Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-21
LONG BEACH.
A DELIGHrFo PLACE wHIcH Is
RAPIDLY PROGRESSING.
Its Advantages ~ . Summer and winter
Rcsort-Entsrprise OF Its Citi-
zens-The Splendid Pier
Being Built.

There is no other place along this
coast that is equal to Long Beach, both
as q summer and q winter resort.
Gifted by nature with the most beauti-
full beach imaginable, and protected by
ranges OF hills from all violent land and
sea winds. and by Catalina island also,
it boasts of climate az delightful as the
beach is beautiful.
Eight years ago there were but few
shanties where the town of Long Beach
now stands. The town is an outgrowth
of the boom, but ever since its birth it
has been steadily and healthily growing
and gaining prestige until now it affords
as safe place for investment az can be
found. II Long Beach possessed but
one half of it's present attractions the
outside people would not fail to come to
the place, for it has number of enter
prising citizens who have slowly and
surely by hard work enhanced the ad-
vsntages of the place.
Their latest piece of enterprise is the
erection of $4,000 pleasure pier and
wharf. About six months ago the prop
osition of issuing bonds for this purpose
was voted upon and carried. The first
bids and specifications were rejected
and others advertised for. with the final
result that the contract was given to
a San Francisco firm, who started the
pile driving last week.
The wharf is to be situated at the foot
of Pine street, the principal business
street of the city, and when completed
will be equal to any other on the coast.
| hof ~ Torpoinol rotl.
road are piled the lumber and logs used
in the construction, and the place has
the appearance of q large sized lumber
yard. The material is Oregon hemlock.
The piles were all cut this year and
have the bark on them, as per contract.
Over all the length of the wharf will
be 1860 feet. 1t is constructed on the L
plan. The pier is 20 feet wide and will
run from the bluff 1440 feet to the
wharf proper, which is to be 2l0 feet
long. The wharf widens to 60 feet, and
is built towards the west, where the
vessels will be moored. The only un-
protected point in the bay is the south
east, from whence all the hard winds
come. By mooring the vessels on the
west side of the wharf it acts as pro-
lection and breaks the force of the
winds and waves, and in this way ves-
sells are never exposed to any storms.
The piles are of as fine material as
could be found. There are three piles
in each pier bent. The piles are driven
into the bottom from 10 to IL feet. In
putting them under the water before
they are thoroughly seasoned they
gradually become seasoned to the
water, and when the cap leaves them
they are hardened to the attacks of the
water, and are not 30 susceptible to rot
as are the piles that have become sea-
soned before they are driven. The
bents will be about 20 feet apart
on the shore. and will be
formed OF three piles, but
will be 16 feet apart. In the wharf they
are to be IA feet apart, with the piles 7
feet apart. The pier will be surrounded
with a guard rail 4 feet high. The
wharf will be surrounded by heavy
timbers 10 inches high from the top of
the floor. At each of the four corners
there will be heavy cluster of nine
fender or mooring piles, and at both
ends of each bent there will be three
more piles, thus making the affair as
strong as can be desired. In it's entire
length the wharf will drop four feet.
About six months ago soundings were
tai en- of the bay, and good anchorage
with the best level we're obtained. The
water falls about eight feet. There will
be 80 feet of water at the wharf at low
tide, and the wharf level will be "a feet
above low water. The pier or approach
to the wharf will be 20 feet above low
water near the shore. About 100 yards
beyond the end of the wharf the water
is 35 feet deep at low tide. On the
beach there will be about 85 feet of pier
at high water.
The largest vessels plying along the
coast will be able to moor alongside of
the wharf and discharge cargoes. What
will be done in this line, however, re-
mains to be proved. The affair is to be
constructed ostensibly for pleasure,
and nothing will be spared
to make it attractive to visitors. The
fishing will be unsurpassed, and small
boats for sailing, etc., will bept about
the wharf. A stairway four feet wide
will be built where the wharf widens
out from the pier, so that visitors can
descend to the water and get into small
boats.
Long Beach is situated in San Pedro
bay. 1t is protected from the winds by
the Sierra Madre and Whittier foothills
on the north, on the south by Catalina
island, on the west by the Palos Verdes
hills, and on the east by another chain
of hills, and all chances for Santa Ana
wind are thus averted.
The prettiest natural feature of the
place is its elegant beach, which runs
unbroken from New river on the eaet to
the San Gabriel river on the west, dis
tance of nearly six miles. The sand is
as perfect driveway as the hardest
road. The beach exceeds anything
else on the coast in point
of width and general beauty.
During the summer three different or
ganizations hold their sessions in Long
Beach. For the past seven years the
Chautauqua society of Southern Cali
fornia has met for nearly two weeks
each year and the Methodists and
Friends both held camp meetings and
revivals. Theae organizations meet in
the Chautauqua building, especially
constructed for this purpose. 1t has
been stated that the building is fac
simllie of the main Chautauqua build.
ing in New York. 1t is situated at one
end of large grove of eucalyptus trees
which affords most perfect camping
ground, and during the various sessions
| ;e o1 NTH Eo ub;ta tooto - Al.