The herald., 1897-09-12
Visiting Congressman See
the Peoples Harbor
PLEASED AND INSTRUCTED
BUT DECLINE TO EXPRESS AN
OPINION ON THE SUBJECT
Will See Santa Monica Monday-1n-
cidents Of the Catalina Trip.
MT. Lowe Excursion Today

Whatever general knowledge Of the
San Pedro harbor question the several
members Of congress, who are with the
West Virginia party now visiting the
city, may have lacked, and whatever
doubts they may have had Of what are
the desires Of the representative men of
the city and the business men Of all
classes In the harbor matter, were GER
tainly removed yesterday. Accompanied
by committee which was thoroughly
conversant with the entire harbor ques-
ton, the congre ssmen were taken over
the site Of the proposed improvement
and shown just what is contemplated
At the same time, as we'll as before and
since, they have been approached upon
this subject by almost every business
man Of the city whom they have met
and there is no doubt that they have be-
fore this marked the unanimity Of senti
ment prevailing in favor Of the location
of a deep-water harbor at San Pedro and
the opposition to such a harbor being
constructed at Santa Monica or else
where.
upon whose votes and influnece the en-
tire matter may depend later, have not
as yet visited Santa Monica and there
fore know nothing of the nature Of the
bay there or the differences between the
two places, most favorable impression
has been made upon them in favor of the
San. Pedro improvement. 1t can not be
expected that they would commit them
1ni,, tn fovy nf
until they have seen both. It is certain
that the committee which had the in
spection of the San Pedro harbor in
charge yesterday did some of the best
work that has yet been done for that
place and Its harbor.
Ever since it was known that the party
was to visit Los Angeles preparations
for impartially showing them just what
the people desire in the matter of har-
Dor have been carefully made by the
chamber Of commerce and other kindred
bodies Of this city. 1t was decided to
place the visiting congressman in pos
session Of all the facts in the matter and
at the same time give them thorough
knowledge of the physical conditions of
both harbors. AS soon as the visitors
arrived an engagement was made with
the members of congress accompanying
them to inspect San Pedro harbor yes
terday morning upon their return from
Avalon. Promptly at o'clock yesterday
mornings special train which had been
placed at the disposal of the committee
steamed out of the Terminal depot for
San Pedro. s,,
The committee was composed of
Messrs. T. E. Gibbon, w. E. Hughes, G.
J. Griffith. A. M Stephens. E. F. G.
Klokke and H. Hawgood, the latter an
expert engineer who Is familiar with all
the details Of the harbor work. The
party went equipped with all the maps
of the San Pedro harbor that have been
issued, including a number printed pri-
vately in addition to those issued by the
government. They also took with them
all the reports of the several boards of
survey who have been at work there un-
der the direction Of the government. AS
1t was feared that the steamer from Av-
alon would arrive early the special train
was given the right Of the road, and the
run to San Pedro was made with only
one stop. When the train stopped at the
Terminal depot there, the Hermosa, with
the congressional party aboard, Was
sighted about three miles out.
The steamer Falcon had been en-
gagged for the purpose Of taking the Wis
itors over the site Of the proposed i'm
provements, and before the Hermosa
passed into the harbor the Falcon was
moored near where the party would dis
embark Several hundred passengers
crowded the rail Of the dermosa as she
approached her moorings, but only
few Of them were members Of the West
Virginia party. Most of the others
were Native Sons and their friends who
had been at Catalina since the Admis-
sion day festivities. The colorless
faces Of dozens Of them bespoke either
rough water outside the bar or general
good time at Catalina. with few hours
devoted to sleep. The Native Sons de-
clared it was the former, but the con-
Kressmen asserted that they had seen
no rough water, and quietly limited that
that pallor originated in the good time
they had had. No one told tales out of
school, however, and all that occurred
at Catalina will never be published.
The Los Angeles committee was re-
inforced by the arrival of ex-Mayor
Workman, General Frank Sabichi and
George Parsons, who came in on the
Hermosa. Those of the West Virginia
party who returned were: Congress
man B. B. Dovener, Congressman and
Mrs. Brumm, Congressman and Mrs.
Bankhead, Congressman Walker and
niece, Miss Caldwell, Congressman
Bishop and son, Congressman Miller,
Mrs. Farrar and ]. T. Koen. They were
at once escorted aboard the Falcon and
that steamer started toward the outer
harbor. The party made themselves
comfortable aft the captains cabin. The
run to the olter harbor was soon made,
and at the request Of several of the party
the course was laid over the place where
the proposed breakwater is to be built.
The maps which the committee
brought were spread upon the skylight
Of the cabin. and as the vessel proceeded
upon her course the different positions
were indicated to the members of con-
gress by reference to the maps. Mr..
Gibbon thoroughly explained the maps
and the positions of the vessel, and an
swered all the questions which were put
to him. The congressman displayed a
lively interest in the matter, and Con-
gresham Dovener showed that he was
surprisingly familiar with just what was
proposed. He asked as to the nature
of the bottom, the size Of the break
water. the distances from shore, the