The herald., 1897-08-22
Chairman of the River and
Harbor Committee
ON A VISIT OF INSPECTION
AT BOTH SAN PEDRO AND
SANTA MONICA
Chamber of Commerce and Free Har-
Dor League Are Anxious to Meet
Him-White's Open Letter

Congressman Warren B. Hooker,
chairman of the committee of the house
on rivers and harbors, has been in
eight hours and has done quite bit Of
sightseeing in that time. His move
ments have been somewhat clothed with
mystery; in fact he has hitherto eluded
everybody that was looking for him.
A private dispatch from San Francisco
reached The Herald Friday evening say
ing that the congressman was at Monte
rey, and was expected to return to San
Francisco Saturday. The dispatch,
however, allowed that "he may go
south" He had already gone, and, in
deed, had arrived in Los Angeles Friday
afternoon.
Instead, however, of going to the Van
Nuys hotel, where long dispatch was
waiting for him, Mr.. Hooker preserved
his incognito and went straight off to
San Pedro, where he remained during
the night. Yesterday he made the trip
to Catalina on the steamer HermOsa.
During the trip he talked with Capt.
Kresethen of the Hermosa, who pointed
out to him the proposed site of the break
water, and explained the currents, tides,
etc. Capt. Kresethen commanded the
boat that carried Admiral Walker and
the harbor board of engineers when the
expert investigation was made. Mr.
Hooker returned to Terminal island, and
he at once embarked in a row boat and
was rowed around the inner harbor and
out to the breakwater. No one, how
ever seems to have discovered his iden
tity at San Pedro. In the evening Mr..
Hooker departed as quietly as he came,
and is now at Santa Monica.
RECEPTION
Secretary Frank Virgins has issued
an invitation to a reception to be held
at the chamber of commerce, which reads
as follows:
A reception to the Hon. Warren B.
Hooker. chairman of the rivers and harbors
committee of the house, will be given a. the
chamber of commerce Monday evening at
o'clock Everybody interested in the
harbor matter is invited to be on hand.
FRANK WIGGINS.
The Free Harbor League has also is
sued the following notice:
All members of the Free Harbor league
are specially requested to be at the cham
ber of commerce on Monday morning,
promptly at o'clock, to participate in the
reception to Hon. w. B. Hooker, chairman
of the rivers and harbors committee of the
house of representatives. who is on this
coast making personal investigation into
harbor matters. The event is important
Let there be full attendance.
H. G. OTIS, President.
WD. wOOLwINE, Secretary.
AN OPEN LETTER
Senator White has written the follow
ing open letter, which will be sent to
Mr.. Hooker this morning by special mes
senger:
LOS ANGELES, Aug. %.
Hon. Warren B. Hooker-Dear Sir: have
been anxiously awaiting your arrival here
today, and the business people of this city
are looking to you as leading member of
congress, having control of harbor, as well
as river matters. This is the second city
of California, and the increase of business
and wealth has justified extraordinary in
terest in our progress Do me the favor
of early advice as to your location. Peo-
pie who are adverse to the advancement of
our interests anticipate that you will not
meet us. There is no more active COM
munity In California and l hope that you
will not leave here without meeting the
representative people of this city. Do not
leave us without chance for fair hear
ing. Stay until Monday night. You can't
comprehend the situation earlier.
STEPHEN NJ WHITE.
This morning Senator White, Col. H.
G. Otis, Hon. H. T. Gage and w. C. Pat
terson will probably go to Santa Monica
to call upon the congressman from New
York.