The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-17
Do NOT FAVOR
SANTA MONICA
Coast Sea Captains Condemn
the Proposed Southern
Harbor.
The British Wheat Ship Will
Fly the German
Flag.
Sale of the Y ON ana Well.Known
Eureka Ship.Builder Is in
the CITY.

Santa Monica as harbor is condemned
by five eighths of the captains who trade
on the coast. They assert that no matter
what improvements are made it will
always be dangerous on account of the
undertow. No vessel that ties up at any
of the wharves would be able to carry a
hawser strong enough to hold her during
a gale, and in consequence every vessel
that is at anchor there puts to sea when
a storm is approaching, so they say.
Yesterday about dozen captains were
discussing the question ON East street.
They argued the question pro and con,
but the sentiments OF all were finally
voiced by Captain Swan of the bark Theo-
bald "Santa Monica and Callao are
almost Identical in regard to their situa-
ton" said he. "Callao has been made
into a safe harhor in ordinary weather,
but in storm no hawser that has ever
been made could hold q ship. The under
tow is enormous, and it takes vessels
where it will.
'Callao is inclosed by breakwaters on
all sides and the narrow entrance is from
the north. AS a general rule it may be
safe to lie there, but as harbor of refuge
it is a good place for captains to keep
away from. In order to make sure that
ship captains make no mistake in regard
to mooring lines the man We would call
chief wharfnger supplies every ship with
hawsers and has force of men at work
whose only duty 1t is to see that the vessel
is securely fastened and that the lines do
not part.
Santa Monica is similar to Callao. at
the former place a 15-inch ilawser would
snap like a pipestem when a gale was
blowing. They can build as many break
waters as they please, but the undertow
will still remain. As harbor of refuge it
would be worse than useless, and | for one
would never make Tor it.
"San Pedro can be made into seaport,
and at far less expense than Santa Monica.
At San Pedro the undertow can be re-
duced to minimum, and therefore the
dangers of Callao and Santa Monica would
be obviated."
The British ship California was sold in
England recently for 1880 TO r. M.
Stoman 81 Co. OF Hamburg and will in
future fly the German fla. She was we'll
known in the wheat trade and on her last
trip here $75, 600 was offered for her. The
owners-the White Star Hne-asked
100000. so no bargain was made. Then
the California was loaded ION owners ac-
count" and just before she was ready to
sail wheat took jump.
George w. McNear offered a SIS, 900
premium for the cargo and 25s charter
for the ship, but this offer was refused
When the California reached Liverpool
the grain merchants boy cotted her, as
Captain Blair sold under market rates In
spite.ot the opposition the cargo sold like
wlldfire, and the company cleared $4,000
on the venture. The California was the
last OF tine sailing fleet owned by the
White Star line.
The British Yeoman, well known in
San Francisco, was sold to James Taylor
of Liverpool for f7750 at the same time as
tnr California. The British ,Yeoman is an
old-timer, while the California is a mod
ern ship and one OF the finest of her class
h d. Bendixsen. the wcll-known ship
builder, is down from Eureka. His yards
are closed down for the winter and he will
remain in San Francisco until the new
steamer Hum boldt has her trial. During
the past season Beudixsen has built and
equipped the Albert Meyer, now at Santa
Rosalia, whence she will 90 to Honolulu
to load for San Francisco; the Meta Mel