway, the Southern Pacific Overland at Sixteenth Street Station, the Sacramento Short Line at Fortieth and Sbafter. Consolidation of the terminal facilities in the location recommended above,

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

would be of notable advantage and form a facility convenient of access to all railroads now in Oakland, and would allow room sufficient to satisfy traffic problems for many years to come.

This terminal operated by the city itself would eliminate possible future discrimina- tion against any carrier entering Oakland. Rental would be charged in proportion to the terminal use hy each carrier, and revenues thereby derived would amply repay the cost and provide the city with a future net income. As previously stated under "Harhor," the above mentioned location fronts on the municipal property on the western water front, thus making it easy of access to ocean shipping and trans-bay service. As a city facility and as a city advertisement such a Union Terminal would be of the highest value, and I recommend it most strongly.

San Francisco Bay Bridge

The question of a bridge across San Francisco Bay and connecting Oakland with San Francisco is still indebate. Many projects have been brought before Federal authorities but none as yet has met approval. I believe that such a bridge is feasible and that with its terminus in the western section of the city it would harmonize with the general plans advocated for a Union Railroad Terminal. In addition, there are thousands of San Francisco business men and women who, though continuing their business in San Fran- cisco, would be delighted to live and shop in Oakland were it not for the necessity of the twice-a-day ferry trip across the bay. I believe therefore in the high value to our city of such a hridge, and recommend that this Council co-operate with our sister city in this project.

The Elimination of Smoke Nuisance

For many years I have endeavored to get definite action abating smoke nuisances in our otherwise beautiful and clear-atmosphered city. The chief offender in this regard is the Pacific Gas and Electric Company plant at the foot of Market Street. Through much communication with officials of this public utility I have sought to bring about reduc- tion of smoke emanation from its stacks. Yet from time to time I receive complaints from business men, professionals, home owners, and real estate operators of this city, declaring that this nuisance is still foul and noisome, still spreads over the city in a low lying pall that is detrimental at once to the city's beauty, health, comfort and efficiency.

May Day at DeFremery Playground, 1928-Recreation and School Departments cooperating.

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1928

May Day Festival-Lakeside Park-Band stand at right.

Investigation has disclosed the fact that the smoke is the result of an economy scheme on the part of the company in its attempt to dispose of the refuse by-product left after the gas is taken from the crude oil used. This by-product, largely lampblack, is strongly odorous of napthalene and semi-volatile fluids. It is produced to the amount of from 170 to 200 dry tons daily-yet because it is filtered out with salt water and absorbs nearly its own weight in moisture, the total by-product amounts to anywhere from 340 to 400 tons of residue a day. This by-product is then burned in the gas plant's furnaces for the generation of steam and to save the expense of a better grade of fuel.

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Polk's Oakland (California) city directory, 1928, Part 6

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