The herald., 1896-04-04
FOR A HARBOR
A Petition Being Signed by Almost Every.
one-Cail for Mass Meeting

~ Tcbitiou DeInR SiRueu Oy ALMOST EVetys
one-Cail for Mass Meeting
The following petition, dated Los An
geles. April 9, 1896, has been prepared
and is being nurnerously signed:
Whereas, The congressional committee
had agreed to recommend an appropria-
ton of $390,OOO for the improvement of
San Pedro harbor and 100000 for the
improvement of Santa Monica harbor and
Whereas. These appropriations would
be followed by the further appropriation of
some $5,O0O,0OO more to complete the
work, with large additional sums for forti-
fication of said harbors against foreign
foes in case of war; and .-
Whereas, In case Santa Monica is not
improved and fortified as we'll as San
Pedro, this city and Southern California
would be helplessly exposed to the land
ing of military enemies and attacks from
that point; and
Whereas, The improvement of Santa
Monica would necessarily result in the
Southern Pacific and other railroads ex-
pending many millions of dollars to secure
large ocean and Asiatic commerce, all OF
which expenditures would be in the direct
interests of the laborfng, producing and
business classes, and would be the founda-
ton OF making Los Angeles one of the
great commercial metropolises of the Pa
cif1c coast; and
Whereas, This part of Southern Califor-
MIA is the most accessible point on the coast
for transcontinental railroads, being free
from heavy mountain grades and heavy
SHOWS; and
Whereas, The proposed improvement of
both harbors would give competing priv
ileges to such transcontinental roads, and
would permanently build up the perma-
nent prosperity of Southern California into
an empire and
Whereas. Local opposition to the inn
r1rOvomont Of Santa Mor;ca has roc,rIto1 II,
reducing the contemplated appropriation
of $49O,00O to the insignificant sum of
$4,000 and has endangered the great fu-
ture prosperity of the community at large
and
Whereas, The undersigned believe that
ingly in favor of the entire appropriation
of the 100000 and the full development t
of both harbors, we request that a public
mass meeting be called at an early day 10
ootain the favorable endorsement of the
entire appropriation.
An impromptu meeting of The Free
Harbor league was held late yesterday
afternoon. at which a number of speakers
voiced their sentiments upon the situation.
Finally telegram was agreed upon and
the same sent to Congressman McLachlan.
1t reads as follows:
Your telegram to President Patterson
shown to the league. The people of Los
Angeles have already passed upon the har-
Dor question, deciding emphatcally in
favor OF San Pedro. We oppose all at
tempts to depart from the public will thus
expressed and reafi1rm our adherence to
the government site which has been ar.
proved by it's engineers. The overture
made is a delusion. If you will oppose tine
double scheme and work in the open house
for both appropriations for San Pedro you
will meet the popular wish and fulfill
pledges.
A mass meeting is called for Tuesday
evening at some place to be later decided
upon. The leaders of local organized labor
are emphatically against the Santa Mnica
proposition.
Resolutions will be presented to the
chamber of commerce directors at their
regular meeting on Wednesday next by
II. M. Widney and others touching con-
gressional action on the free harbor ques
ton, which will be referred to the appro-
pirate committee and which, after prompt
action, will be legally referred to special
meeting of the directors for disposal.