The herald., 1896-12-24
IN ABLE APPEAL FOR san PEDRO HARBOR|

waiting orders. On the 25th of November
there was heavy gale In the Santa Bar
bara channel, but the sea was calm when
he reached Santa Monica.
He has landed at Oakland pier many
times; had been there in summer gales,
when there was only a slight motion OF
the water; it is much heavier at Port Los
Angeles. He had also experienced con-
siderable current at the latter place
setting either up or down, there being nc
regularity about it, He had anchored
there with thirty fathoms of chain.
The holding ground is excellent when
the anchor enters tho hard clay it is
difficult to pull it out.
MIR. HOOD ONCE MORE
Prof. Burr desiring more information
about Mr.. Huntington's plat of land be-
tween Santa Monica canyon and the
shore end of the wharf, recalled Mr..
Hood. This land used to extend, Mr..
Hood said, to the high water line, the
same as ownerships on Santa Monica
bay. The ground occupied by the rail-
road is one hundred feet wide. The right
of way extends from the high water
line to the bluff. Should aceretions oc-
cur from the extensive filings, mention
ed by Mr.. Hood in case the breakwater is
built, they would probably be the prop
erty of the owners of the land. The
length of the frontage from the easterly
limit to the end of the wharf is two
thousand feet.
The limit is on the hill side and forms
the westerly side of the canyon, in
cluding none of the canyon whatsoever.
the boundary lines being up on the
slope. The canyon has been hooked over
very carefully for information, but no
instrumental survey has been made.
Concerning the illusions to the tunnel,
heard so frequently. as the only ap-
proach to the wharf, Mr.. Hood is wholly
at a loss to understand. The tunnel Is
perfectly ridiculous and should not have
been made. except out of considerat ton
to the people of Santa Monica, who pre-
ferred it to an open cut and bridges.
There Is no difficulty whatever in build
ing other tunnels. There is plenty of
room to the northward for other tunnels
and cuts. II new road were built
down Santa Monica canyon an eighty
foot grade could be obtained. 1t is the
intention of the company to make ex-
tensive fills If the breakwater is built,
simply to give patrons plenty of room for
business purposes; the filled ground then
would be more convenient than any
other existing.
Replying to a question, Mr.. Hood
thought this new land would belong to
the riparian owner, but the riparian
owner is the Southern Pacific company:
very cordial. daughter.) The company's
right Of way is not in fee simple; they
can discontinue, though the speaker
does not profess to remember. as this
can be verified by the county records.
Admiral Walker here said if any one
present desired to say anything further
for Santa Monica they could now be
heard. Judge Widney replied that he
desired to speak in rebuttal after the
evidence is all in, but did not wish to in
troduce any new evidence.
CROSS SCENE.
Mr.. Cross said he was not a friend Of
either railroad company but as busi-
ness man of Los Angeles it was his
judgment that the deep sea harbor
should be built at Santa Monica
At this assertion a loud hiss was heard
in the audience, at which the admiral
eternly admonished the spectators to
keep silent or the room must be cleared.
Mr. Cross. continuing, thought it for the
best interests of the future of this city
that the harbor should be erected at
Santa Monica.
SAN PEDRO'S CASE.
Admiral Walker requested the advo-
Gates of San Pedro to take the floor. Mr.
John F. Francis rose and said he rep
resented the Free Harbor league, an
organization formed solely for the pur-
pose of advocating the merits of San
Pedro as the site for deep sea harbor.
Their opinions were governed by those
Of disinterested government engineers.
Mr. Francis then introduced Mr.. Henry
Hawgood, who would take charge of the
interests of San Pedro
Mr.. Hawgood prefaced his remarks
by reading the following Washington
dispatch to the San Francisco Exam
iner:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-It Is evil
dent that the San Pedro harbor question
is becoming interesting. Today SEN
a tor White received dispatch from Los
Angeles, which reads:
Corthell today presented to the har-
Dor board a letter from Senator Frye, in
which he, writing as chairman of the
commerce committee, states that it was
, the intention in framing the law under
which the board was appointed to alb
solutely exclude all consideration of the
inner harbor at San Pedro, in deciding
the matter of deep water harbor, that
it was intensed that a deep water har
Dor should be located without reference
to San Pedro's inner harbor at all, and
that the harbor should have no effect on
or be considered in connection with the
deep water harbor matter. What is the
situation?
senator w Hlle TeplleQ.
John F. Francis, President of Free
Harbor League, Los Angeles, CAL:
Have been informed that Corthell claims
that he is in possession of a statement
from a member of the commerce COM
mittee to the effect that the board was
appointed as to require the absolute
exclusion of all onsideration of the
inner harbor at San Pedro. Such an as
sumption is unwarranted and is in har-
Wit hn nj fcr1O
which has throughout characterized
that side of the controversy. The stat
ute will govern the commission and the
gentlemen composing it will undopbt-
edly follow the requirements of the riv-
er and harbor bill, which demand the
location of the harbor at a most desir-
able point. If the inner harbor consti-
tutes the determinative element in solv
ing the matter of eligibility. there is no
law requiring the board to exclude this
important factor. The requirements of
the situation imperatively necessitate
a beneficial location. and this involves
the consideration of all circumstances,
be they great or small. No letter from
amy senator or congressman can define
! or limit the duty of the board. No die
tation from any source, near or remote,
can legitimately prevent the fixing of
! the Improvement at most suitable
place. The act of congress does not de-
mand or permit exclusion of those ad-
vantages which the Almighty has ac-
| corded without consultation with the
| Southern Pacific.
Mr. Hawgood referred to Gen. Craig
| hill as an authority on harbors and read
some extracts on the subject. The rail-