The herald., 1897-04-04
He Believes the HarbOr
Matter Is Settled
HUNTINGTON WORKS FRYE
THE DELAY CAusEn ny MS
REPRESENTATION
Building of the Salt Lake Road Will
Probably Be Coincident With the
Commencement of the Harbor

Hon. T. e. Gibbon, vice-president OF
the Los Angeles Terminal railway, has
just returned to the city after business
trip of months duration in the east.
Mr. Gibbon spent several days in Wash
ington and while there looked very thor
oughly into the status Of the Sam Pedro
harbor question, and reached the bottom
facts. Seen by a Herald representative
last night in regard to this question. 20
momentous to the people of Southern
California, Mr.. Gibbon said:
There is no doubt Mr.. Huntington is
using every effort possible to defeat San
Pedro harbor. Senator Frye is in many
ways delaying the work. by inducing
the secretary of war to refuse to carry
out the proposed plans of the committee
with reference to the construction of the
deep water harbor at the place selected
by the board appointed for this purpose.
In his efforts Mr.. Huntington has even
claimed the report was void because the
board exceeded its authority in consider
ing at all the advantages of deep water
harbor located at San Pedro, accruing
through the presence Of the inner har-
Dor.
"The board laid in its report consid-s
erable stress on the advantages to COM
merce the inner harbor afforded, by Of
fering facilities for repair docks,
wharves, etc. Mr.. Huntington and his
friends have also assured the secretary
Of war, that 1t will cost great deal more
than the available appropriation to con-
etruct the harbor as designed at San
Pedro. To this the San Pedro friends
have simply replied Advertise for the
bids according to the specifications made
by the board, and se If bid will not be
made by a responsible party, to do the
work within the amount OF the appro-
priation.
IT may say" added Mr.. Gibbon. with
much emphasis, that know personally
Of at least one firm of harbor builders,
probably the largest and most reepon-
sible in the United States, and doing
millions of dollars worth Of work, who
have expressed desire to make bid. of
even a lower sum than is allowed for
the work by the appropriation. I be-
lieve that the representations made to
the secretary Of war by the senators and
able men of California will prevent that
official from allowing himself to be used
by Mr.. Huntington or his agents.
while in Washington I talked with
many public men, newspaper men and
OlneTS Ol lHc dtlcilPt tHdqc NY MI .
Huntington to delay this work. and the
universal expression was that should he
succeed 1t would amount to national
scandal, involving every public man
connected with 1t. This seems to me so
plain" added Mr.. Gibbon, "that think
no man in public life can afford to be-
come a party to such an outrage on the
people Of the Pacific coast. I should,
however, make an exception of Senator
Frye, whose action in this matter has
been absolutely inconsistent. His fidel-
ity to Mr.. Huntington is more important
to him than the opinion Of the people of
the whole Pacific coast or any who are
cognizant of this question. There will
probably be some delay in the begin
ming of the work Of the harbor, owing to
the going in of new secretary Of war
at this time and the organization of his
administration Of the department, but
I cannot believe that the delay will be
more than temporary"
THE SALT LAKE ROAD
"Of the Salt Lake road" said Mr. Glib
bon, II may say 1t Is being considered
by a number of parties and companies
who have interests to be advanced by
the construction of that line. 1t is not yet
certain what company will attempt to
build it, but feel sure there will be
development of that matter shortly after
the beginning of the work on the harbor
The company 1 represent anticipates
investing a considerable sum and do
ing much to improve its terminal facil-
tiles, and extending it's lines leading out
of Los Angeles"
In the east Mr. Gibbon says, he found
generally increasing confidence in
business circles. He talked with many
bankers, and without exception they all
expressed themselves as believing the
worst Of the trouble was over. In many
lines of manufacturing the good times
are already felt Probably the best evil
dence that the immediate future holds
out hope Is that the banks are offering
money at easier rates than for some time
previous.
but we do not feel on this coast the
hard times at all as the east does, and, .
Mr.. Gfbbon said with smile. Il am'very
glad to get home again. Los Angeles is
far ahead Of anything l saw while away.
I am always glad to get back after such
q trip"