Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-03
The Chamber of Commerce
Discusses the Question.
Lieutenant Meyler's Valuable
Statement of Facts.
Satisfactory Progress Made in the
Work at San Pedro.
Proceedings at Last Evenings Meeting.
The Results Achieved at San
Pedro--VaIue of the
Inner Harbor.

The special meeting of the chambe
of commerce called for last evening wa
for the purpose OF discussing the ques
tion of improving the inner harbor O
San Pedro.
President Wells called the meeting Il
order and explained that the call re
suited from resolution introduced b,
the Hon. Mayor Hazard, but that tn,
object of the meeting was really more
broad than that resolution provided
The chairman then called General Van
dever to the platform, the invitation
being declined, however, by the modest
congressman. The discussion then con.
tinued as follows:
Mayor Hazard-There has been fol
years a project to build an outer sea-
wall at cost of from $15, 100000 tc
$2O.OOO,OO0. Several delegations of con.
gressmen came down here to look at the
matter, and when they looked al
the wide expanse of water oi
which fragment was to
be fenced in, they stood aghast
at the enormity OF the undertaking.
Consequently there has practically been
no appropriation for the improvement
of either the outer or inner harbor for
some time. The last appropriation was
one of $4,000, which was just enough
to get the dredging machinery in posi-
tion. Ii we confined our efforts to the
inner harbor, and would dredge it out,
the largest ship on the Pacific could get
in. We have at San Pedro a harbor
which affords railroad communication
without curve or a grade to the Colo
RADIO river. We ought to seize this op-
portunity, rather than have freight
taken to San Diego and then have it
brought back again. The railroad pro-
files there are much worse, and
the rates are therefore much higher.
If we make demand such as Will &C.
commodate the present, not the future,
shipping. think we will get recognition.
Secretary Willard read letter from
Colonel Benyard, United States en-
gineer, of San Pedro, regretting his in
ability to be present, or to formulate his
opinions ON the practicability of further
improving San Pedro harbor. That, he
said, was only in the province of the
chief engineer.
Lieutenant Meyler, Of the United
States engineers-During my expert
ences while in local charge OF the harbor
improvements, found that the people
of Los Angeles are at variance on the
subject. Some want outer deep-sea
training walls, while Others insist upon
inner harbor.dredging and jetty walls.
hope / may be able to assist you in
coming to conclusion. In 1869, what
is known as Wilmington harbor was a
small estuary miles long, divided by a
bar IS inches above low water mark,
with narrow channel from to
s feet deep. This channel was
bounded on the west by the
mainland, and on the east by Rattle
snake island. At that time they trans
ferred traffic and passengers across San
Pedro bay to Whining on, three miles,
and the traffic was sufficiently great to
maintain all the work then being done,
which was very little.
The estuary was no broader than 100
feet, and was bounded by flats two feet
above high water. The estuary had a
very large tidal area, and offered oppor-
tunities for improvement at a very
small cost. The chief objects contem-
plated in the Improvements were to
remove the distractions at the
entrance and to extend Rattle
snake island to Dead Mans island
by an artificial bank, go as to confne the
channel. The entrance shifted some
times in one day. improvements would
have cost $3.50, 600. In 1870, congress
appropriated $500, 900. In 1880, the OBJ
ject OF securing ten feet inside the chan
mel was realized, but that was Rot
enough. Then $425, ,O09 was called for
to increase the depth to sixteen feet.
This, with another appropriation since
then, makes 1866 ,0e0 altogether, OF
which 1904, 900 has been expended. The
improvement has been continued, and
the present condition is commensurate
with the money expended. Rattle
snake island now extends 1900 feet south
of its former limit. On the west side
there are 1900 feet Of stone breakwater.
and, the southern part OF the channel
by contracting tends to move the bar
seaward. Where the depth Was to 10
feet, we now have Is to % feet, and the
depth OF 10 inches over the inner bar
has changed to IA feet below mean low
water.
There are lying now at the breakwater
q four-masted schooner and two barken-
tines, drawing IL feet7 inches, Is feet
inches and Is feet inches respectively.
olnC6 VU6 lIuRIONcuiSut DcEdu lJ3,VUO
tons OF stone have been placed in the
breakwater, and only 1000 cubic
yards have been dredged out of the
channel, although 2,000, 900 have been
carried out by the current caused by the
improvements. Exports and imports
have increased ten fold since 1871, and
the income has been equal almost to
the amount of the improvements.
What is further necessary is to dredge
the outer bar to the head of the lagoon.
Over the QUITE. bar there is feet of
water, and in the channel around it Id
feet. At the wharves inside we have IL
feet, but in the channel only Is feet.
The inner bar must be blasted and
dredged, and the outer bar made to
move seaward. We are now engaged in
this work.
During part OF the year we dredged
$4,000 cubic yards in the channel.
The place nitherno was a
series of extensive fats, and whatever
harbor there is, was entirely caused by
the improvements. hope my Informs
tion may be of use to you, but all
recommendations must come through
the chief engineer of the United States
army. What it would cost to increase
the depth of the inner harbor to % feet
it is not in my province to say. That
would have to be settled by Colonel
Berry and by report from the chief
engineer.
Tiantananr MevIar wos ..Lad voonv