Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-15
THE HARBOR.
Why the Engineers Selected
San Pedro.
A Number of Apparently Good
Reasons Given.
Interesting Figures as to Cost and
Extent of the Work.
The Cost of the Necessary Breakwater.
The Areas of Exposure-Compari-
son of San Pedro With
Santa Monica.

A copy has arrived in the city OF a
letter from the acting secretary of war
to the house of representatives, trans
mitting, with letter from the chief OF
engineers, the report of and examina-
ton for a deep-water harbor on this
coast, between Points Dune and Cap
/ istrano. When this document was first
transmitted to the house, the HERALD
received by wire and published gem
eral outline of the report. In view of
the great Importance of the question to
Los Angeles, it cannot be out of place
to give the discussion in the engineers
report more in detail.
Brig. .-Gen. I. L. Casey, chief of en-
gineers, in submitting the report, says :
1.-The board after full examination con-
siders that the selection of site for
deep-water harbor within the limits
designated by the act Of September 10,
1890, is restricted to the harbor in Santa
Monica bay and San Pedro bay, and is
OF the opinion that San Pedro is the bet
ter of these, and submits alternative es-
Inmates of the cost of the necessary
breakwater, as follows:
If constructed of rubble and con-
crete e........................ S4,594, ,494
If constructed entirely of rubble . 81, 126, ,1O6
After careful consideration of the
facts in the case as presented by the
board, its views as to the location and
general estimates of construction are
concurred in by me. The difference in
cost of the two breakwaters, for the
same arc of protection is over $700,0
in favor of San Pedro, and when the
other advantages of San Pedro, as de-
tailed by the board, are taken into con-
liberation, it would seem that it's selec-
sion has been properly made"
After thorough technical discussion
of the topography of the shore between
Points Dune and Capistrano of the
photography of Santa Monica and San
Pedro bays, and of the winds, waves |
and exposure, the board proceeds to an
estimate OF the cost of the required |
breakwaters, and it is here that we en-
counter valuable additional information
to that already published. The HER
AIDS special only pointed out, as is
done in General Casey's letter, that the
difference in cost is in favor of San
Pedro, over 100000, but without stating
the material on which this estimate is
based.
The following figures give the data for
more thorough comparison:
RUBBLE AND CONCRETE.
santa Monlt a........ IS, ,T15, 1865
san feoro...... ............-... ,594 ,494
Dliereuce. Observation-Disclosures. III AL
ALL RUBBLE,
Santa Monica. .......... 81 s43, ,440
Saa ga reoro. ....-........... 4,l26 n06
Dlnerence. .-......-... 7l7,334
Therefore, should it be decided to
build the breakwaters of rubble and
concrete, the advantage of San Pedro
would amount to over 81, 100000 instead
of 500 600.
The report then goes on "Institut.
ing comparison of the two sites
selected, it will be seen that in the
aggregate the total area OF exposure is
about the same in each, approximating
l02 degrees, though the distribution is
different in the two bays. OF the total
at Santa Monica, " degrees included
between lines drawn to the westerly end
of Catalina island and Point Dune
are fully exposed to the direct
approach of the winds and seas from
the west and southwest. The site re-
ceives but little protection on the south
east from Catalina island, distant thirty
six miles, while the open area between
this island and Point Vincente permits
the approach OF southerly seas that
work around the easterly end of the ISL
and. To the moderate southwest swell
which is known to prevail the greater
part of the year, the site is fully exposed.
San Pedro bay is sheltered from
the westerly winds by Point Firmin.
1t is open to the winds and seas from
the southwest and to the prevailing
southwest swell above noted, over an
angle of so degrees to the westward of
Catalina island. The other arc of ex-
posure of AZ degrees to the eastward of
Catalina permits the approach of seas
from the southwest and also those from
the south, that double the easterly end
of the island.
"In its natural condition San Pedro
bay is better protected from the danger
GUS winds and seas than Santa Monica
bay.
ITO insure complete protection re-
quires at the former place the construc-
ton of two detached breakwaters cover.
ing the exposed arcs, the combined
length OF these structures being about
5000 feet.
SAT Santa Monica breakwater of
$3.50 feet would be required to cover the
anchorage ground over the arc between
Point Dune and Point Vicente.
"As shown by the foregoing estimates
the cost of the breakwater with the
adoption of either type will be less at
San Pedro than at Santa Monica.
''The cost of construction for equal