The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-21
SECRETARY ALGER TELLS WHY
He Is Not Scooping Out That Deepwater
a.. Harbor at Los Angeles

a.: Harbor at Los AM, eies.
Washington, May 20-Secretary Al
ser has made response to the senate res
olution calling for what has been or is
about 10 be done with reference to max
ing contracts for the improvement of
San Pedro Harbor, California.
The secretary submits the whole SUBJ
ject to congress for further instruction
as to its purpose-whether 10 create SIM
ply harbor Of refuge or one Of refuge
and commerce. The secretary cites the
action of the Walker board in deciding
TO expend al Of the appropriation of ST.
$4,000 upon a breakwater, and then
states his position as follows:
The department has had many impa-
tient Inquiries as to when the work will
be advertised, and while there is no dis
position to retard the matter a day, the
difficulty is always the same, l. e., What
was the intention of congress when 1t
made this appropriation? The report
shows clearly that the entire appropria-
ton and more will be required for the
breakwater, and to make a harbor for
commerce large additional sums will be
required, the exact amount of which is
largely conjecture, on account OF there
being the possibility of rock to exca-
vate instead OF silt or sand, but taking
for granted that no rock exists, the chief
engineer has, by my direction. and from
all information there is in the depart
ment, made two approximate estimates
for completing the harbor for commerce
according TO the plans suggested by the
board. 1t is believed by me that a har-
Dor covering 800 acres, or half a mile
by mile in area-wnere ships can be
lowed in. raoered, lowed from one dock
TO another. winded or turned around,
etc.-would be the least that could be
considered.
First estimate: Based on report OF
board. deepening channel 10 inner har-
boz, 20 thirty feet, with width OF 400 feet.
and construction Of two suitably de-
signed timber piers. located a safe dis
lance on either side OF the jetty en-
trance, carried our TO the five-fa,hom
curve to accommodate vessels whose
draught would prevent their entrance 20
the inner hsroor, TO be used during com
=
Dor; dredging from Central channel 10
piers 10 thirty feet dep,h-four,een thou
sand feet Of bul,xhead for wharfage. 81
$4,000; COS; o: breakva;er. sa,901,7S.-
total. s5.SS0.7S7
This plan has the objectionable fea-
;ure OF the destruction OF the piles by
the torpedo unless creosoted. besides the
disadvantage Of its grea; exposure -
fire. in case Of these wharves. where
Snes run upon them.
The second plan is 10 dredge into the
lagoon and excava,e a space OF practi-
cal,y $50 acres. a hait mile by mile in
area. and here the estimate is largely
suess-work- An estimate has been msds
10 give 80 tesc Of water for this area
where an average Gu; OF - feet will be
required. and Cor This inner hsrao-. with
ne dredging % the channel into The
same. TIE estimate Is se.I7seao. ,osr ~
o7eakwater s2.sel.7s7. making the total
cost Tor oreakSatsr and inner harbor
Ss.l'S.ae3 The question is. shall the ex-
Fsndisure % $500. coo be made for he
5rezkwa1er or ha-bor % refuge. leaving
the haroor for commerce for future ex-
change and appropriation. From nv
constitution Of the law have no: felt
Justified In commencing the work with
ont fully understanding what was 10.
intent ~ congress when The Law was n.
acied- | hope such instructions wil he
given as shan leave 10 do2b. as 70 what
The duties Of the va. department are
in the mat.eE-.|