The herald., 1896-07-08
SANTA MONICA NOT IN II
Capt. GreenweIl Said II Would
Never Be a HarbOr
A LEARNED MANS OPINION
A Statement Made Twenty.eight Years
Ago
1t Is Corroborative of the Vi.ws Set Forth on
the Harbor Question by the Rev.
DR.. Wilson

v
son, an ex-sailor and now pastor of the
First M. e. church, stated. after careful
investigation that Santa Monica could
not be made harbor even though the
government should appropriate one
hundred millions of dollars to further
that end
Just twenty-eight years ago, when
Los Angeles was city of but 5000 inhab-
itants, and when the idea of a harbor
in its immediate. vicinity was unthought
of, the same statement was made by
Capt. Greenwell then of the United
States geodetic survey, man whose
opinions on such subjects guided the
government in its work of improvement
along the Pacific coast.
George w. Morgan, who resides at
Highland Park, was the second party 10
this statement, corroborative of that of
DR.. Wilson'S. When seen at his home
yesterday by Herald representative,
Mr.. Morgan stated that when he had
read the account of DR.. Wilson's state
ment in regard to Santa Monica in The
Herald, he had recalled the conversation
with Capt. Greenwell, and, although he
did not wish to get into any controver-
sy on the subject. wishing to be in
harmony with that which he considered
the proper thing as far as superior en-
gineering Skill was concerned, he had
spoken of the matter.
1T was in the early part of 1862" con-
tinued Mr.. Morgan, shortly after my
arrival in Los Angeles, that 1 had occa-
sion to meet Captain Greenwell, then of
the United States geodetic survey.
Knowing him to be a person thoroughly
conversant with the Pacific coast, he
having surveyed from San Diego to
British Columbia, and being desirous of
investing in real estate in the vicinity
of prospective harbor, L consulted
Captain Greenwell. L asked him about
San Diego, as L had thought seriously
of going there, but the captain stated
that San Diego would never amount to
much as harbor it being too far south,
but that, in his opinion, San Pedro with
in fifty years would be made a harbor
much better than that of San Diego"
But how about Santa Monica?" 1
asked of the captain.
Santa Monica is not in it," was his
reply 1T is possible to make a harbor
anywhere. but not always practicable.
1t would be foolishness, and would ne
cesstate great expenditure of money
to make harbor of Santa Monica. And
'besides, why should they waste money
on trying to convert into a harbor a
place that does not offer any natural
facilities to aid the engineers in their
work, when there is a place far superior
near by. With an expenditure of from
so,OuO,0o0 to 81 100000, San Pedro could
be converted into harbor which would
rival that of San Francisco in regard to
commercial interests. But to make of
santa Monica<a harbor it would neces-
state an expenditure of at least $25 50O0,-
0oo or $5O,OO0,O00, though / am confident
IL could not be done for even $1O0,0 900 900. -
Dr. Wilson, when told of the converse
tlon twenty eight tyearsago, said that he
was glad to learn that his statement was
corroborated by man of such eminent
standing on such matters.
Il hadn't the least idea" he said.
when l opposed the project of the rail-
roads securing at the expense of the
government harbor at Santa Monica
that such man as Capt. Greenwell
had ever existed. Yet from what have
now learned statement, of which mine
was but reiteration, coming from him
on such matters is of great Importance
and should carry conviction with it.
When said that proper breakwater
could not be constructed at Santa Mon
lea was certain OF my ground and was,
and am now, prepared to stand firm on it,
My statement was at once attacked in a
most scurrilous manner by a certain
Rev. MerlinjoneS, whose expert
knowledge of harbor and sea has been
acquired hanging over a bowl in his
stateroom and throwing up thereunto
his immortal soul as tribute to Nep-
tune. Also in the profound depths of
investigation of the uncovenanted mer-
cies of other folks he had received Wis
ions of havens and harbors and anchor
ages, which inspirationally convinced
him that what the Almighty had never
done for that open roadstead Uncle Sam
could not fail to accomplish with three
millions of dollars-make of Santa Mon
lea the greatest harbor ON earth. No
doubt this feeble effort of the reverend
gentleman to save the day for the rail-
road company has been rewarded by
many passes to and from the effete east.
But the matter, like the ghost of
Banquo, serenely bobs up again to make
uncomfortable the Rev. Merlinjones
and all other worshipers at the Hunt
ington shrine of disrepute."