Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-07
Interesting Report Prepared
by the Board of Trade.
Points Which Are Designated in Fa-
vOr of Santa Monica.
Reasons why that Point Would Make
the Best Harbor - Facilities for
Constructing Breakwater.
,ss4 The Probable Business
OF the Port.

paTeu TcpOIt W Uc ouUIulbGcu W
Colonel G. H. Mendel, ,Lieutenant-Colo-
mel VIII. H. Benyaurd and Mr.. Geo. L..
Gillespie, the government board of en-
gineers appointed to select proper
point for improvement as deep sea har-
Dor. In view of recent developments
the following extracts from the docu-
ment will be found of interest:
At Santa Monica there are no sloughs
or swamps to interfere with, or render
expensive the use of the frontage pro-
tected by breakwater.
The business that would be conducted
in harbor such as proposed would
grow not only with the growth of the
adjacent country, but also by reason Of
the facility of approach from the in
terror through the low grades of the
passes, the absence of snow and the
favorable climate.
A harbor constructed to accommodate
the present business of Los Angeles
could at Santa Monica be indefinitely
extended.
In building a harbor at this point the
government would be guaranteed room
enough to enlarge it to meet the require
ment of any future trade.
The nearest available harbor to Los
Angeles is at present at San Diego,
120 miles distant. To the north
the nearest harbor is San
Francisco, 4S0 miles distant, with
heavy grades to surmount. In the east
ern states on the Atlantic coast. no such
vast extent of seabord is without numer-
GUS harbors.
Los Angeles being situated at the only
natural break in the mountain chains
separating California from the interior,
is eminently deserving of being aided by
the government in the construction of
deep sea harbor.
Every mile OF distance and every hour
OF time saved in transportation is so
much gained, and other things being
equal should decide the location of the
harbor at the point most favorably sit
uated in this regard.
Our large and heavy business, lumber,
coal and merchandise is now with San
Francisco and the north, and Santa
Monica is nearer these points than any
other coast places in this county. 1t is
also the nearest to Los Angeles city.
The grade between Los Angeles and
Santa Monica is five feet to the mile.
No difficulties either in the construction
or operation of railroads between the
two places exists.
The Southern Pacific has a line and
sea frontage here. The Los Angeles and
Pacific has a line constructed to this
point. The Surf line has only three
miles to build, which will give en- trance
to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.
The Santa Monica Outlook railroad is
incorporated and holds franchises to
run toward Ventura on the coast. The
Los Angeles Terminal line, now in.
course OF construction, is incorporated
to come to Santa Monica. Several elec-
trio roads are spoken of to this place
from Pasadena and Los Angeles.
Santa Monica has safe and open ap-
proach from the sea. No shoals, rocks
or dangers of any kind exist; insurance
and the cost of pilotage would at this
point be at a minimum. The holding
ground for anchorage is uniformly good.
The ocean at this point shoals gradually
and uniformly.
The trade wind blows regularly from
the west about $50 days in the year.
This favorable condition would place the
cost of towage at this point at mini
mum. Fogs sometimes prevail on the
coast of this country. These are less
frequent and less dense at Santa Monica
than at any other point on the coast.
1t is matter of general observation that
no fog ever occurs at Santa Monica that
is not general on the coast, and that
many fogs prevail on both sides of us
that do not extend to Santa Monica.
The use of the lead insures entire safe
ty, for the shoaling is gradual, and ves-
sci can approach the shore anywhere in
~. ~. - xx,;%hs,, nd hol
fathoms without danger.
There are no dangers to navigation in
this vicinity.
The large commerce transacted at old
Santa Monica wharf was not attended by
wrecks or disasters such as have unfor-
tunately and frequently occurred at every
other wharf and landing on the county
shore.
The storm winds in this locality are
two-the southeasterly rain winds and
the clearing ones from the northwest
No other dangerous or other disagree.
able winds blow in this neighborhood
The northwest wind is not dreaded be.
cause it blows off the shore everywhere
and is accompanied by clear weather
The southeast winds are those that are
dangerous and dreaded. Both of these
winds blow off the shore at Santa
Monica. From the northwest the town
and roadstead are protected by the
Santa Monica range of mountains, and
from the southeast wind by San Pedro
mountains and the Cienega hills. Il
the wind veers southwark the protection
is extended and insured by the long
mountainous island of Catalina.
At the present the anchorage is per
fectly safe here in all winds. The trou'
BILE is the swell, occasionally heavy
that makes unloading vessels at wharf
difficult, and batters both boat anc
wharf.
At Santa Monica range OF mountains
comes down and juts into the sea
These mountains from the beach te
their SUBMITS are composed of various
kinds of rock. Samples of some OF these
rocks existing in practically unlimited
quantity are herewith submitted.
They consist mainly OF the following
Granite at Gold Water cafion, back O
and to the east of the Soldiers home.
Conglomerate from the water to the
submits OF the range. Sandstones O.
varying character in similar location
and quantity. Sandstone containing
large amounts of sea shells, about two
miles from the coast, and slate in vari
GUS lodges.
At Rustic and Temescal cations all o
these materials, except the granite. ma,
be obtained in abundance and at an!