Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-29
THAT MEASlY APPROPRIATION,
Senator Felton's Explanation
Of the Matter.
The Inwsrdness OF Engineer Hoods
Telegram.
straightforward Letter From Senator
FELTON, He Explains the situa-
tion-The Disturbing
Telegram.

FELTON, - He Explains the situa-
tion-The Disturbing
Telegram.
The following letter was received yes
terday by the secretary of the chamber
of commerce:
G. D. willard, Esq, Los Angeles Chamber of
Commerce, Los Angeles, California:
DEAR SIR: Your dispatch of the 9TH
inst, in relation to San Pedro harbor,
was duly received; also your favor of
the 9th inst. is before me.
On the receipt of your dispatch pre-
sented the same personally to the COM
mittee on commerce in the senate, on
which occasion I, to the best of my
ability, urged them to make an appro-
priation of $200, 600, and continue the
tion will say had, previous to this, in
terviewed the members of the commit
tee until had secured the favor of q
majority, and have no doubt should
have succeeded in obtaining the appro-
priation, were it not for the fact that q
dispatch reached the committee that
very morning, copy Of which enclose
herewith, which speaks for itself; where
upon the committee came to the con-
clusion that if the facts az stated in the
dispatch were true, they could not in
augurate work resulting in the ex-
penditure of $4,000 900, nor could they
be expected to have done go. Notwith-
standing the fact that urged that re-
port emanating from three United States
engineers, who had no personal or pri-
yate interests to subserve, who were ex
perts in their line and could not afford
to make mistakes, was entitled to
greater consideration than the report of
an engineer in the employ of corpora
ton, and who might be influenced by
the desires Of that corporation. I then
urged that the appropriation be made
and the place of it's expenditure should
be determined after resurvey by q
board of government engineers, as this
would save time. Thecommittee would
not commit itself to an appropriation
until report upon which they could
act should have been first submitted,
as it was without warrant and prece-
dent.
then urged that which finally OBJ
tained-a resurvey of San Pedro and
Santa Monica only, by board of five
United States engineers, to be appointed
by the secretary of war, who should be
compelled to report before the first of
November next; as this would save time
and enable an appropriation to be made
the coming session of congress, and in
this connection / will say that the said
committee is committed to the giving of
deep sea harbor at either one or the
other OF the places above named. While
this was not what desired, nor at one
time expected, felt, under all the cir
cumstances, that itwas all that the COM
mittee could be prudently asked to do.
obtained from this committee in ad-
dition to the appropriation OF the house
committee $3l 900. Making the full
amount for the completion OF the old or
inner harbor.
Previous to this Senator Stanford and
myself had procured a special hearing
{. before the house committee on rivers
and harbors, and to the best OF our
ability urged the completion of the pres
ent harbor and an appropriation for the
outer harbor; and l was assured, after
the conclusion of our remarks, by the
leading members of the committee, that
they would grant our request-subse-
quent to which time, however, the
committee made up its mind that, in
view of the large amount appropriated
in the bill, they would not consider or
make any appropriations for, what is
termed ssnew work. OF course the
outer harbor would be considered ''new
work."
I hardly think it necessary that l
should furnish you any evidence Of what
I have above stated, but in relation to
the latter portion of it, representative
of your city, Mr.. Sheldon, was here and
is cognizant of the facts.
After having given an undivided at
tention to your interests. as did my col
league, Senator Stanford, and to the
best of our ability having endeavored to
carry out your desires and necessities,
must confess that we are somewhat sur
prised at the tone of the remarks made
in the meeting, which, if l understand
it correctly, was called at my suggestion
and for the benefit of your interests.
However, enough OF this.
1 have and do still deem it my duty
to represent the state, the interests OF
all portions thereof and not one at the
expense of the other, and so shall con-
tinue to do, and if for no other reasons
than to retain my self respect; and in
conclusion have to request that you will
convey to Mr.. G. M. Wells, M. L. Graft
and Mayor Hazard and yourself, my
sincere thanks for their and your kind
appreciation Of my efforts in this mat
ter. Very respectfully, yours,
G. N. FELTON,.
The enclosure to which Mr.. FELTON,
refers in his letter reads as follows:
YUMA, Arizona, May IL, 1892.
To C. P. Huntington. care Mr. John Boyd, No.
lat Rhode Island ave., Washington, D. o.;
The improvements proposed at San
Pedro by the United States engineers
would protect sites for wharves between
San Pedro and Point Firmin, where our
test of the bottom showed thin surface
of sandy material, underlaid by strait
fed rock of alternate hard sandstone and
softer shale layers, making the subse-
auent building of wharves in the area so
protected very expensive undertaking
for corporations or individuals. Also
the area so protected is situated directly
under mesa or table land shore about
sixty feet above high tide, the face OF
which landing is precipice constantly
washed and undermined by the waves,
and from which access to wharves or
otherwise is difficult and expensive.
The anchorage in the protected area
is very poor holding ground from
the character Of the bottom described,
and vessels would have to run to sea