Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-02
AT SAN PEDRO.
What the Southern Paci-
tic Co. is Doing There.
GREAT UNDERTAKING
The Exact Location of the New
Pier-Plenty Of Water for
The Biggest Ships.


railroad and real estate circles. The
announcement made in the HERALI
some time ago, that it was the inten
ton OF the Southern Pacific to con
struct an outside harbor, did not tent
to allay the excitement. For some
time large force of graders has beer
busily at work grading new line
from the Company's main tracl
to Point Firman. This line starts
just opposite that part of the whar
now being constructed by the South
ern Pacific Company and runs
along the side of the bluffs to til.
right OF the main track until it arrives
at point nearly opposite the round
house, Cat which place it is at the tol
of the bluffs) and there it turns little
west of south across the plateau, unit
it comes within couple of hundred
yards of the coast, where it veers
more toward the south and runs alor
the bluffs for three-quarters of mile
to point fifteen hundred feet from
the waters OF the ocean. At thi;
point the line runs directly soutf
to the bluffs and down to the water
At point 1,500 feet from the water
directly north from the beach, a
"cut" is being made to allow of 6
gentle grade to the beach. The grade
in this cut will be, however, fully 10(
feet to the mile. The end of this GU
will strike the water about 1000 fee
north of Point Firman and it is here
the great pier is to be constructed.
A large force of men and teams
numbering between sixty and seventy
of the former, and between fifteen an(
twenty of the latter, were fount
busily at work on the cut yester
day by the HERALD's representative
when he visited that place. The out
line of that part of the cut furthes
from the water, is perfectly visible
while the work, as it gradually near!
the bluffs, begins to look like a deeI
ditch. Directly upon the bluffs {
large force of men are blasting the
dirt and rocks out of the way. The
frequent discharges of the heavy
blasting powder sounded like the roal
of cannon. Mr.. McCallister, assistant
to the Chief Engineer of the works,
said that it would take five or six, or
maybe, seven weeks to finish the
grading. Two or three. short bridges
or TRUSTEES, will have to be built be.
fore the line is completed and ready
for the rails. Another branch, OF
more orerly, a continuation of the
line line, viii run from the point Of ths
cut around Point Firman 70 the light.
house, and thence to point of rocks.
which the Southern Pacific Company
will use for quarry. The route
for this line is already surveyed, and
the grading stakes are in place,
so that the work of grading can &C
ahead without interruption as soon as
the other portion of the line is com.
plete. The entire line runs just out.
side of the Governments, reserve, or
the 700 acres of land owned by the
Southern Pacific Company. This
land runs along the bluffs from the
townsite to and beyond the light
house, distance of about 31s or 4
miles, but is very narrow. The entire
length of the line, from it's connection
with the main track to the quarry
beyond the lighthouse, will be about
miles. The point selected for the
pier is excellently adapted for thai
purpose, being slightly protected by
Point Firman from the rough waters
The oceans bottom, from the bluffs
out to distance of half mile, is
composed of pure sandstone, which is
perfectly adapted for the setting of the
foundations of the pier. The slope
from the shore is gradual for half 8
mile. One thousand feet from the
shore depth of fifteen feet is gained
two thousand feet out the depth is
twenty-five feet, and two thousand
six hundred feet out the depth is be-
tween thirty and forty feet al
low tide. All depths, as taker
by the saunders, are at low tide
All distances are taken by triangula-
tion, and the depths by men en-
ployed by the company for that pur
pose in boats. The saunders and line
men were taking their last course yes
terday afternoon and finished last
night. The result of their labors will
be sent to San Francisco, and upor
them the question as to whether the
pile will be composed of iron or stone
will hinge. The gentleman in charge
of the works said that the company
would construct a pier or or mole,
about a half mile in length, tha
was definitely dedided upon. L
it was to be of iron it would
be built forty feet wide with two
tracks running to its end. At the enc
it will be built in the shape of the
letter T. with side tracks so that sew
eral ships can discharge and receive 6
cargo at the same time. III the struc
ture is composed of stone it will prob.
ably be built on larger scale, some
what similar to the mole at Oakland
If this be done the stone for the outer
facings will be taken from the Cata
lima islands, while the stone for the
inside work will be obtained from the
quarries near the lighthouse.
Speaking of the work, one of the
engineers in charge said: THE plan
is perfectly feasible, and will certainly
bs carried out, At the end Of the
cc;;ssf, or mole, Which ever it be, the
largest ships can lay with plenty ot
water. In regard to the safety Of the
moorings, l will say that a break
water could be built out from
the extreme end of Point Fir
man that would give perfect
safety to any vessel lying at the land
ing. The company will build large
side-tracks just north of the beginnir
Of the cut to accommodate all the
cars necessary. The pier when built
will lie just little south Of east"
The construction of this pier and line
of railroad means great deal to that
part of San Pedro, and the citizens
are accordingly very much excited
over it. Some say it will be death,
almost, to the present town, while
otbaro tb;pI n will ho tho Oroa foot