Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-13
WHO OR WHAT is OUR HARBoR voUDoUq

lu6Ie are uOW uVe utcp-Sed NcSSclS dt
San Pedro. The miserable pittance of
an appropriation made by the billion
dollar congress to improve this harbor
will accomplish little or nothing. Had
Los Angeles received from congress the
consideration to which she is entitled
these deep-sea vessels, instead of lying
out in the open roadstead and unloading
their cargoes in lighters, would be COM
fortably moored at a wharf inside OF
deep and secure harbor. This city and
its tributary territory have paid out
enough money in lighterage alone dur
ing the past fifteen years to have created
at San Pedro harbor that would ac-
commodate the deepest draft vessels.
The government in eighteen years has
spent about $75O,OOO on this harbor.
Even that small sum has done wonders
when we consider the waste attending
the parsimonious way in which it
was doled out. In great public works of
this character the appropriations, unless
made in ample sums, are frittered away
in trying to keep up the Improvements
already made, and there is little left to
put into new work. But with what has
been accomplished, in deepening the
entrance and giving access across the
bar to the inner harbor of vessels of
medium draft, it may be readily seen
that the government might have made
San Pedro accessible to the largest ves-
sells, if the appropriations had been
commensurate with the Importance and
value to the country OF first-class har-
Dor at this point.
Millions of dollars have been appro-
priated to create a deep breakwater-
channel from the bay into San Antonio
creek, at Oakland, for no other purpose,
that anybody can see, than to accommo-
date few lumber yards and to create a
marine hospital for decayed hulks
and worn-out ships. We do not
object that Oakland has been
thus favored; but the fact that
the government could spend so
much money in dredging channel to a
creek that is of no commercial conse-
quence whatever, accentuates the
miserable parsimony with which San
Pedro harbor has been treated. The
only chance to create harbor valuable
to commerce and accessible to deep-sea
ships between San Francisco and San
Diego is at San Pedro; yet the govern
ment spends millions on mere channel
at Oakland that has no maritime COM
merce, and which is really mere SUBJ
urb of San Francisco, when for an equal
or less expenditure it could have Sc
cured fine deep harbor at San Pedro,
which is the natural port where large
maritime commerce has grown up in
spite Of all obstacles.
In view of the probability that the
Nicaragua canal will be in successful
operation in few years, and that it will
give an impetus to ocean traffic such as
it has not had since the Pacific coast
was connected with the east by rail, our
people ought to put forth herculean
effort to get an ample appropriation
from congress to secure harbor at San
Pedro available to deep-sea vessels Of the
largest class. Plans have already been
drawn and approved that would, if car
ried out, accomplish this important
object. The cost would bear no relation
whatever to the immense commercial
value of such harbor to the business
and industrial interests OF this section.
But outside of this, the addition of fine
hor rI>or k<, IN of Ho1s
80 destitute of harbors, is of in
estimable value to the whole
country. 1t would afford harbor of
refuge to vessels caught in the channel
during storm times, and it would give
the government another station for her
future navy.
Nations that are even well supplied
| by nature with good harbors do not
hesitate to create new ones where the
conditions are at all favorable. The
cost of such new harbors, if their crea-
tion is considered practicable, does not
enter into the count. They are deemed
cheap at any cost. How much more
anxious, therefore, should the United
| CtdtCo OC w SCCuIC SOOQ lldT UOI dL d
point where the practicability of its
construction is demonstrated on coast
that for five hundred miles is entirely
destitute OF natural harbors.
1t seems to us that there must have
been some occult and malign influence
at work against San Pedro harbor, or it
would long since have received justice
and fair play at the hands of congress.
Some great power that works in the
dark, and which is interested in keep
ing San Pedro as it is, must be at the
bottom of the neglect and shabbiness
with which its claims have been
treated by congress-. If there were not
such malign power operating against it,
its merits alone would have SO signally
commended it to the country that the
required appropriations for its compile
ton would have been made long ago.