The herald., 1895-03-07
] DEEP SEA HARBOR ISSUE
Discussed byEngineers and
Architects
They FAVOR THE Wilmington SITE
Questions of Vital PurpOrt to
Southern California
INTERESTING PAPERS READ
The Relative Merits of San Pedro and
Santa Monica Considered
INTERESTING PAPERS READ
The Relative Merits of San Pedro and
< Santa Monica Considered
A Large neeting at the Chamber OF
!. Commerce and Variety OF
Views Are Expressed

The Engineers and Architects Associa-
tion Of Southern California held an open
meeting in the rooms of the Chamber of
Commerce last evening, H. Howgood
presiding. OF course a full complement
of the engineers and architects residing
in this city were present, besides not
few prominent outsiders, who were at
tracted by the announcement that several
papers would be read upon the subject of
"a deep sea harbor for Southern Califor-
MIA"
Mr.. H. Howgood, a member of the In
stitute of Civil Engineers of London, then
read his address, entitled An Outer and
Inner Deep Water Harbor at San Pedro.
In brief the main points made were as
follows:
In 1870 the California Legislature
petitioned Congress for an appropriation
Of $3.50, 600 for improvements to Whining
ton Harbor At that time there was
depth of one foot at the entrance of the
harbor at mean low tide. The position of
the entrance was unstable, being some
times between Timm's Point and Dead
Mans Island, and at others between
Rattlesnake and Dead Mans Island The
work of improving the harbor was com
menced in 1872, since which time it has
been carried on as continuously as the
granting of appropriations would permit,
the total expenditure to date being
something over 5000, 900.
All improvements have followed the
general plan, outlined in General Alexan
der's report, of artificially coating an
estuary with a narrow neck. The results
have been most satisfactory with the ex-
ception that the channel at the bar is
crooked.
The inner harbor has total length of
three and one-half miles. There are also
many minor channels communicating
with the main ones described above. The
area of Wilmington Lagoon below high
watermark, tributary to these channels is
in the neighborhood OF two square miles.
it is the magnificent opportunity for de-
velopment presented by the lagoon and
its channels that constitute one of the
principal advantages of San Pedro as a
harbor.
There are few, if any, engineering diff
culties connected with the improvement
OF the inner harbor. The problem lies in
the treatment OF the outer harbor, so that
the inner development becomes feasible.
So far the plans put forward by the Army
Engineers appear TO have treated the
inner and outer harbors as two separate
and distinct propositions. 1t will be pro-
ductve of the best results at the least cost
to take their two separate propositions,
ton as a whole.
The breakwater proposed by the En-
gineer Board of 1892 is deficient in that it
would afford no protection whatever to
the mouth of the inner harbor against the
winter storms from the southeast. The
entrance would continue to be exposed to
their full force as at present. 1t is only
materially deficient in facilities of estab
fishing railway communication with the
anchorage. On the west side only could
direct connection be established between
ships and railway. That side is now fully
occupied by one railway and it is not
practicable with any reasonable expendi-
ture to give access to another. There is
no more available room than is needed for
business of one road. To run back OF the
town and over the top of the bluff would
be undesirable on account OF grades and
complicated as to right of way. The po-
sition is such that as business PROPOSE
ton one road only the one that now oc-
eupies the west shore, could reach ship
ping by wharves. All other roads would
have to receive. their freight from deep
draft ships by lighter at some point in
inner harbor. A harbor of such restricted
accommodations will not answer public
requirements. 1t should be a harbor that
my ship of deep or shallow draft can
yafely enter in all weathers and make fast
20 a wharf OF any one OF the three or four
Dads. To accomplish this does not
necessitate the expenditure of more money
than contemplated by the board of 1892. 1t
Fan be done for considerably less money, so
ar as the outer harbor is concerned. The
general outline of such proposition is
shown on the accompanying plans, max
ing total cost of outer basin and inner
channel So, 800, 600. The work need not,
and naturally would not, be all put in
hand at once. When entirely conn leted
there would then be provided:
First, a closed outer basin with an area
IS - - la..t