68 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



ern boundary of Oakland, and, for a length of a mile and a 

 half, has a width of three hundred yards or more, and at its 

 head has two lakes or tide water basins, covering an area of 

 nine hundred acres. The creek, through much of its length, 

 has a depth varying from ten to twenty feet at low tide, but 

 in front of the mouth of the creek, and all along the Oakland 

 shore, a mud flat, covered by less than two feet of water at 

 low tide, extends out into the bay, and the ship channel is 

 more than a mile distant from the upland. Having no natural 

 harbor accessible for large vessels, except the anchorage along- 

 side the present wharf, which is a temporary structure, Oak- 

 land has been unable to derive any profit from her extensive 

 water front, but a plan has been proposed for making an arti- 

 ficial harbor. 



This plan is practicable and important. It contemplates 

 the construction of walls three hundred yards apart, from the 

 mouth of the creek to deep water, thus extending the creek 

 out to ship channel, and avoiding the mud flat which now 

 prevents ships from reaching Oakland. The basins at the 

 head of the creek will supply a large area of tide water, 

 which will sweep through the channel four times a day and 

 preserve its depth, and perhaps even clean it at first without 

 dredging. The construction of the walls in durable style 

 would cost several million dollars, but would add five times 

 as much as its cost to the market value of Oakland property. 

 Such a harbor nearly three miles long, 300 yards wide, and 

 twenty feet deep, with five miles of excellent frontage, would 

 be more commodious, secure, and convenient of access, than 

 some harbors of considerable seaports in Europe ; and by its 

 construction, Oakland would be fitted to become the main 

 railroad terminus of California. The influence of the Rail- 

 road Company would be sufficient to transfer thither a large 

 part of the business now done at San Francisco. 



The people of Oakland have contemplated the construction 

 of this harbor for several years, and several efforts have been 



