Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-22
For n HarbOr,

EDITORS HERALD-In this morning g
HERALD there is an extract from report
of the Engineer Corps on harbor work,
past and prospective in California. Ac.
cording to this statement, Oakland, with
safe harbor and opposite the great har'
Dor of San Francisco is to get $500, 900
for improvements. San Luis Obispo is
to have a breakwater 1900 feet long for
work on which during this year $3.50, 900
is asked while Wilmington harbor, &C.
cording to these engineers, only requires
$S5 900. In it's present condition, during
the past year nearly 1,l00 vessels
anchored at the wbarves, and the Gov
ernment revenue was nearly 100000
All heavy freightng from deep draught
vessels has to be done by lightering.
The anchorage is not safe in southwest
storms. The tax on the commerce of
Los Angeles and Southern California,
owing to the imperfection of this harbor,
and the consequent excessive cost of
handling freight, is much greater than
the people generally suppose.
During the past ten years the cost of
lighterage at San Pedro has amounted to
millions of dollars. With a eate harbor
this lighterage would have been saved.
These unnecessary taxes which have
been paid would have built a commo-
dius harbor at San Pedro, several times
over. Were this harbor safe and avail
able for prompt and safe trans-shipment
OF merchandise, we must anticipate that
it's business would take an extraordinary
growth.
Los Angeles is already the most i'm.
portant railroad center on the Pacific Coast
with every prospect of increasing its i'm
portance in this respect. A good harbor at
which it's foreign commerce could be
transacted economically would be a
saving and advantage to populations,
even east of the Rocky Mountains.
When we consider these facts, the ar
nual recommendations of the Engineer
Corps-for small sums to do secondary
works, patchy, imperfect and inadequate
to make harbor for deep sea vessels at
San Pedro, we must rest astonished at
the lack of business sense they show.
When we further reflect that the nearest
competing point to Wilmington is 120
miles distant to the south and that San
Francisco is over 400 miles to the north
we may well be surprised to see $85, 900
recommended for the essentially i'm
portant work of improving the harbor OF
San Pedro, while 100000 is asked for
Oakland, opposite the great harbor OF
San Francisco. II we rest contented
with this piddling policy it is our own
fault. Whatever may be the causes Of
the discrimination of the Engineer Corps
against Los Angeles, it is probable that a
persistent exposition of the facts to Con-
gress and to the country will bring us
the desired relief.
Some scheme should be devised to or
ganize an effort in this direction. Every
Influential man in Los Angeles and San
Bernardino counties will be glad to sign
petition to Congress asking for 81 ,000,-
900 as first installment for the building
of a safe harbor for the commerce of Los
Angeles. Whether this harbor be at San
Pedro or at Santa Monica is immaterial.
The business interests Of our city and of
great and productive extent of country
demand this outlet to the sea. Now is
the time to prepare this work for the
coming Congress, and to secure for the
support of our harbor the efforts of the
California Congressman. 1t seems only
appropriate that this effort should start
with the HERALD, always the devoted
friend of Southern California, and the
efficient advocate of its interests.
ABBOTT KINNEY.
Santa Monica. july 20, 1889.