Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-11

go vessels. he ssys that these con-
ditions appear to be met by the pro-
ject for the main structure proposed
by Consulting Engineer Hall, but
suggests that this main structure be
supplemented by another in the same
direction, in lieu of the wings or arms
proposed in the preliminary project.
Concluding this subject, he says:
"There are excellent positions for
"moorings in front of the wharf in ten
s'to twelve fathoms of water, at which
vessels waiting to discharge can lie.
"Other moorings to facilitate hauling
Sin to and leaving the wharf can be
"placed on both sides the wharf to
advantage"
The most important part of the re-
port is that devoted to discussion OF
the project for an interior basin or
dock, prepared by consulting Engineer
Hall. The location is described and
the proposition of making the dock
generally stated, and then this para
graph occurs:
"rhe remarkable feature OF deep
"water approaching close to shore,
"has special value to such project,
"for the reason that it reduces con-
"struction in the open sea, always
costly and subject to dangerous con-
"tingencies, to minimum of length
"and cubical contents. 1t is not in
frequent on fiat shores that piers
"more than two miles in length fail to
reach the depth that 800 feet gives
"at Redondo. The shortness of walls
"at this place is a very great advan-
"tage, and if the interior basin were
larger, the general project would. at
"frst glance, challenge assent leaving
''only methods and details for con-
ssideration."
The difficulties OF designing and
constructing harbors are then spoken
of, and the fact that futher
examinations at Redondo Beach
should be made before final plans
are attempted, is passed; and
then the following: II think, how
lever, that the project has promise Of
feasibility, in an engineering sense,
whether or not it proves to be expe-
"dient as All investment Of money.
The latter issue must, OF course, de-
"pe d upon the cost and upon the
''revenue it can be made to return"
The report then makes a review of
some leading considerations which
should be observed in perfecting the
plans, commencing with the following: ::
Before entering upon this discussion
sit is proper to remark that the gen.
"eral plan of the basin and entrance
submitted by your consulting en-
"giueer is well projected, and, as a
preliminary study, is remarkably
"well adapted to natural conditions SO
far as these are now known"
The ends of the jetties to protect
the entrance channel should be car
ried out as On ertreme to a depth of
eight fathoms-it being certain from
observations made under Col. Men
dell's direction that on this southern
coast the bottom is never disturbed at
that depth. The tidal expanse OF the
proposed basin being small, tidal
action will cut but small figure in
keeping its waterway clear. The
waterway must, therefore, be dredged
to the full depth intended, and be
maintained by dredging. The jetties
going out to depths Of water beyond
the disturbing influence of waves, the
waters which enter the basin will be,
in great measure, free from sediments.
"The quantity of water brought in by
"the tide being small, the amount Of
sand carried thereby into the basin
"and there deposited, will be little.
"The wind will add something from
"the shore, and there will be the
natural wash from the banks, and in
"storms there may be some sand car
"ried over the jetties or directly into
"the channel. The aggregate from
"all these sources cannot, however,
"be great amount, but periodical
"dredgings will be necessary to main
"tain the original depth"
The position of the jetties with re-
spect to the shore line and to the
probable advance to storm waves is
then described, and the opinion ex-
pressed GO that they are we'll
" aligned SO far as existing informa-
" ton is guide" The necessity for
great strength in the outer jetty and
in the outer end OF the inner jetty is
dwelt upon, and methods of construc-
ton and materials to be used-whether
natural stone or artificial stone blocks
or both-are reviewed and very much
information in detail is given. which
we may at some other time present
in this paper.
The subject OF exact width for the
entrance is spoken of as one which
should be carefully studied, seeing
that it is desirable to make it wide
enough for vessels to lie at wharves
on each side and still leave fair way
for others to pass between them in
going in and out, but, at the same
time, it may be- that an entrance of
sufficient width for this pur-
pose would greatly increase the
cost and unnecessarily admit of storm
waves in some degree affecting the
waters in the interior basin. 'The
"basin should of course be fixed to
have the largest practicable dimen-
"sions. At best it must be unfortu-
"nately small. This limited area is
"the most vulnerable point in the
''project, and is likely to be the ele-
"ment :. upon which practicability will
turn. = X X
''The depth at low water ought to be
two feet greater than the draft OF the
vessels for which the basin is pro-
elected.
"The material to- be excavated so
'far as known, is principally sand and
"some mud. Test pits of borings
Fought to be sunk in such numbers as
'.to detect any considerable point of
''rock or hard clay that may underlie.
Care may thus obviate great expense
"and disappointment"
The report closes with the following
general remarks:
"The foregoing included all that it
occurs to me to say in the present
stage OF the project. While the gem
.eral plan appears to be appropriate,
"the principle details in dimensions
remain inperminate, awaiting the ac-
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