Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-18


active, representative man OF Southern
California, Hon. Stephen M. White.
Senator McComas of Pomona spoke
next. He said vote OF the water front
of Pomona had been taken and was in
favor of San Pedro. He knew the peo-
| pie of Pomona would favor q better out.
let for the produce of Southern Califoy.
F, MIA. In order to reach the markets OF
| all the rest OF the world we must have
safe, secure harbor. He wanted to see
| all the interests and industries of South
| ern California advance and prosper. We
must have competing ailway to Salt
Lake, as we'll az the Nicaragua canal.
| They are absolutely necessary to our
prosperity as people, and with them
must be the deep-water harbor at San
Pedro, as Indispensable to the igood OF
the country.
Mr.. N. W. Graf then introduced the
following resolutions drafted by the di.
rectors OF the chamber of commerce:
To the Honorable the Members of the 8 nate
and House OF Representatives Of the United
States, in congress assembled:
GENTLEMEN-The citizens of Southern
California, in a representative meeting
assembled, would respectfully ask your
attention to the following facts in the
matter of the deep.water harbor for
Southern California, as recommended
in the recent report of the board of gov
ernment engineers:
That this is not a matter of mere local
importance, but owing to the contour of
the continent, and the lines of easy
grades and low mountain passes, the
proposed deep-water harbor at San
Pedro, like that of Galveston, OF which
= L.
ment, is OF national Importance.
That the line between this harbor
and the proposed deep-water harbor at
Galveston is the shortest and most
available for tranecontinental commerce
Of all the possible routes within Amer
ican territory.
That two transcontinental' lines of
railroad now reach the sea at this point,
besides number of local roads, and
are forced for lack of deep-water har-
Dor to handle their freight through un-
sheltered roadsteads, exposed to all the
dangers of the open sea.
That with the completion OF the Mica
ragua canal, the traffic of these railroads
and the new roads centering at this
point will be vastly increased, as this
must then, by the law of shorter lines
and lighter grades, become the supply
port of the southwest interior, and of
the great inland plateau embracing that
vast territory which lies between the
Rocky mountains and the Sierras.
That while the Atlantic seaboard of
the United States is even lavshly sup
piled by nature with good harbors, the
Pacific coast is eingularly destitute of
them, and the people of this coast must
appeal to the general government to
help them in securing an outlet to
the sea.
That the mountain chains and the
natural passes of the Pacific coast have
fixed three great transcontnental out
let's to the sea westward: One at the
mouth of the Columbia at Puget sound
one at the bay OF San Francisco one
through Southern California. At the
fret two named outlets nature has fur
nished good harbors; for Southern Cali
fornia only open roadsteads. 1t is to
correct this defect that we ask the aid of
the general government.
That the population now seeking the
sea at this point is only small fraction
of the numbers which must within
few years hence Geek commercial outlet,
The territory Immediately tributary to
this point has capacity of supporting
and making wealthy a population num-
bering into the millions. This territory
is rapidly filling with people. and al
ready their sea traffic is checked and
stfangled for lack of adequate harbor
facilities.
The facts with regard to the proposed
deep-water harbor are placed before you
in the report of the board of govern
ment engineers. We would only add
that this is the fifth survey made off,
cially by officers OF the government duf-
ing period of some Is years, and that
all have concurred in the same judg-
ment as to the location and Importance
of the work.
The government has already expended
some $4,000 upon the inner hurbor,
but even before its completion, the
needs of commerce have far outgrown
it's capacity.
In consideration OF the foregoing facts
we earnestly pray that you will order
the appropriation of such sum of money
as in the judgment of the department
may be necessary to at once begin and
vigorously push the work upon the outer
or deep-eea harbor at San Pedro, that
we may equally with our brethren up
on the Atlantic coast have opportunity
to share in the great possibilities of de-
velopment of this our common land.
Also the following:
Resolved, That the state board of
trade be urgently requested to use
their influence in congress to assist the
people of Southern California in secur-
ing an adequate appropriation for the
commencement of deep sea harbor at
San Pedro in conformity with the re-
ports of the several boards of govern
ment engineers upon that subject.
N. w. GRAFT,
j. P. WIDNEY,
A. w. FRANClsCo.
The following was then unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, That the thanks of this
meeting are due to Hon. Charles N.
FELTON, for the lively interest he has
taken in the matter of seeking to secure
this appropriation.
Mr. Childress moved that the cham
Der of commerce. assisted by boards of
trade and boards of supervisors, be au
thorized to secure the services of some
competent person or pereons to lay this
matter before congress-, with view to
securing the appropriation. Motion
carried.
DR.. Widney read the following resolu-
tion, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the commercial bodies,
boards of supervisors and improvement
associations of Southern California be
urged to assist in the work of securing
m onpropriatiOu for ths improvp,nant