Howdy, Here's number three - I really liked this one - hope you do too:-) " Howdy, Our story begins in 1847, when SF Alcalde, Edwin BRYANT, asked Military Governor Stephen Watts KEARNY for permission to sell some of the submerged land in Yerbva Buena Cove to private investors. These submerged lands were the property of the U.S. government, which held their title in trust for the future state. San Francisco lay inshore of Yerba Buena Cove - a mile wide, 336 acre shallow body of water and tidelands bordered at the north by Loma Alta and to the south Rincon Hill. The stagnant, shallow waters of Yerba Buena Cove prevented the entrance of deep-draft vessels. Initially, this problem was solved by building wharves and use of lighters(shallow draft vessels?) at high tide, but ultimately the city extended itself out to deeper waters - the "stream" - where the vessels anchored. After reserving certain areas for the United States, Gen/Mil.Gov. KEARNY agreed to the private sale with a stipulation that the remaining(?) submerged cove property be subdivided and sold at public auction to the highest bidder, with the proceeds being used "for the benefit of the town of San Francisco." The "beach and water lots" were surveyed in July, 1847 and divided into 444 lots, each measuring 137 feet, 6 inches by 45 feet, 10 inches. The sale was advertised, "The town of San Francisco is known... to be the most COMMANDING COMMERCIAL POSITION[emphasis theirs] on the entire western coast of the Pacific Ocean, and the Town itself no doubt destined to become the COMMERCIAL EMPORIUM[emphasis theirs] on the western side of the North American continent." When the auction was held on July 20, 1847, only about 200 lots were sold at prices averaging $75 each. Ironically, by 1849 these somewhat undesirable lots in 1847 were the most desirable property in town. With San Francisco expanding in 1848 and 1849, another water-lot auction was held on January 3, 1850, with 343 lots sold at "exorbitant" prices - Sorry, I don't have the figures(thousands though) - do any of you? All these water lots gave rise to an interesting maritime gold rush phenomenon. With all the title conflicts and doubtful interests in these underwater lots between wharf companies and waterfront developers, there developed the interesting occupation of HULK UNDERTAKERS who scuttled ships on the water lots to help establish title i.e. the sinking of a vessel on a lot placed an "improvement" on the property. Probably the most famous "hulk undertaker" was Captain Fred LAWSON(my mother's maiden name, I wonder) who purchased in 1851, three blocks of water lots from Dr. Peter SMITH for $3,500 each. The blocks bordered by Vallejo, Broadway, Front, and Davis Streets; Pacific, Jackson, Davis and Drumm streets; and Washington, Clay, East, and Drumm streets. At that time these blocks were submerged in 35 feet of water and used as slips for vessels, particularly for the Pacific Street wharf. After LAWSON had sunk sufficient vessels to establish his own title, he went into the busines of doing it for others. He recalls one operation: "I put plenty of ballast and scuttled her...She cost me $500. I slipped her in very quietly one bright moonlight morning about 3 o'clock. Before I could drop her to the bottom, the Pacific Wharf Company had the [steamer] ANTELOPE astern, and before I could prevent it, she had fastened a line to my boat and began to steam away. She didn't take me too many feet, though, for with a cutlass, I cut the line and with pistol in hand ordered them to keep off. They did so."(Mostly from Delgado's To California by Sea) Thanks for your patience - that concludes, for now, my SF historee kick - back to Northern/Southern Trails, Southern Mines/Merry Posey or whatevever. :o) Bob Norris in Dallas <[email protected]>