Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-19
AN INsPlRITING PROGRAMME.


of San Pedro harbor may be con-
soled from another source. The appro-
priation of $4,000 for which we are
| indebted to Mr.. Bowers-whose liberal
intentions during the last campaign all
Angelsfios are duly grateful for-was
looked upon as mockery. Even the
proposition of Senator FELTON, to In
crease the sum to $51 900 is regarded as
little better. On FELTON, we had no
special claim; on Bowers we had cable
chain which anchored him to the pledge
of obtaining $6,0OO,0OO for that much
neglected port. We have dwelt upon
the proportion which Bowers's real
achievement bears to his promises. As
good Queen Catherine said Of Cardinal
Wolsey, His promises were mighty,
his performance nothing"
Just, however, as we were about to
yield to the mingled feeling OF disgust
and disappointment arising from this
condition of things at Washington, the
silver lining to the cloud appears. If
we are not to be made Immediately
happy by the governments exploitation
OF San Pedro, private enterprise-or
rather corporate enterprise-is to give
US all we could ask. The Southern
Pacific are preparing to enter upon
great work little above the mouth
OF the Santa Monica cafion. AL
ready operations have been begun on
their big wharf. 1t is to be the largest
in the United States, or in the world,
for that matter. Some four or five
months ago the HERALD gave a sketch
of its profile. 1t is to extend to a dis
tance of 5000 feet, to depth Of water
which will admit of the largest vessels
ahoat calling there. One million dol
lars are to be spent on this work. The
wharf will be heavily rip-rapped and
great mole will be created there.
1t is at this point, when this large sum
of money has been spent on portion of
the Bay of Santa Monica whose config-
uration is specially favorable to the Gre
alton OF magnificent harbor, that we
can readily suppose the friends of the
great enterprise will say to congress,
"Send a committee of your body to ex-
anime the most feasible site for a
harbor on the Pacific coast. See
what has already been done by pri-
vate enterprise! See, also, how easy
it is to create here harbor which will
admi. of transacting the whole business
of Southern CALIFORNIA; harbor Will ch
would at once be refuge for American
vessels in case of war or distress and
busy scene of commerce" By the time
the committee shall arrive here splen-
did mole will have been built, which
will admit of the transaction of an i'm
mense business, and which government
aid can quickly transform into an un-
surpassed harbor.
Let no one deceive himself. The
Southern Pacific Railway company are
making preparations above the mouth
of the Santa Monica cafion to do the
business Of Southern California. 1t will
have the same advantage over Redondo
Beach that the latter has over San
Pedro, and which San Pedro has over
San Diego. A vessel can arrive at this
wharf and land fast freight in Los An
geles before it could be delivered on the
wharf at Redondo, and day before it
could be delivered in this city from San
Pedro. As respects the coast business
Of Southern California, the Southern
Pacific railway is playing its last trump
card, and it is big and winning one.
The work has already begun. A turn
table has been prepared and round
house will be erected which will accom-
modate eight locomotives. Immedi-
ately behind the wharf there is
large bluff. This will be utilized
when the wharf has been COM
pleted, and business has begun, for sup
plying ballast to vessels which arrive
loaded with coal or lumber, through a
gravity railway. This ballast can be
furnished to vessels at mere bagatelle,
and its cheapness will be great in
ducement to shipowners to patronize
the new port. Vessels that were for
merly obliged to pay $500 or $4OO for
ballast will find that they can get it at
Santa Monica for $50 or $50. The bluff
will gradually be excavated, and the
ground thus made available will be cov-
cred with warehouses;. No doubt
lively seaport will in time be created at
this point.
Thus, while we have not realized our
expectations in one direction, we find
that our loss is unexpectedly made good
from another quarter. All roads lead to
Rome, and all development in Southern
California points to Los Angeles. The
early completion of the Coast road,
which will doubtless reach us through
the Malibu ranch, will be another pow
erful factor in our favor. The great
energies of the Southern Pacific railway,
after having been dormant for some
time, show every sign OF being resur-
rected in their old time vigor for the de-
velopment Of Los Angeles and Southern
California.
As to Santa Monica proper, her people
may as we'll get ready to become one of
the most flashing watering places in the
world. Is is difficult to tell whether the
City by the Sea is more attractive in
winter or in summer. An edict of fash
ion will soon go out for aligning her
magnificent bluff with palaces. In this