The herald., 1894-09-30
SANTA M0NlCRS POINTS.
The Advantages 1t Offers for a
Deep-Sea Harbor.
Why Engineer Corthell Decides in
Its Favor.
He Gives Hts Reasons cieariy-RsvIew w
of the Reports of Engineers-rhe
Great importance of tho
Matter.

kluecfd VI tu6 WOElu, T6au tu6 lpllOWlug
report before the United States senate
committee on June 10th last. Mr. Cor
thell was with Captain Eads in the con-
struction of the st. Louis bridge. and
was in charge OF the construction OF the
jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi.
He is and has been from it's inception
chief engineer OF the Tenuantspec rail-
way.
Gentlemen-I have msds an examina-
tion OF the conditions involved In max
ing protected harbor on the coast OF
Southern California, and now desire TO
lay before you the facts have obtained
and the opinione | have formed.
In order that the scope and character
OF the examination may properly ap-
pear l will state briefly some OF the
details OF the work performed.
SOME OF THE DETAILS.
have read carefully the reports OF
the two boards of United States en-
gineers and the testimony offered before
them. / have visited and closely stud
led the charts of Santa Monica, Re-
dondo, San Pedro and San Diego, AMI
have ut each point learned what could
from those met there who might know
anything of waves, currents and other
conditions.
In regard to some special points, l
conferred in San Francisco with Colonel
George III. Mendell. United States en-
gineer and chairman of the first board
and Professor George Davidson OF the
United States coast and geodetic sur
vey, also William Hood, Chief engineer
of the Southern Pacific company, who
gave me much information from his own
examinations and professional exper-
fence in the bsrbor of Port Los Angeles.
He also furniahed me with the plans of
the large wharf built there by his COM
pany, the sketch of the oorings into the
ocean bed to determine the character of
the material for driving piles and for
holding ground for vessels, the profile of
the pile-driving record, showing the
depth and material encountered, also
the plans for the mooring system for
vessels, and a very complete chart of
soundings in the vicinity OF the wharf
made by Professor Davidson, and much
other migce llaneous data bearing on the
material in hand.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
also examined three locations for
obtaining the rock Tor breskwater, two
on the lines of the South ern Pacific rail-
road and the other at Catalina island. 1
obtained samples OF stone aRd learned it's
weight and character to ascertain its
suitability for the work. / also obtained
from all possible sources, both by corre-
spondence and in person, the nautical
and commercial conditions. | obtained,
through Professor Davidson, a photo
graph of q relief map OF the Pacific
ocean and California, which shows the
modifying effects of the outlying islands
in this vicinity upon the harbor condi-
tions. Believing that you desired fscte
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
painH to obtain them.
Knowing that you have already consid.
cred the subject from many data laid
before you, l will dwell only upon those
features which may furnish you with
important additional information, being
prepared to answer, as far as possible,
any questions, orally or in writing, that
you may put to me.
The 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 import
ance and necessity for large protected
harbor on the coast OF Southern Cali~
fornis. 1t must be borne in mind that
south of San Francisco to San Diego
there ia not one natural or artificial
protected harbor for deep craft veasele,
and that even at San Diego, which has q
fine land locked harbor inside, formed
and maintained by nature, the entrance
from the ocean is blocked by sand for
large vessels, as there is depth of only
20 or 2l feet at low tide on this bar,
which is situated a mile or more out IL
the sea. The ieolated position OF this
port, the considerable distance by raj
to the center of commercial life of this
part OF the country, the steep grades
and the want OF short rail line be-
tween the gulf and Atlantic seaboards
are sufficient 10 rule it out when con
considering the question OF a harbor fol
the territory which has Los Angeles fol
center of distribution and for through
line eastward.
THE NEED FOR A HARBoR.
An examination of the map of the
United States will chow that the east
ward meridian distance of Los Angeles
from San Francisco is equal to, say, ths
westward meridian distance OF Philadel
phia. Pa, from Portland Me; and il
will also show that the approximate dis
tancss along the coast are about the
same, nearly 500 miles. Although Port
land, Me-, has good harbor, no one
would question the p:opriety of fur
nishing any needed facilities at Phila-
delphia; in fact, there are many inter
mediate points ON the Atlantic which
have most substantial and expensiv,
harbor improvements. The populations
are, OF course, greater in the latter sec
tion, but anyone unfamiliar with thi.
eountry during tho last 15 years Cal
hardly appreciate, without seeing IT,, it
growth in agriculture, industries. ant
commerce, particularly in the section
under consideration, in and abou
Los Angeles. This growth has beei
almost phenomeral-sbout SO per cen
in IA years. The immense distance
here are not appreciated from ehe ordi
nary maps. But if. for instance, the ge
ographies should make Rhode Islam,
and Delaware on the same ecale as Cali
fornia, the immense difference in are
would be at once apparent.
SOUTHERN HARBoR A NECESSITY.
The boards OF army engineers, ant
those who have testimony before them
have spoken of the expected importanc
OF our Pacific coastwise business due t
the opening OF interocean routes. Tn
i L I'd