Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-03-23
rhe santa Monica Break water


heartily with it on that PROPOSE
tion. In fact, although the HER
AID cannot claim to have treated
OF the subject as often, or with as
much minuteness of information
as the Outlook, ours was the first
journal to publish and endorse
Commander Taylor's opinion of
the practicability and advisability
of breakwater at Santa Monica.
We think the whole people of Los
Angeles and San Bernardino
counties are interested in the mat
ter, and we should be glad to learn
that Congress stood ready to ap-
propriate the necessary funds for
the construction of the breakwater.
The last number of the Outlook
gives q number of interesting facts
and deductions, which we cordially
endorse and adopt. 1t says:
An air line drawn from Point
Dune to Point Vincent is twenty
nine miles, and the distance from
this imaginary line to the extreme
iushore point is twelve miles. This
last point il the present town site
of Santa Monica. The soundings
show that $50 feet from low water
mark, at the wharf, is the two
fathom line, averaging this dis.
a, 70 oAvnrav r,riInu
up and down the coast, on either
side of the wharf. The three-fath-
ON line is 1000 feet from low water
mark, and averages the same for q
long distance. About 1000 feet
from low water is the four-fathom
line. One mile from shore the
soundings give from II to "a faith
oms. The bottom is even, COM
posed of dark-gray sand, and has
proved to be good holding ground.
There are no shoal spots anywhere
in the bay. Thus 1t will be seen
that the capacity and bottom are
all that could be wished.
The bay is also we'll protected.
The main land extends in curve
from Point Dune due west to Point
Vincent, u few points east of south;
Catilina Island, 40 miles distant,
covering one-third of the entire
mouth of the bay, is due south.
This leaves the bay unsheltered
only on the southwest, where it is
proposed to construct breakwater,
rendering the shelter perfect. And
as to the capacity, q slight inspec-
ton will show that 1t is ample.
The breakwater could be con-
structed one mile from shore in II
fathoms water. This would give
inside, to the four-fathom line,
distance of 1000 yards, making a
sheltered area Of 2,1l2,000 square
yards Of anchorage, with a depth
OF from to u fathoms of water.
The details OF building the break
water are unimportant just here.
Engineering skill can easily man
age that. But it is a matter OF de-
cided Importance to be able to state
that there is an abundance of ma
terial in this vicinity suitable for
its construction. Some four miles
from Santa Monica, towards Point
Dune, large masses of conglomer-
ate are deposited, composed of every
Imaginable character of rock, of
the hardest description, Joined to.
gether in one mass by an extreme
ly hard natural cement.
The geographical position, as we
have repeatedly said, is decidedly
advantageous. Santa Monica is
situated $50 miles south and 237
east of San Francisco, and when it
is considered that large portion
OF the shipping to San Francisco
comes from the south, this distance
Is OF very considerable Importance.
This Is also the nearest and the
most practicable outlet for the re-
sources of the interior and the East,
which is another advantage for
santa Monica. And being nearer
to Los Angeles than any other
landing, this fact places the two
towns practically on the same
plane, making every argument ad-
vanced by Los Angeles, as to its
importance as commercial GEN.
ire, equally applicable to Santa
Monica.
AS to San Diego, our only rival
on the southern coast as a great
railroad terminal point, we think
It's claims are inferior. We have
every advantage, save perfect
harbor. San Diego has the single
advantage of harbor, and it is
only perfect as to protection. The
entrance is only % feet at mean low
water, which makes the harbor in
accessible TO the largest class of
vessels-which will be exclusively
used in trans.Pacific carriage.
outside of the harbor considera-
tions, San Diego has no claims
whatever. 1t is on the extreme
border of the United States; is prac-
ticalIy inaccessible for q railway
except by route only few miles
from Los Angeles.
That properly constructed
breakwater would make a superb
harbor of Santa Monica there can
be no earthly doubt. The conform
alton of the Bay there would rem
der easy and inexpensive work of
the kind. 1t would not be neces-
sary, as in the case of Cherbourg,
to expend sixty or seventy millions
OF dollars to make a harbor at SAINT
Monica. Commander Taylor cal
eulated that four millions of dol
lars would be ample for the pur-
pose; and, considering the very few
harbors we have on the whole ex-
tent OF the Pacific Coast, there
should be no hesitation on our part
In calling for this appropriation.
Wilmington is already an excel
lent harbor for small vessels. BY
such an expenditure, Santa Monica
would be made an almost land
locked port, capable Of floating the |
nAyipq of fla world The saot tI.ot