The herald., 1894-10-04
THE HARBOR QUESTION AGAIN,
George s. Patton Submits the
Report of His Work.
The Chamber of Commerce Pleased
With the Result.
Mr.. Patton Makes q Good Showing Be-
fore tho Congregational Commit
tee During tho Last sas-
sion of Congress.

The board OF directors Of the chamber
OF commerce met yesterday afternoon at
3:l5. There were present the following
directors: Lapkershim, Formsn, Cohn.
Kokke. Mullen, Parsons, Breed, Graf,
Jevne, McGarv;n, Jones. Vice. President
Lankershim presided.
The following were elected to member
ship in the chamber: G. E. Slosson,
Monrcvia; B. s. X. Bennett, u. T. Cole.
D. E. Welcome, Gregory Perkins, jr.,
VIM. f. Rothery. w. K. Cowan, VIM.
A. Harris, Stephens & Hickok, Pacific
Cycle company.
George s. Patton, who was chosen to
represent the chamber at Washington
during the last session OF congress, pre>
sented the following report OF his labors
on behalf OF the harbor; and on motion
the report was ordered filed and vote
of thanks extended to Mr.. Patton for
his work:
Los ANGELES Sept. 19, 1894.
o. ID. Willard, esq Secretary Chamber of Com
merce, Los Angeles, CAL:
DEAR SIR:-An accumulation of private busi-
ness and other pressing matters since my return
from Washington have hitherto prevented me
from filing with you, as l agreed, q brief report
concerning the harbor matter.
In pursuance uf my appointment by the
chamber OF commerce, arrived in Washington
aoJut the first OF June last Mr. G. p. Hunt
lngton and his resident lobbyist. Mr.. Boyd
were diligently at work in their effort to secure
from tne senate committee on commefce re-
| port favorable TO the construction of the har-
Dor at SANTA Monica, instead of san Pedro
Through the efforts Of Senator White who is a
member OF that committee, day was fixed
| lJune l6th) upon which the committee agreed
to hear the matter presented by reprelenta-
tives OF both s des of the controversy. 1t was
learned that Mr.. Huntington would nave re-
port presented by a privat engineer (Mr. Cor
thelil; and n order that technical statements
IN matters OF engineering should not pass un-
chal enged, an der was secured, by the ef-
forts of Senator White, from the secretary of
war, ordering Major Saymoud, who was a
member of the last board of army engineers,
attend the hearing.
Upon the hearing, Mr.. Corthell read an argu-
ment in favor of Santa Monica and against San
Pedro, which has been printed and u copy OF
which you have no doubt received. He pre-
faced the readlng OF this by the statemenG that
he simply made it Voluntarily, and as d matter
in which he had taken some in crest. U0on
ross-exGmination by Senator White he admit
ted, however, that he was ut present in the en-
ploy OF Mr.. Huntington in building bridge
across the Mississippi river near New Orleaas,
and that in fact Mr.. Huntington had suggested
the making of this examination and report,
and tnat Senator Frye, q member of the com
mittee, Dut not the chairman, had also request
ed BIN to make such report
AT the CONCLUSION of his stat ment The COM
mittee called upon Major Raymond for a state
mens oil his views, with special referenceto the
report made by Mr.. C0rthell. 1t is my opinion
that Major Raymond plelely disposed of
the objections advanced by Corthell. and con.
clueiyely showed that in ali the elements of
harbor San Pedro was vastly the superior site.
He laid special stress upon the fact that one of
the most essential elements of g. harbor WAC an
area of marshy land in its rear, which could be
uti lied, by dreogng, for the purpose of con-
sttucting ana maintaining ship yards, docks
and repair shops; that san Pedro possessed
these qualifications in an eminent de-
gree, while it was abso utely impossible
| to have anything OF the kind at San nta Al onics.
further advantage, upon which he laid great
stress, was the fact thai the san Pedro break
water connects directly with the shore and at
q dstanc, of 1000 feet theroirom reaches a
depth of five ia hons, and thence for 1000 feet
more the depth OF water ranges from Eve faith
oms to eight. That along the whole OF this dis
tauce wharves could be constructed, capable OF
| giving equal service TO that furnished by the
| Santa Monica wharf and that such wharves
could be constructed for q few Thousand dollar
each, as against million dollars for the wharf
at Santa Monica. That the amount of stone re-
quired at SAN Pedro was much less and hat it
| cost less to get. That San Pedro also was su-
| perior in the matter OF defense and fortifea-
| tion.
| filed with the committee my credentials from
| the chamber of commerce, also the resolutions
| and memorials of the chaluber of commerce OF
Los Angeles, the resolutions OF the last meeting
Of the transm ssissippi congress i'll favor of San
! Pedro. the joint resolution of the senate and
as embiy of California at the last session OF The
| leg stature praying Tor ths construction of the
L
1 mo isls 10 the same effect from the boord of
trade at Pass dena, the board oil supervisors of
San Bernardino, the board of trade of the city
OF Redlands, the city council OF Salt Lake City,
Utah, the chamber of commerca OF ealt Like
| City, Utah. and citizens OF wilcox. Tom ostone,
Casa Grande, Flsgstaff, Tucson and Phoenix
Ariz., and Lordsburg and Deming. N. NJ Upon
the other SIDE the only memorial in writing
presented was that of the citizens of Santa
Monica.
Mr.. C. P. Huntington addressed the commit
tee on behalf of the Southern Pacific com
pany Mr.. I. h. Gibbon on bohalf of the Los
Angeles Terminal company, and your repre-
sentative on behalf of the chamber OF COM
| cree, representing the commercial interests
of southern California. The committee lis
tened with great patience and in crest, and
carefully examined the macs, photo .raphs
| and other data presented and fled
Lam of the opinion that the merits of tho
case are fully understood, and that there is
| little doubt as to The III innate result, which
| will be in favor of the construction OF san Pc
| dro. ] was however, fully convinced, from
| what saw during my stay at Washington. that
| Mr.. G. p Huntington will leave effo un-
| tried TO hinder and delay the construction of a
| harbor at any point other than Santa Monica.
It Is obvious that as long as no deep sea hal Dor
is constructed, he will be abe to con.ro the
transportation OF a large amount OF Asiatic
! freight over his Southern Pacific lines from
San Francisco, thus giving himself the bene1t
| of q 500 mile land haul; and that he fully
realizes that the construction OF a deep sea
| harbor at San Pedro which would be opsn to
the free competition of other roads. wou d i'm
ms diAtoly deprive his company of thu immense
&c vantage III now enjoys. Inuecu, L tnluk IL
very queStonsble if Mr.. Huntington desires
any deep sea haIbor at all on the southern
coast, at least for SO ne years to coma
In conclusion l desire 10 gay that Southern
California il fortunate in having at this time in
| the senate of the United states and upon the
committee commerce sblo ad ocate oil
the rights of the people in the person OF Senator
| White His attitude in the matter has been
| firm and positive; and his org residence in
| Southern California and personal acquaintance
| with the matter in controversy gives to his
| opiuion q very merited weight
| Az far as am able to do o. l presented what
| believe to be the fscts of The matter, .rsoD-
| ally, TO y mum Der of senators upon the commit
| to and outside of it, and trust that my efforts
! in this behalf have not been en- ire y in vain.
| Tho delay involved in the ex ,minztion by
| the committee Itself, in Novem Der next Is the
utmost be ieve, that can be accomplished to
hinder the work.
| have the honor to be very respectfully your
| obedent servant,
| (Signed) GEORGE S. PATTON.