Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-07-14
SAN PEDRO.
A Trip There by the Board
of Supervisors.
IMPORTANT PETITIONS FILED.
A Thorough Investigation of She
Places in Questionable
s. P.'s Wharf.

s. P.'s Wharf.
1t was announced the other day thai,
the Board of Supervisors intended to
visit San Pedro on Friday, SO HERALD
reporter boarded the 9:4O train for that
place yesterday morning to see what was
going on. The expedition consisted of
the Board of Supervisors, comprised Of
Messrs. 7. E. Rowan, j. w. Venable, Os-
car Macy, w. E.. Martin, Jacob Ross
and County Clerk Dunsmoor, Mr.. James
Campbell, President Of the Long Beach
and San Pedro Railroad, and Captain
Healey, chief engineer of the same line
Capt. A. w. Barrett, OF the City Council,
and Mr.. Geo. w. Knox, ex-District At
torney. The train was well filed with
excursionists to Catalina, and sped
merrily along over the prairie country
that intervenes between here and the
ocean, and steamed into San Pedro pune
tually on schedule time. The object OF
the trip was as follows: Those ac-
that on entering the city long wharf,
Company, lies to the right Of the track.
This property was obtained some time
ago by that company from Captain James,
the then proprietor of the Ocean Villa,
who when disposing of the property re-
turned the right for so foot right-of-
way with water clip and this he pre-
sented to the city of San Pedro. On the
Both of April petition was fled before
the Board of Supervisors by Attorney
Knox in the interest OF Capt. R. Hillyer
of San Pedro, asking permission to
operate ferry between this slip and the
Government breakwater west of Rattle
snake Island. This was followed
by Capt. Barrett asking for the
privilege of constructing 1909
foot wharf along the breakwater, and as
these two matters appeared to be of con-
siderable importance, the Supervisors
decided 20 visit the ground and inspect
the premises. To explain to the reader
the situation at San Pedro a description
must be given of the property in ques-
ton. In 1873 the Government con-
structed a wooden breakwater along the
inner harbor of San Pedro, extending
from the western terminus of Rattle-
snake Island to Deadman's Island,
a distance of about one mile.
Since that time the wash of the water
has deposited strip of land, VARYING
from 500 to so feet in length, on the
windward side OF this breakwater, and
this accretion now extends solidly from
Rattlesnake Island, to which it to all
appearances is part. And here q knotty
legal point arises. The proprietors of
the island claim that this accreted land
is their property, and on the other hand,
parties interested on the other side,
assert that the land belongs to the
State of California. The point, however,
will probably be settled by litigation,
and Judging by several legal opinions the
result will be in favor of the State.
After pleasant lunch at Captain
Hillyer's, the Supervisors proceeded to
examine the localities described in the
petition. They embarked in boats from
the point where it is desired to operate
tho ferry, and were conveyed to the ac-
creted land along the breakwater.
Here inspection was made of the
place described in Captain Bar
rett's petition, and that gentleman
pointed out the locality desired. The
wharf is to extend fifty feet out and 600
feet along the breakwater toward the
ocean, thus paralleling the wharf on the
opposite side of the inlet. The Super
visors appeared to consider both mat
ters favorably and will give decision on
August 9th in their rooms in this city.
important thing for San Pedro, as it
means more direct communication With
Long Beach. At present, passengers
to and from that place have to travel via
Wilmington, a Journey of about ten
miles, whereas if the ferry were in oper-
ton they could come along Rattlesnake
Island and cross over to James, Landing,
thus reducing the distance to about four
miles. The granting of Captain Bar
rett's petition is also an important mat
ter, as it is along Rattlesnake Island
that Mr.. Campbell's Long Beach and
San Pedro road is to come in its journey
to Deadman's Island. A wharf
such as the one proposed will
mean vast extension of commercial
privileges, and when Mr.. Campbell's
road is in operation, and either the Santa
Fe or Union Pacific trains are running
over it, it is expected that there will be
as much business done on that side of
the inlet as the Southern Pacific is now
doing on the other. 1t was stated to the
HERALD man yesterday that on the LIST Of
August Rattlesnake Island will revert to
the Dominguez heirs, as the option grant
ed to that date will not be rene ewed.
THE SOUTHERN PAcITic's WORK.
After inspecting the island and the
points in question, the Supervisors then
returned to the mainland, where by the
courtesy of Col. Hewitt, who was on the
spot, special train was laced at their
disposal for the purpose OF visiting the
site selected by the Southern Pacific for
their mammoth wharf. A trip over the
bluffs and past Timm's Point and the
objective point was reached, and
here pleasant half-hour was
passed, watching the pile-driver at
work. Seventy-ive-foot piles are being
driven, and a gang Of men is kept daily
at work, The piles now being used are
not creosoted, as they are only Tor the
inside and the process is not necessary.
The Southern Pacific is also boring for
artesian water on the plateau overlook
ing the ocean and has struck fairly good
water at 100 feet. 1t is easy to see that the
Southern Pacific has determined to spend
a good round sum of dollars in develop
ling San Pedro, and when their work 4
ldone and the Government breakwater i1
added that city will probably lay just
claim to the title it received long ago,
"The Liverpool OF the Pacific Coast"
"The Old Order Changeth Blythe