Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-12-24
The harbor.

lue lInpfOVeu TONE Vi Tile euitoiiai
articles of the Eavress when they are
written outside the Office is 80 mark
ed that we may be pardoned for In
dulging the hope that apermanent ar
rangement may be made with the
writer of yesterdays leader on the inn
portant question of securing proper
harbOr facilities Still while COM
mending the courteous tone of the ar
ticle we can by no means agree that
the only thing that we can do is to sit
quietly by until the harbor can be ex-
tended to Wilmington. Admitting
all that is claimed for the breakwater
and yet there is much to be done that
Is not likely to be done soon. All this
time the commerce of Los Angeles is
crippled by the lighterage tax. If, as
the Express article claims, after cross
ing the bar there is for one mile in
ward depth of % feet of water and
an average width Of $50 or 1000 feet,
then let us have our railroad extended
to that point, and let Los Angeles
put its shoulder to the wheel and
either with or without government
aid, have that bar dredged away so
that gOod-sized vessels can come up to
the wharf They can then transfer
their freight directly to or from the
railroad, and if it is important that
more room shall be secured there is
nothing to hinder the extending of the
harbor inward as fast as it is
possible to raise the means to
do so. If We cannot raise the
money to dredge the bar, then either
go to Deadman's Island, or wait until
the channel cuts its own way through
the bar (if it will ever do so), which
ever is cheapest. After the point Of
Rattlesnake Island is passed the width
Of the channel that can be maintained
is $50 feet, and We have grave doubts
whether this will prove very attract
i've to anything larger than small
coasting vessels, but even this cham
mel We haven't got, nor is it likely we
shall have it soon.
1t may be urged that the company
will not extend their road to the
Breakwater or to Rattlesnake Island.
OF course it will not, if we accept
the situation, and do nothing to induce
it to give us better facilities. But if
the company can be forced to bring rail
and ship together, by the demands of
commerce, or the fear of competition,
then let us bring every influence to
bear, and our word for it the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company is not so
stupid as to let its business slip away
from it without an effort. How are
we to secure competition? In various
ways. The question of building mar
row gauge railroad from Los Angeles
to Santa Monica, is now agitating the
public mind. Awharf can be built at
that place at which ships can unload
in any weather that freight or pas
sengers can be transferred to the light
er at San Pedro. This road and wharf
can be built for trifling sum, and in
very short time. Owing to the small
capital that would be invested, and
the light cost of operating such road,
freight can be handled at a cost that
will absolutely defy competition on
the part Of the present clumsy contriv-
ance at Wilmington. This project is
now receiving the earnest attention of
practical men and it is the interest of
every one who trades at Los Angeles
to agitate the subject, and to encour-
age such an enterprise. The object
of the HERALD is to hasten the i'm
provement of our harbor facilities by
calling attention to their deficiencies,
and waking up a discussion of the
best means of rcmedying them. 1t
has no friends to reward and no ene-
mics to punish. 1t has no pet scheme,
to the sole advocacy of which it is COM
mitted, but will encourage any move
ment that promises to give relief.
The interests Of the great territory, the
commerce of which centers in Los An
geles are it's interest, and single-hand-
ed, if necessary, it will fight for their
development.