The record-union., 1894-09-22


The following paper was read before
the United States Senate Committee on
Commerce, June I9, 1894, by E. L. Cor
thell, one of the most distinguished en-
gineers now living. He was associated
with Captain Eads in the construction of
the bridge at ST. Louis and was engineer
In charge of the construction of the jetties
at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Mr.. Corthell has been from its incep-
ton and still is the Chief Engineer of the
Iehuantepec Railroad, being constructed
from the Pacific TO the Gulf of Mexico.
Mr.. CorthelPs eminence in his profession
entities his opinions to great weight.
That the people of California may be
intelligently informed in the matter of
the controversy between San Pedro and
Port Los Angeles as rivals for the loca-
ton of deep-sea harbor. we print Mr..
CorthelPs paper, the dispassionate char
acter, strength and lucidity of which
commend it to all fair-minded intelli-
gences.
The sub-headings throughout are made
by us with one exception, Mr.. CorthelI
dividing his paper at the sub-head relat-
ing to a review OF the reports of Boards
OF Engineers:
Gentlemen: 1 have made an examina-
ton OF the conditions involved in making
protected harbor on the coast of South
ern California, and l now desire to lay
before you the facts l have obtained and
the opinions | have formed.
In order that the scope and character of
the examination may properly appear, l
VIII state briefly some OF the details of
tie work performed.
SOME OF THE DETAILS.
L have read carefully the reports of the
two Boards OF Y. S. Engineers and the
testimony offered before them | have
visited and closely studied the charts of
Santa Monica, Redondo. san Pedro, and
San Diego, and nave AT each point learned
what could from those L met there who
might know anything OF waves, currents,
and other conditions.
In regard to some special points, | con-
1erred in San Francisco with Colonel
George II. Mendell, I. s. Engineer and
Chairman of the first board, and Profess
sor George Davidson, OF the u. S. Coast
and Geodetic Survey: also William
Hood, Chief Engineer of the Southern
Pacific Company, who gave me much
information from his own examinations
and professional experience in the harbor
OF Port Los Angeles. He also furnished
me with the plans OF the large wharf built
there by his company, the sketch of the
DorIngs into the ocean bed to determine
the character of the material for driving
piles and for holding ground for vessels,
the profile OF The piIe-driVing record
showing the depth and material encount-
cred; also the plans for the mooring sys-
tenn for vessels, and very complete chart
Ot soundingS in the vicinity OF the wharf
made by Professor Davidson, and much
other miscellaneous data bearing on the
material in hand.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
/ also examined three locations for OBJ
tanning the rock for a break-water, two
on the lines OF the Southern Pacific Rail
road ana the other at Catalina Island |
obtained samples of stone and learned it's
weight and character TO ascertain its
suitability for the work. | also obtained
from all posi- bic sources, both. by CORE
sDOndence and in person, the nautical and
commercial conditions. l obtained
through Professor Davidson a photo
graph Of relief map OF the Pacific
Ocean and California, which shows the
modifying effects OF the outlying islands
IN this vicinity upon the harbor condi-
tlons. Believing that you desired facts
from personal observation as far as pos-
sible, and especially the character, extent
and influence OF any new conditions.
physical or commercial, l spared no pains
10 obtain them.
knowing that you have already consid-
cred the subject from many data laid be-
fore you, 1 will dwell only upon those
features which may furnish you with i'm
portant additional information, being
prepared to answer, as lar as possible,
any questions, orally or in writing, that
you may put to me.
Ihe following descriptions will furnish
the main facts bearing on the questions:
THE MAIN FACTS.
There would seem to be no necessity
for argument to establish the importance
and necessity for large protected harbor
on the coast of Southern California. It
must be borne in mind that south of San
Francisco to San Diego there is not one
natural or artificial protected harbor for
deep craft vessels, and that even at San
Diego, which has a fine landlocked har-
Dor inside, formed and maintained by
nature, the entrance from the ocean is
blocked by sand for large vessels, as there
Is depth of only twenty or twenty-one
feet at low tide on this bar which is situ-
ated mile or more out in the sea- The
isolated position OF this port, the consid-
cradle distance by rail to the center of
commercial life of this part Of the coun-
try, the steep grades and the want of a
short rail line toward the gulf and Allan
tic seaboards, are sufficient to rule it out
when considering the question of a har-
Dor for the territory which has Los An
geles for center of distribution and for
through line eastward.
THE NEED FOR HARBoR.
An examination of the map of the
United States viii show that the east
ward meridian distance of Los Angeles
from San Francisco is equal to, say, the
westward meridian distance of Philadel-
phia, Pa, from Portland, Me-; and it viii
also show that the approximate distances
along the coast are about the same nearly
$50 miles. Although Portland, Me-, has
good haroor, no one would question the
propriety &C furnishing any needed taciIi-
ties al Philadelphia: IN fact there are
many intermediate points on the Atlantic
which have most substantial and expen-
siVe harDor improvements. The popula-
tions are, OF course, greater in the latter
section, but anyone unfamiliar with this
country during the last fifteen years can
hardly appreciate, without seeing it. its
growth in agriculture, industries. and
commerce, particularly in the section uu-
Ger consideration, in and about Los An
geles. This growth has been almost phe-
nomenal-about 80 per cent. in fourteen
years, The immense distances here are
not appreciated from the ordinary maps.
But if for instance, the biographies
Should make Rhode Island and Delaware
on the same scale as California, the inn
mense difference in area would be an
once apparent
A SOUTHERN HARBoR A NECESSITY.
The Boards of Army Engineers, and
those who gave testimony before them,
have spoken of the expected Importance
OF our Pacific eoastwise business due to
the opening of interocean routes. The
result can scarcely be overestlmated, and
1t is nearer at hand than we might believe
We're we considering only the opening of
the Nicaragua Canal, which from present
conditions, and considering the gigantic
nature of its DhvsicaI and financial iea-