The herald., 1896-12-23

E,ore amplilied report with tlfe board.
The speaker maj 1cr was exceedingly
nervous and he appeared so i'll at ease
as to give the auderoe an impression
that he YVES decidedly 'rattled." either
at the weakness Of the cass he was az
guing or that he was tl.ki~sy against His
own convict.oHs.
When the Southern Pdciiic company
was constructing the pier at Santa Mon
lea bay, he said, II was rot considered
prudent to berth s...p-f g the wharf at
all times of the Year. They I'D therefore
created an elabora., syrtam of broys,
but were surprised to find that thing
of that kind were unnece ary. 1t Is alno
well known to the engineers that when
the breakwater is constructed the works
can be built with much il cost than at
San Pedro, as nc such G.fiicultiec will be
encountered at Sai a Monica
He requested the privilege of preeent-
ing later on Mr., J A. Muir. division st-
perintendert of tn Southern Pacific
railroad. who would explain all the diff
1lcu'ties they had ercourtered this year
such as that with TIE Dunboyne; also
other difficulties Of greater or leos char
acter and if he failed to pre- sent them
all he hoped it would be made Known 1T
the proper time.
1t had been very satisfactory to them
to have had trouble ouch az that with
the DunbCyne, for it only demon strates
that it requires breakwater to make
the pier at Port Los Angeles eatisfac-
tory to all vessels. Among the blue
prints filed with tia board would be
found one in use in their Office, showing
the character of the sea bottom in Santa
Monica bay. Underneath a Slight layer
OF sand and gravel a stratum of blue
clay is found. A result of soundings
showing whether the water is shoaling
or deepening. he would say that it is
slightly deepening. The company desir-
ing to have good water. had bored two
wells with water jet appliances to a
depth Of from 500 to 500 feet 1t was found
that the blue clay bed is $50 feet ttick.
This demonstrated that the existence of
a rock bottom in the bay is highly i'm
probable. As to the commercial aspect
of wharf at Point Firmin, 1t Is evident
ly unsafe. The useful part of a wharf,
for the loading and unloading of deep
sea ships. is from the five athom lire
to the end Of the structure; the balance
is useful only al an approach. For coast
ing vessels WhaTVe7 of much less depth
than that at Port Los Angeles can be
used. There has been question raised
by United States engineers and others
whether detached breakwater would
PIOPCliy piClSCt MIldINeS DtHluU IL, Out
there have been sufficient instances
cited to show that it would. The sub
ject he thought had befogged peoples
minds, by technical terms uaed. IF it
had been said, how would wharves be
protected were there islands five or six
miles from shore the answer would be
obvious: a breakwater is merely a
small island.
The speaker described on the map the
large land holdings of the company at
San Pedro, though the territory indicat-
ed by the markings on the map are not
at present at their command, franchises
having been granted to lumber compa-
mics and other enterprises. This. how
ever, could be ascertained by the rec
orda. AT Santa Monica there is a tract
of land Of 250 acres. more or less, abut-
ting on the ocean. This Is the property
of Mr.. Huntington.
He has no desire to conceal the fact
that Mr.. Huntington owns the land be-
tween Santa Monica canyon and Port
Los Angeles: he desired to give the
facts and tell all he knew though the
honorable board had seen said land
There has bet n a question raised as to
the possible use of the Santa Monica tun-
mel by other railroad companies Said
tunnel IL 331 feet long from face to face
of the portals and cost. exclusive of
freight. 6SI9.92. The fine bath house be.
TWEEN the tunnel and county road is
owned by Senator Jones. Now as to
the question whether these holdings
would make" 1t difficult for other roads