GENERAL BOOKBINDING CO. QUALITY CONTROL MARK BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE Board of State Harbor Commissioners FOR THE TWO FISCAL YEARS ENDING JULY 1, 1873. 1—(1) T. A. SPRINGER.........STATE PRINTER. REPORT. To His Excellency, NEWTON BOOTH, Governor of the State of California: The Board of State Harbor Commissioners for the City and County of San Francisco, herewith present their biennial report for the period terminating July first, eighteen hundred and seventy-three. The annexed report of the Secretary, exhibits a detailed statement of receipts and expenditures. In accordance with an Act approved March thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, the rates of dockage, wharfage, and tolls, and the monthly payments on all leases of the water front, were reduced fifty per cent May first, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. The receipts during the last twelve months when former rates were collected, aggregated two hundred and eight thousand one hundred and fifty-six dollars and twenty-three cents, and for the year ending July first, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, in conformity with the reduction, one hundred and sixty thousand eight hundred dollars and seventythree cents; but it should be stated that during the term first mentioned, several wharves were held under leases, and the Board having subsequently taken possession, greater receipts were obtained. WHARVES. Wood is the sole material used in the construction of wharves and piers, and its perishable nature, in connection with the ravages of the teredo navalis and the limnoria terebrans, render them costly structures. Annexed is an interesting special report of T. J. Arnold, Engineer of the Board, concerning the pests referred to, and experience has shown that wharves constructed of unpreserved material, generally become worthless within ten years, and require expenditures for repairs during the time named equal to half of the original cost. The creosoting process for the preservation of timber, has been successful in Europe and tropical countries, and its failure to prove entirely so here where it has been partially tested, is attributed to imperfect treat ment. The piles recently driven in the enlargement of Market-street wharf, were carefully prepared, and favorable results are anticipated. The attention of the Board has been called to other processes, and a willingness expressed to test their relative utility. |