The morning call., 1892-12-08
A DEEP-SEA HARBOR.
San Pedro Is Preferred to Santa
Monica.
The Board of Engineers Runs Counter
to the Desires of the Southern
Pacific Company.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

WASHINGTON. Dee. 7.-As foreshadowed
in these dispatches OF yesterday. the Board
OF Engineers has reported in favor of San
Pedro and against Santa Monica as site
for a deep-water harbor On the Pacific
Coast. This report is made despite the fact
that the Southern Pacific favored Santa
Monica.
The board says that by far :he most i'm
portant aspect of this question of building
deep-water harbor is in its relation to the
probable future development OF the foreign
commerce OF the country. Heretofore the
Asiaiic trade has naturally gone TO Califor-
Mia, but it has been pointed out that the
construction OF the Northern Pacific and
Canadian Pacific railroads has introduced
two competitors for the overland transport
tation of the Asiatic commerce. The two
through lines of the Southern Pacific and
Santa Fe systems cross the continent from
Los Angeles at a much lower elevation than
the northern lines, and also connect the
Pacific Ocean with the Gulf OF Mexico,
and the operation OF these lines
Is never obstructed by snow or iee
If safe, accessible and convenient
harbor for deep draught vessels existed on
the southern coast, these would appear to
be the most favorable lines for tie trans
portation of Asiatic and Australian conn.,
merce.
Should the Nicaragua canal be completed
the Importance of the proposed harbor will
become still greater. A deep-water har5or
on the southern coast would thus receive
Asiatic aud Australian freights for ship
ment over the most favorable transconti-
mental lines. accommodate a large part of
the commerce passing through the Mica
raugua canal which now goes around the
Horn, and finally furnish port of shipment
and supply, not only for the productive ter
rtory in its immediate vicinity. but also for
the great interior plateau reached by the
southern railways beyond the mountain
range. Considering, therefore, the probable
needs Of commerce in the near future the
board is of the opinion that the proposed
deep-water harbor is of the highest national
importance. and we'll worthy of construc-
tion by the General Government.
San Diego harbor is, in location, aceessi-
bihty, anchorage, area aud defensive ca
pacity better adapted to the purposes OF
naval rendezvous than any artificial deep
water baTbor which can be constructed on
this part of tho coast; the entrance is easily
approached and there are no outlying dan
gers; the minimum depth over the bar at
low water is now q feet, which is TO be in
creased to 20 feet under the present project
of improvement, and the desp-water anchor
age within covers an area of 933 acres never
theless Santa Monica and San Pedro bays
furnish convenient landing places from
which an enemy could readily conduct hos
tile operations against Southern California,
and it is therefore of the highest Importance
that the location of a harbor in this vicinity
should be selected with special reference TO
its capacity for easy and efficient defense.
The location of such harbor should be de.
termined principally with reference to its
ample and convenient accommodation of
deep-draught vessels engaged in foreign
trade and the requirement of ships
of-war, the needs of coastwise nayi-
cation and the cost of construction being
considered matters. Of secondary impor-
tance. The board is OF the opinion that
there is no essential difference between San
Pedro and Santa Monica as regards advan-
tages for arrival and departure. Santa
Monica is decidedly the best as place of
shelter for receiving and diseharging
freights. The difference between San
Pedro and Santa Monica as regards CON-
munication with the commercial centers is
so small that it is unnecessary 10 give it
any important weight But San Pedro is
decidedly the best as regards adaptability
for the construction and maintena of
works for defense.
In conclusion, the location selected by
the Board of Engineers of 1890, at the pres
ent anchorage at the westerly side OF SAT-
Pedro Bay, under Point Firmin, is the most
eligible Location for such harbor in depth,
width and capacity to accommodate the
largest ocean-going vessels, AMI for the
commercial and naval necessities Of the
country.
The estimate of the cost of the work is as
follows: For substructure. s., 15l ,91S; super
structure. S35.706; contingencies. S376, 945;
total cost, 81, SS5. .324