Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-01-21
CITIZENS MEETING.
Large Attendance and Deep Interest Mani
fsstsd-O Committee Appointed to Draft .
Memorial to Congress.

Memorial to Congress.
Pursuant to call published in the
daily pa pers, a large number of the
leading citizens Of Los Angeles
met at Turn Verein Hall last night
to unite In a petition asking Con-
gress to increase the appropriation
for the Wilmington harbor. The
meeting was called to order by
Councilman B. Chandler, who an
nounced DR.. j. P. Widney as
Chairman.
On motion, r. s. Lynch was
chosen Secretary.
DR.. Widney, on taking the Chair,
stated. the object of the meeting,
and said that he had watched the
progress of the work of improving
Wilmington Harbor with great in
terest for several years past. Now
that the great work has progressed
to that stage at which, In the opin.
ion of the engineers in charge, 1t
needs but q comparatively
small appropriation from the
government to assure q
commodious and permanent har-
bor, he hoped that the united &C.
ton Of our citiseus would have
such m effect on Congress as to
accomplish the purpose desired.
Before resuming his seat, DR.. Wild
ney called upon any gentleman
present who had anything to say
upon the subject to come forward.
General Banning, In response to
repeated calls, came forward and
made short sDeech, In the course
of which he said the improvement
Of Wilmington Harb0r was the
great OBJECT of his life, having
worked earnestly for the accom-.
plishment. OF that purpose for near
~ thirty years. In 1852, the Gem
eral said, he expended the sum Of
81, all the money he then had, in
the purchase of some boards with |
which he built the scow In which
he explored what has been called |
In derision "Banning's Hog Wal.
low" and "Banning's Slough" and
then 1t was that he came to the
conclusion that, at . comparative.
ly light cost to the government, q
barb0r could be made that would
be OF incalculable value to this
whole section. For the purpose OF
securing this expenditure, he made
three trips to Washington City,
securing at the FIRST an appropria-
tion of 100000, at the second
$75, 600 and at the third $50, 900.
Now, the great necessity, Ee said,
is to get the channel over the bar
deepened. This will cost probably
$20O, 900. AS 1t is, the steamer
Newport comes into the harbor
every trip and discharges at the
wharf. The Anc0n, also, comes in
on favorable tides, but the Orizaba,
although not SO large as the Ancon,
has never yet been inside, for the
reason that she draws more water
than either Of the others.
The General then branched of |
on the lighterage question. The
lighters, he said, would continue |
to be q necessity until the difficult
ty at the bar was removed. He
could not afford to do the work for |
nothing, but did 1t as cheaply as
he could and as somebody would
have to do the business, he guessed
he would continue at it until the
necessity was done away with.
In regard to the railroad, he said
that he had been one Of the origi-
nal aaovors In tho Los A AnQalas and !
WILMINGTON road. The original
scheme em braced an extension of
the limo to Rattlesnake leland, the
right Of way for which he had 80.
cured through A. Glassell, Esq, at
an expenditure Of $500. He still
thought that extension would be
of great benefit to Los Angeles.
In reply to q question AS to how
much money, judiciously expend-
cd, 1t would require to dredge the
bar to sufficient depth, the Gen.
eral replied that he thought
$1,000 SO expended would give 3
channel "a feet deep over the bar.
The General was here asked
about the railroad extension re.
GENTLY commenced by him.
He replied that the work was
being done on his own responsible
ity, but that he had desisted to
await the action Of the people here.
Mr.. Spence stated that the OBJ
ject Of the meeting being to peti.
ton Congress for an increase of the
appropriation for Wilmington
Harbor, he would move that the
Chair appoint communities Of
five to draft memorial to Con-
gress asking an appropriation OF
$500. 900 for that purpose.
The Chair appointed the follow
ing COMMITTEES; e, #. Spence, p.
Raining, w. Woodwork, d. Cohn
and Supervisor Harmon.
On motion of General Banning,
the Chairman and w. H. Perry
were added to the Committee.
Mr.. Perry thought the Commit.
tee should be enlarged and in.
structed to confer with Col. Mem
dell, who Is familiar with the en-.
tire subject, before taking action.
He said that during q recent visit
to San Francisco he visited Col.
Mendsll and was shown maps Of
the soundiDgs of the bay, copies of
which are being prepared and will
be transmitted to this city in a
week or ten days.
General Banning stated that
time 10 now the great object and he
| thought the sooner the committee
| <,ok ~ wnrk tho hottor
Mr.. Perry presented the follow
ing additional names and moved
that they be added to the Com.
mittee. Adopted.
John Mansfield, J. F. Crank, ].
8. Elauson, G. Wiley Wells, J. E.
H0llsnbeck, J. e. Downey, I. r..
Dunkelbsrger, I. w. Hellman. A.
i 0Iaasau q. f. Thnm. Iudga Y. Sc.