The herald., 1895-12-18
NOW FOR A GOOD HARBOR
A Vigorous Campaign for
San Pedro Is Started
THE FREE HARB0R League BORN
A Ringing Address Is Issued to
the General Public
SENATOR WHITE AT WORK
He Thinks There Is Good Reason to
Expect Success Soon
Every Good Citizen Should Sign Himself a
Member
Membership Rolls at the Newspaper Offices.
Another Meeting on Saturday at
Which Permanent Organiz.tiou
VIII Be Effected
he Thinks There Is Good Reason to
Expect Success Soon
Every Good Citizen Should Sign Himself a
Member


Los Angeles 10 to have deep sea harbor
and it will be at San Pedro. The people
of Southern California have decided on
that point, and they, being right, will have
the aid of the national government beyond
peradventure. A few days ago some pub
lie spirited men of this city met at the
Chamber of Commerce and took the pre-
liminary steps toward forming Free Har-
Dor League, to organize and concentrate
efforts for suitable appropriation for San
Pedro, and to conduct a more aggressive
campaign than has heretofore been made.
Two committees we're appointed, one on
bylaws, consisting of Messrs. Willard,
Bliun and Parsons, and one on an address
to the public with Colonel Harrison Gray
Otis as chairman, and j. M. Elliott, Harry
Brook, r. A. Forester and W. B. Wool
wine.
Yesterday afternoon large meeting was
held at the chamber of commerce to hear
the report of these committees. Colonel
Otis was made temporary chairman of the
league and Mr.. Chas. Weir secretary.
The report of the committee on organiza-
ton was adopted unanimously.
The committee on address then pre-
sented its results, which were received with
applause and adopted by reclamation. The
address is as follows:
To all friends of a free deep-sea harbor
for Los Angeles: The exceptional growth
and prosperity of Los Angeles and of
Southern California have hitherto been
based chiefly upon horticulture and the
climatic attractions of this section. 1t is
evident that if a city of 100000 popula-
ton is to continue'to grow as rapidly in the
fs,k
in developing those commercial possibiii-
ties which are ours by right of location.
The question of transportation ia vital
one to Southern California, as upon it de-
ponds chiefly the outlet to the markets of
the world of those who cultivate the soil.
Active competition between railroads can
never be assured. but the ocean, which is
free to all. lies at our doors.
Los Angeles was designed by nature, To-
cation and environment for one of the
most important commercial cities. Its To-
cation, at the foot of the low mountain
passes, on the shortest practicable route
between the Atlantic. and Pacific, instires
reasonably philosophical and alert. Los
Angeles should build up profitable trade
with the Orient, with Australia and the
islands of the sea.
On this subject the board OF United States
engineers. appointed in 1892 to locate
uecP WdtcI udTOOE lOT lIU6 tuSclcSs Iudu6
the following important and encouraging
report:
''By far the most important aspect of
this subject, however, is its relation to the
probable future development of the deep
sea commerce of the country. Heretofore
the Asiatic trade has naturally gone to San
Francisco, but it has been pointed out that
the construction of the Canadian and
Northern Pacific railroads has introduced
two competitors for the overland transpor-
tation of the Asiatic commerce. Two
through lines, the Southern Pacific and the
Santa Fe systems, cross the continent from
Los Angeles at much lower elevations than
Pacific with the Gulf of Mexico, and their
operation is never INSTRUCTED by snow or
ice. If safe, accessible and convenient
harbor for deep draft vessels existed on
the southern coast these would appear the
most favorable lines for the trausporta-
ton of Asiatic and Australian commerce.
"Should the Nicaragua canal be COM
pleted, the importance OF the proposed
harbor will become still greater. At the
present time the most convenient course
for sailing vessels coming around the Horn
is to 60 out into the mid.Pacific and strike
the trade winds to make the port of San
Francisco. With the completion of the
canal. commerce will be principally trans
ported by steam vessels of modern draft,
which will move north along the coast and
seek the nearest favorable and convenient
port from which their freight can reach it's
market.
"a deep water harbor on the southern
coast would thus receive the Asiatc and
Australian freights for shipment over the
most favorable transcontinental lines, ac-
commodate large part of the commerce
passing through the Nicaragua canal,which
now goes around the III )rrl, and finally fur
nish a port of shipment and supply not
only for the productive territory in its i'm
mediate vicinity, but also for the great in
terror plateau reached by the southern rail-
ways beyond the mountain ranges. Con-
sidering, therefore, the probable needs of
commerce in the near future, the board is
of the opinion that the proposed deep
water harbor is of high national import
ance and we'll worthy of construction by
the general government"
The chief drawback in the way of the
development of the commercial possibili-
ties of this section lies in the absence of
harbor that is accessible to deep-water ves-
sells. There is no deep-water harbor be-
tween San Diego on the south and San
Francisco on the north.
This Is by no means question that con-
Germs only the city of Los Angeles. All of
Southern California and Arizona, except
that portion tributary to San Diego county,
would be accommodated by a deep-water
harbor in Los Angeles county; also South
ern Nevada and Utah, as soon as the Salt
Lake railroad is completed.
That the proper location for such har-
Dor is San Pedro there can be no doubt in
any unprecedented mind. San Pedro has
been the leading harbor Of this section ever
since the days OF the early spanish ex-
plorers. 1t was selected by government
engineers as site for a deep-water harbor
more than twenty-five years ago, after
careful examination, at a time when there
was no prejudice for or against any partic-
ular location, and that choice has since
been officially confirmed by several other
boards of government engineers. In adfli-
ton. it is almost unanimously Endorsed by
the local engineering fraternity and by the
citizens If this section. as expressed
short time ago by public vote at the cham
Der of commerce.
In 1871 congress made the first appro-
priation for the improvement Of San Pedro
harbor. Since that time there has been ex-
pended on the harbor altogether less than
81 100000. During the past ten years tho
dues received by the government at San
Pedro have amounted to almost az much.