The herald., 1896-02-01
LOCAL HARBOR QUESTION
Views of an Ex=Officer in the
United States Navy
EMPHATICALLY SAN PEDRO
A Place Which II, Says Undoubtedly
Has Great Future
Government Engineers and Nature Have De-.
ciied in Favor of tie Now Qaiet
TownTh, Ciimlte Ellogiz.d

very interesting letter is the one writ
ten by j. E. Lom) ird an eX-oi1icer in tho
United States navy, upon his return home
to ortland, Ore, after visit of s,me
weeks in Southern California. His views
on the harbor question are by no means
the least valuable feature of tn > commu1i-
cation, which is here presented in full:
The writer has just returned from trip
to Southern California, includ ng Los An
geles and San Pedro. During my stay in
that country found the climate all that
could be desired. Los Angeles is a most
beautiful city, where one sees tropical
plants and tiowe~s in great variety and
profuson on all sides-a paradise.
pleasant ride of fortv-fiv, minutes
through orange groves and green fields,
pas pretty villages, brings us to the port
OF San Pedro, which is on the coast. %
miles from Los Angeles by rail. 1t is $50
miles from San Francisco and 80 miles
from Point Iona at the entrance of San
Diego harbor. San Pedro is quaint little
old town, where quiet reigns supreme at
present. The place undoubtedly has a
grea' future as a shipping and distributing
point.
The government has constructed a break
water from Rattlesnake island to Dead
Mans island; substa antial stone work,
which forms the harbor of San Pedro, the
dimensions of which are about one and
half miles long by little over a quarter of
mile wide, with depth of water on the
bar and in the harbor of nineteen feet at
average high 'ide. There is ample wharf
age room on each side of the harbor, inn
mense lumber yards extending the whole
length of the town. Vessels lie at the
whBrves perfectly secure in all kinds of
weather. the harbor being as smooth as a
mill pond.
In case of requirement the harbor may
be enlarged to almost any extent by dredg-
ing the marsh which lies between san
Pedro and Wilmington. This marsh is
submerged at high tide and would be COM
paratively easy dredging. Rattlesnake
island on one side and the mainland on the
other side of the haroor offer every tacil-
ity for ship yards, docks, warehouses and
manufacturing establishments, and for
building city, or for any purpose required
by growing and popuious town.
An appropriation of about 100000
would make twenty-five feet of water on
the bar and in the harbor, which would
probably be ample for the requirements of
the place for some years to come.
1t is not unusual to see ten or fifteen
large lumber vessels lying at the dock. A
large fleet is constantly employed in the
lumber trade between San Pedro and the
northern lumber ports. This port is the
base of supply in this line for Southern
California ana Arizona.
Point Firmn forms a sheltered road
stead, where large ships anchor in COM
parative safety wi any wind except from
the south and sou;heasterly. An outer har-
Dor is contemplated by the government,
but it is thought that the inner harhor and
bay should first be deepened and enlarged,
so that any ship upon arrival could be
towed il and docked; an outer harbor
could be constructed later if necessary.
The natural advantages for seaport
and watering place are unsurpassed. Inc
place is unequaled for bathing, boating
and fishing; the climate is delightful, and
there is no healthier spot on earth.
On the bluff, back of the wharves, there
is offered one of the most superb localities
on this coast for residences, hotels fine
grounds, etc. The place is comparatively
level. requiring little grading to make good
streets. The tow could be easily severed,
having all the natural advantages.
1t is marvel TO all strangers visiting the
place, why it has not been taken in hand
by wealthy men and fed out OF the OBJ
scurty which seems always to have been
it's lot. Property is held at a very reason
able price, and The place is really a good
field for investment, for it is destined to
come to the front in the near future.
The Los Angeles Terminal railroad runs
down to the end of Rattlesnake island, now
Terminal island, where the company has
fine docks, warehouse and station. This
company lS u ITlouO 10 tIle ltttie DOrt.
The Southern Pacific railroad owns the
whole frontage to the town; its tracks
extend along the water side onto a long
whaLf, where it has warehouses and sta.
ton.
San Pedro will be the port for Los Ange-
les and its large tributary country. In re-
gard to the relative merits of the two
places, San Pedro and Santa Monica, as
harbors, and the expediency of the govern
ment apprOpriating money for making inn
provements at one of these places, there
should be no question in the minds of dis
interested and competent judges United
States engineers and nature have decided
in favor of San Pedro, and notw ithstand-
ing the fact that she has "A powerful enemy
to contest her claims, San Pedro will even
tually triumph.
Engineers merely made their recom-
mendation when they chose San Pedro.
The 100000 or $500 900 necessary to be
expended at San Pedro would make
most excellent harbor, capable of holding
large fleet of vessels, while it would cost
several millions of dollars to build break
watel at Santa Monica or what is called
Port Los Angeles; then it would not be
safe harbOr as it is an open bay. / notice
that long wharf has been built by the
Southern Pacific railroad at Port Los An
geles for vessels to lay 9longside and dis
charge their cargoes, and am informed
by several captains of vessels who have
discharged caTgOes there tnat tney are
obliged to haul their vessels off to anchor
when there is heavy sea, causing great
deal of delay. ! learn further that the
teredo soon destroy the pling at Santa
Monica, thus causing enormous expense to
keep the wharf in repair.
The writer has visited nearly all the
large seaports of the world, not only once
but several times, and therefore considers
himself qualified to judge from experience
what constitutes good harhor, and from
his personal observation Santa Monica
bears no comparison with San Pedro, and