The herald., 1894-04-07
SOME OF SAN PEBRO'S POINTS,
Huntington's Aspersions on
That Place Refuted.
The Holding Ground Quality Sue
cintly Discussed.
Il. IL. Gibbons Makes . ForcibIe Argu-
ment Against MIR. Hunt
ington's Utter
Anceas

EDIToRs HERALD 81 notice that Mr..
Huntington In his communication pub
lished in yesterday mornings HERALD
repeats that hoary fabrication OF the
holding ground Ia the proposed deep
water harbcr at San Pedro being poor.
Just word to your readers about the
beginning and the end Of that false
hood.
When Mr.. Charles Forman, as repre-
sentative of the chamber of commerce,
and myself werU in Washington city in
February, 1898, Senator FELTON, told US
how it began.
He had introduced bill appropriat-
ing $3.50, 900 to begin the construction at
San Pedro of the deep water harbor ior
Los Angeles, as recommended Dy the
board OF engineers of 1890. While his
bill was pending before the senate COM
mittee ON commerce, with good pros
poets Of being reported favorabiy and oe-
coming law, telegram came TO the
chairman of the committee from Mr.
Hood, the chief engineer OF the south
ern Pacific company, stating tnat
the holding gronnd in the pro.
posed San Pedro harbor was bad
and csutioning the committee againet
proceeding with the appropriation until
the matter could be investigated. Inat
dispatch destroyed the chances OF the
senator's bill, and in Its place the board
of engineers OF 1892 WAS appointed to
make another investigation OF the har-
Dor sites. Both Mr.. Forman and my
self were shown Mr.. Hoods telegram
by Senator FELTON,, and it is now on f1le
with the committee.
Now mark the end. The board oi
1892 came here prepared to investigate
the holding ground ct San Pedro. They
held a two-days' session in the chamber
of commerce here and heard all teetimo-
NY as to the various proposed harbol
sites which any one offered. The South
ern Pacific company produced number
of witnesses and experts, among then
its Mr.. Hood. In all his evidence h
did not sau Word IN substdRtiGtiOn O
the statements as to the holding grouao
made IN his telegram, nor did any
other witness OF the Southern
Pacific company attempt to sustain
Mr.. Hoods dispatch. Having served
it's purpose OF delaying the approprlR'
ton, the miserable fabrication was aban'
doned without an effort to sustain it,
The friends OF San Pedro, however, pro
duced any amount OF evidence from
captains and masters OF vessels, who
testifying from practical knowledge o.
San Pedro harbor from many years
proved its holding ground to be seconc
to none on this coast. l may cay tha
there is now of record before congress
the testimony OF more than 90 captains
and masters OF vessela on this point il
favor OF San Pedro. and none against II
La its report, on page Is, the board Q
1882 said "Some doubts have beei
expressed in regard 70 the holdin
as good in this location as in tn
others"
In the face OF all this the president O
the Southern Pacific company has seel
fit to attempt to prop failing cause b,
reviving this exploded falsehood, anC
makes himHelf responsible for piece o
mendacity which it's author has aban
doned and which the board appointed
at the solicitation Of the Southern Pa
cifc has repudiated.
Such action indiooles that the harbol
contest is being carried on by the head
of the Southern Pacific company upon
the theory that "lie we'll stuck to Is OF
good as the truth" T. e, GIBDoN,
| Los Angeles, April 7th.