The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-08
SANTA MONICA AS A HARBOR
Huntington Dilates on It's Ad-
yantages to a Committee.
An Appropriation for Further I'm.
prOvements Is Urged.
The RaiIroad Magnate DiscrIminatos
Against San Pedro and Claims
That the Government Ex-
perts Were Wrong.

lishes the following special from Wash
ington Rnent the Santa Monica harbor
discussion, which gives more details
than the dispatches heretofore pub
lished.]
WASHINGTON, Feb. Sc. P. Hunting
ton appeared before the river and har-
Dor committee OF the house today to
give his views as to the sdvisAbility OF
locating q deep water harbor at Santa
Monica. Senator Squire and Represen-
tative Wilson of Washington and Rep
resentative Cannon Of California were
attentive listeners. Representative
Bowers dropped in during the hearing.
Huntington spoke for about half an
hour, and held the attention of the
whole committee during the entire
time. He spoke in su bstsnce as fol-
lows:
1.-THE Southern Pacific railroad has
been running to San Pedro for many
years, and has made quite extensive inn
provements there, and large town has
grown up ct that point. Our people
went on there. bought Pedro Point and
expended outside of that over 81 ,00O,-
900. Then took trip out and looked
over the ground, inquiring as to the
winds, currents, etc., and said to my
people that it was not just the right
kind of place for the establishment OF
deep-water harbor, and we had better
look further.
SANTA MONICA SELECTED.
"Then we went to Santa Monica At
that time we had no interests at Santa
Monica, but we concluded that it was
much better place than San Pedro. We
have now expended there for a pier
something over 81 600, 900, with no other
object in view than to secure a frst-class
harbor.
ARIZONA, Southwestern Utah and
Southern Nevada must be accommodate
ed almost entirely from this harbor.
My opinion is that Santa Monica ia o far
better point for the location of a deep
water harbor than San Pedro. The en-
gineers made report in favor of San
Pedro, but the last report was more in
favor OF Santa Monica. Often one set OF
engineers contradict what has been pre-
viously reported.
"We made boringa at Santa Monica
and found the best kind of holding
ground, that is, stiff clay with coarse
gravel. The prevailing winds are from
the northwest and southeast, and this
hsrbor ia completely protected from
these winds. At San Pedro the holding
ground is bad. For the same amount Of
moneyyou can make perfect harbor at
Santa Monica, with double the area
that can be had at San Pedro and much
better holding ground"
MILES OF RAILROAD TRIBUTARY.
"How many miles of railroad would
be tributary to this harbor?" inquired
Chairman Blanchard.
"Nearly IL, 900 miles of road would be
accommodated by this deep water har-
bor," replied Huntington. SAT one time
the Southern Pacific interesta thought
that San Pedro was the beat place
for this harbor, but after expanding over
100000 il found that it was not suit
able place, and afterwards constructed
their pier at Santa Monica"
ibid the Southern Pacific company
own any property at Santa Monica when
they discovered that San Pedro could
never be made the proper harbor?" in
terrupted the chairman.
''We had no property there them" an
swered Huntington, land we have none
r.
l have never tried to shut out other
roads, but have allowed them the same
privileges we ourselves enjoyed upon
paying Just what we paid of the current
running expense. a good many people
there, but do not, and even if had,
property would be more damaged than
benefited by this pier.
LIMITED CONTROL OF THE HARBoR.
"We have no control and do not claim
any of the harbor front except the pier.
If the government will appropriate
100000 for the improvement of this
harbor, the Southern Pacific will put in
another 100000 and l will see that
they are both well used"
Representative Cannon, who had been
paying attention to all that had been
said, inquired If MIR. Huntington would
agree to allow any other company to run
over his company's tracks for three
miles along the bluff and to use the pier
by paying reasonable rate"
"Yes," said Huntington, 81 can put
In 10 tracks along the bluff with ease,
and anybody can use them who wants
to. What will try to do is TO consult
the best interests of commerce"
"How can you account for the reports
that have come to this committee in
favor of San Pedro?" asked a member
of the committee.
'Why, my friend Kern. having more
time on his hands than l, has been very
buoy sending in these reports"
Representative Cstchings, who Is q
member of the committee, requested
Huntington to explain why the report
OF five engineers, appointed by the gov
eminent, had recommended that the
harbor be located at San Pedro, and
Huntington said that even experts were
often mistaken in such matters and
might not see the good points about a
place that practical railroad man like
himself would Immediately discern.
This answer seemed to satisfy the
doubling member from mississippi.
This concluded the hearing. From the
interest taken and the many questions
asked by the chairman and members Of
the committee, they were evidently
favorably impressed with the idea of
locating q deep-water harbor for the
Pacific coast al Santa Monica.
HUNTINGTON GOING TO CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. Huntington will probably leave
Washington for San Francisco Tuesday
night. There have been recently many
rumors afloat in reference to the pros
pecte of a change in the residence OF
the railway magnate. There were
r,, ~ r-a -, n; ro,latior hcre SATURDAY. ond