San Francisco Bay in the 1800s.

News and Tall Tales in San Francisco during the 1800s

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Daily Alta California
Tuesday Morning, August 13, 1850

Our harbor is now literally crowded with ships, and but a very indefinite idea of their number can be obtained from the city. To course through them, from Clark’s to Rincon Point, to take a position out in the harbor a view them altogether is the only way. The coup d’oeil is most superb, and the bosom of a San Franciscan cannot fail to swell with pride at the evidence of the commercial importance of his city.

Steamboat navigation is increasing with great rapidity, and every few days some new and elegant craft, propelled by that wind-defying power, steam, glides through the waters of the bay, parting them as if in scorn and defiance. It is a source of much satisfaction to witness such enterprise, and we hail every fresh evidence of its existence with renewed gratification. It is to be regretted that greater facilities are not afforded, however, to the steamboats plying in our bay, by keeping open free and abundant ways of ingress and egress to their berths. At the present time, wharf accommodations are so inadequate that it is very essential that the utmost facilities should be afforded the steamers to approach those that extend a sufficient distance, without the danger of staving themselves to pieces or carrying away any portion of the ships rigging. As it is, a steamer having her berth at Central wharf has the utmost difficulty in getting outside.

This could be easily remedied, and it is the duty of the Harbor Master to see that those ships which are in the way be hauled so as not to interfere with the daily movements of the steamers. The ships remain stationery for weeks at months in their berths, while the steamer are perpetually passing and repassing. Another bar exists in the numerous piles driven down in all directions by persons having water lots or claiming to have, which are quite as dangerous to the small craft as snags. We hope that this matter will be looked to, both by the Harbor Master and the Council. The spirit of enterprise among the steamboat builders should be fostered and encouraged, as one of the greatest importance to our commercial interests, by bringing us into closer connection with our flourishing and prosperous river towns and cities.
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Page: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/crowded
Date Entered: August 1999
Source: Daily Alta California


Research and WebDesign: D.B.A. Levy
Contact: D. Blethen Adams Levy
www.MaritimeHeritage.org
Post Office Box 2878
Sausalito, California 94966
U.S.A.
The Maritime Heritage Project is a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity established in 1998.