The herald., 1896-06-03
TO THE EDITOR
(The Herald under this heading prints
communications but does not assume re-
sponsibility TOR the sentiments eXpressed.)
The Harbor Matter
(To the Editor of The Herald.)

MONROV1A, Cal, May 24.-It does
not seem to the writer that the harbor
matter is at all settled as yet The at
tempt of the Southern Pacific company
to have legali2ed one of the most gigan-
tic robberies of the American treasury
through an appropriation for a harbor
at Santa Monica beats anything of mod
ern times. 1t is not bay in any sense
of the word, but the most open road
stead on the Pacific coast. The writer
has been acquainted with the place
since the year 1858. The bay so-called
may be represented fairly in shape bv
the appearance of a half moon, between
the outer points of which are distant
seventy mile and sixty fathoms of
water, and any place inside that may
be selected to build breakwater that
would accommodate any probable
amount of shipping. or vessels, would re-
quire the expenditure of large sums of
money. This fact is we'll understood by
the intended grabber, for it is noticeable
by the wording of the intended steal
for continuous construction). This
phrase is calculated to cover appropria-
tions of years and years to come, un-
til perhaps a hundred may be swal-
lowed up in Santa Monica water. Well,
now, let me ask in all confidence, who
or what company can undertake such
StupenduouS construction. except Hunt
lnStOn ~ SO., anu WITH tIe experience
of the people of the Pacific coast and
more especially of Oakland. are we will
ing for another fight of the same kind?
or would we not better have our deep
water harbor where nature and the
creator nearly completed the work for
man (San Pedro)?
In this connection 1 may mention
an incident in the conversation among
the visiting statesmen of which Senator
Frye. Huntington's man Friday, was
then chief fugle man. He remarked
as he stood upon the bluffs looking out
on the waters with the dignity of an ex
pert and astute gaZer, all the way from
the state of the pine tree, after being
met at Ogden by Huntington's private
car. escorted by trusted employees and
owners of the octopus road. wined and
dined. escorted and chaperoned whith
ersoever he and his senatorial junketers
were allowed to drift in Southern Cal
ifornia, when asked if he did
not think it a good place to make har-
bor God had done nothing but furnish
water for the place." for which express
ion he made some sort of an apology.
Seeing perchance that his rations of
freedom and luncheons and paps be-
tween cities. towns and mountains might
become limited. Can any man tell, out
side of Senator Frye (so-called) or Hunt
ington what has caused this great
change in the great watchdog on the
towers of the capitol of America, who
so vigorously guards the vaults Of the
peoples treasury. Echo answers Who?
and the people out here are not very
complimentary as to what caused the
change.
The fact that Santa Monica is no place
for the construction of a harbor without
the expenditure of untold millions of
the peoples money, and this fact was
we'll understood when the bill was drawn
(xt-;t StrIlrfiOn) }. If Hunt
ington and his champions in congress
had the power to lift the island of Santa
Catalina and place it in the offing OF
Santa Monica, then we would nave a
harbor, and never will without some
such superhuman effort, at Santa
Monica.
1t seems to an uninterested observer
that to contemplate such a scheme is a
| travesty on justice, traVesty upon the
| virtue of our congress OF the Onlteu
States, when by the expenditure OF
very few millions a complete harbor can
be completed at San Pedro that would
be open to all roads desiring to do busi-
ness there, and has been so decided and
recommended by all government engi-
neers
Now then, after all these surveys and
decisions, what is the use of another
commission to be tampered with by the
influences that has brought about the
present complications, and pray let me
ask what was the congressman from
this district doing when the committee
on rivers and harbors were Matching
out this nasty egg? Perhaps he was
hedging from his celebrated speech after
his nomination wherein he SERVED no.
tice on the Southern Pacific that he was
for San Pedro Is he now? Does he so
understand Lindleys instructions at the
Sacramento convention? Senator Frye
said in his closing remarks when the
river and harbor bill was put upon it's
passage that he understood those in
structions to be to vote for all the appro-
priations in sight. that for Huntington
in particular, or in other words to be
like the man who had applied for a
school in some of the New England
states, when being asked where he was
born, answered that he was born in
Cape Cod, Nantucket and all along the
shore.
How is McLachlan disporting him
self now? For the people who sent him
to congress as their servant or is he
playing mum? Mum no doubt is the
word. for I have no doubt he is fully
aware of the circular which was sent TO
every station in this congressional dis
trict instructing the agents to attend
the primaries in their several places
and vote for and use their influences
for McLachlan ard Santa Monica.
| McLachlan is strictly the Southern
Pacific candidate and not the peoples.
and if elected will be in duty bound
| hand and foot to do his work for that
| company. 1t seems to me that / have
some faint recollection of scenes and
turbulence in the years 80. SO and "a
when men shuffled off the coil that
bound them to life and frequently did
| it before breakfast in the interest of
| economy. but those days are past and it
is to be hoped never to return. We de-
| pend now upon equal and exact justice
to all men and exclusive privileges to
none. Yours for the right,
| w. w. WHITAKER.
Things to Be Remembered
(To the Editor of The Herald.)
| ASUZA, Cal, May 2J.-Our earth