Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-14
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
1T ASKS FOR A PACIFIC CABLE AND
TO NAME A CRUISER.
Several Resolutions-The Harbor Writ
ten About by DR.. Widney

The board of directors of the chamber
of commerce met yesterday afternoon,
First Vice-President Hervey Lindley
in the chair, and Directors G. M. Wells,
E. w. Jones, w. H. Toler, A. w. Bar
rett, j. H. Book, L. N. Breed, Fred
Eaton and DR.. J. ?. Widney present.
Secretary Hanchette as directed at
the last meeting, presented resolution
to the effect that the chamber approves
Of the action taken by the San Fran
cisco chamber of commerce in urging
the passage of a law, by congress, au-
thorlzing the survey of the Trans-Pacific
Sub-Marine cable route, and subsequent
legislation encouraging the formation OF
a company for this purpose, and
that the secretary of the Los Angeles
chamber OF commerce be instructed to
address communications to the Pacific
coast members of both houses of con-
gress requesting them to use their best
efforts to secure the passage OF such laws
as may be necessary for this purpose.
Major Jones moved that committee
be appointed to draw up petition to
the secretary of the treasury requesting
that the new United States cruiser to be
built in San Francisco be named the Los
Angeles, and that the petition be circu-
lated for signatures about the city.
DR.. Widney presented the following
letter, which he stated he sent to the
board OF engineers examining the coast
for deep sea harbor:
COLONEL Mendei, {. s. a..
CoLoNEL-Upon behalf of the chamber
OF commerce OF Los Angeles, beg leave
to ask the attention of yourself and the
other gentlemen of the harbor commits
sion to the following facts as commercial
points, to be considered apart from en-
gineering questions in the construction
of deep water harbor near this city.
No doubt the points which l shall
enumerate have already been well
weighed by you, but you will pardon
this reference to them by us, as they lie
within our province as a commercial
body:
First. The population which within
the valleys of Southern California must
depend upon this harbor for it's
ocean outlet is not to be estimated
from the present census returns.
These valleys will within a limited
number of years contain at least mil
lion inhabitants.
Second. Back of these are the trade
lines OF Southern Nevada, Southern
Utah, and the great Arizona valleys,
which must all by the law of grades and
shorter lines, find their outlet to the sea
at this point.
Third. And again, back of these is
the current of transcontinental business
which will seek the low passes and the
short line from sea to sea. which will be
found between the deep-water harbor OF
Galveston and this which is to be con-
structed in Southern California. To
meet the need OF the commerce which
will thus be forced to seek the sea at
this point will necessitate,
First. Ample space for both light and
deep draft vessels, both for anchorage
and wharf room.
Second. Ample and we'll sheltered
space for ship building and repairing.
Third. Ease of access and clear sea
room for vessels entering and leaving in
all kinds of weather.
Fourth. To these might be added the
possibility of enlarging the harbor and
readily developing increased anchorage
ground andw wharf frontage, as the future
needs of commerce may demand.
With thanks for the time and care
which your body has SO courteously
given to the subject, remain, very
respectfully, J. P. WIDNEY.
Chairman of Committee on Commerce.
On motion of Major Barrett the action
of DR.. Widney was approved.
Several other matters of, minor i'm
portance were discussed and the board
adjourned.