The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-27

he sought to supply crew TO ship of
the Long wharf The weather was bad,
and he was compelled after trial to take
his men by sail back to San Pedro. He
was informed then at Santa Monica that
he could not land his men at Port Los
Angeles, even after they had arrived
there. Captain Dornfeld, Southern Pa
citic Harbor Master at Santa Monica, in
formed him that he could not with safety
put his crew on the vessel they were to
man. All this occurred last April. In
May there was trouble in returning to
shore after having landed crew for the
ship Charles f. Moody.
Mr.. Hood sought to show that the men,
bers of the crew first referred to by the
witness were too drunk to be taken on
board the ship to which they were con-
signed, but this the witness denied. He
had never had any trouble loading men at
San Pedro's outer harbor.
L. H. Winter said he was a seaman and
had been for years. He gave his expert
ence in attem pting to deliver the crew on
board the Fernbank, to which the preced-
ing witness referred. When the start was
made from San Pedro the wind was from
the west. When they got around Point
Firmin and into Santa Monica Bay the
sea became heavy. He would not attempt
TO go to the Fern bank or up to the wharf,
so he put back. To his surprise when he
got around Point Firmin again the sea at
San Pedro was comparatively smooth.
Being in calm water he hoisted all sail
and got back safely. He said he had been
in Santa Monica during a dead calm and
the tide and swell had been so heavy as
to threaten his vessels destruction. The
swell at San Pedro was always less than
at Santa Monica This was due to the
protection afforded the former place.
j. S. Jones OF Long Beach said he was a
wood and coal dealer. He referred to the
large amount of coal gathered upon the
beach. Enough had drifted in at times to
seriously affect his business. Jones said
he was an out-and-out landlubber, and
knew nothing about sea currents. The
coal might have been sent ashore by waves
or by currents. All he could swear to was
the presence of coal on the beach and how
it cut into his cash receipts.
w. G. Patterson, president of the Cham
Der CT Commerce.. was 1ntroo uced to the
commission. He said he had taken great
deal OF interest in this harbor question,
and so far as he was concerned there was
no personal feeling in the matter. He
bore no i'll will toward the Southern Pa
cific Company. He had done great deal
of business with that company, and their
relations were always pleasant. Mr.. Pat
terson said that practically all of the bust
ness men of Los Angeles were in favor of
San PEDRO. All the bankers of the city,
save one, had signed a petition favorable
to San Pedro. Similar sentiment pre-
vailed in Pomona, Redlands and other
nearby towns.
Mr. Patterson intimated that the South
ern Pacific would monopolize the business
at Santa Monica should deep harbor be
located there. On the other hand, II San
Pedro were selected, business would be
open to other roads and to the world
Mr.. patterson said monopoly could not
be prevented at Santa Monica. He re-
ferred 10 the prospects for new railroads
and the increasing Oriental trade, all
pointing to the necessity of a free barber
on the Los Angeles coast. 1t was his
opinion that an outer harbor could be
built and maintained at San Pedro to bet
ter advantage than at Santa Monica.
Mr.. Patterson did not supply any sci
entitic data to back up his preference for
San Pedro. No reference was made to
tides, swells, winds or drifting sand. His
was simply an expression OF opinion from
the standpoi of commercial people that
the public at large would get better
show" at San Pedro than at Santa Monica.
The last person to address the commits
sion to-day was Engineer Moore of the
Terminal Railroad. He read carefully
prepared paper. He was firmly convinced
that San Pedro was the proper site tor a
deep-water harbor The speaker referred
to the great land protection afforded that
bay. The quarter to which San PEDRO was
exposed to the wind was the quarter from
which the least percentage or wind blew.
In other words, San Pedro was already a
natural harbor of refuge. Scores OF emf
nent en- ineers had favorabiy commented
on the excellence of San Pedro's harbor.
Professor Mendall was quoted as being
! favora bly, impressed with San Pedro as a
harbor site. Government engineers were
quoted as also favoring San Pedro. The
natural protection afforded San Pedro
could not be duplicated by an artificial
harbor at Santa Monica.