Freight Ferry Slips of State Belt Railroad San Francisco circa 1895

This photograph was taken by Dr. John S. Engs, a dentist in Oakland. The family album is dated May 1895.

The photograph shows the original State Belt Ferry slip on the left and its replacement on the right. The original was built in 1891. The piles supporting the hoisting mechanism slipped out of place. The replacement slip was constructed in 1894. The press gave the Southern Pacific a hard time saying it was getting a $25,000 gift from the people.

John Hall collection