Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-26
SUNDAY. FEBRUAnY go. 1888.
Our Maritime Com mcrce.

Sunday EEWHUAbY y x0s 1885,
Our Maritime Commerce.
1t was about time for the Southern
Pacific Company to wake up to its true
interests and take steps to give the
marine commerce of Los Angeles such
facilities as will enable deep-sea YES
sells to discharge cargo at their
rails. That company has been
in practical possession of the port
of San Pedro since it was
first made accessible to light
draft craft, and it seemed satisfied to
wait until the Government, in the
course of time, should so far deepen
the entrance as to admit all classes of
vessels. Competition, however, has
aroused the company to the necessity
Of offs citing the advantages possessed
by the Santa Fe Company in San
Diego. 1t has realized that un-
less it can take cargo direct from
deep-sea ships there is danger
that its rival may carry the foreign
traffic which has heretofore sought
San Pedro, to San Diego, and thus be
come master Of this important branch
of railroad business. In order to
meet this serious contingency in the
shortest space Of time possible, the
Southern Pacific has determined to
extend its road from San Pedro to a
point west and north Of Firmin, where
it is possible to build mole to deep
water. The point selected has been
surveyed, and is pronounced well pro-
tected fro m the usual storms of this
coast, and where ships can
lie safely and discharge cargo. We
are told that Colonel Mendell,
chief Of the United States Bureau of
Engineers on this coast, has been
consulted, and that after a careful ex-
animation, he pronounces the plan
practicable. If this is true, then
the project assumes a significance
which justiies US in looking forward
to an early successful solution of the
question of bringing ship and rail
together at convenient distance
from our city. The railroad company
As well as the people Of Los Angeles.
will reap inestimable advantages
from the successf,..,. carrying out Of
'n,s .yant scheme. The former
al be secured against the division
to rival company of any of the
traffic coming to our port, whilst the
latter will be released from
the heavy tax their commerce
has had to bear for light
erage. This last consideration is of
great consequence to our people, and
really forms the factor of serious
danger in the design of the Santa Fe
company of diverting portion of oul
shipping to San Diego. Let us see
how this thing might have worked il
lighterage were to be indefinitely con.
tinued. A few months ago the Con-
solidated Street Car Gable Company o.
Los Angeles sent an order to England
for 4O. 900 barrels of Portland cement
They got figures from the Southern
Pacific railroad for its transportation
from San Pedro to Los Angeles
When the cost of lighterage was addee
TO these, it was found that they coulc
bring the cement to this city from Sar
Diego at . rate Of fifty cents PEI
barrel less, than they could get it b.
way of San Pedro. It lis needless
pay that the street railroad mel
closed with the Santa Fe Company
In order to meet this kind of compe
tition the Southern Pacific Company
were compelled either to run thei
line to San Diego, or t.
bring ship and sail togethe
1t or near San Pedro. They have
determined upon the latter alterns
tive, and have so satisfied themselve
upon the entire feasibility Of thei
plans that they will at once commend
work in extending their roa
10 tho new harbor and in built
Jag . stone pier to dee
water. OF course such protectio
from rough weather as the situatio
Of the roadstead selected will permi
Is included in the work laid out.
will be a grand thing for our cit
when the expense Of lighterage sha
Be lifted from it's maritime commerce
People who are not enthusiast
about this section are such as do M