The record-union., 1897-05-21
water

WASHINGTON, May 20.-Secretary
Alger has made response to the Senate
resolution calling for a statement as TO
what has been or is to be done with
reference to making contracts for the
improvement of San Pedro Harbor, Call
ifornia
The Secretary submits the whole sub
ject TO Congress for further instruction
as to its purpose-whether to create
simply harbor of refuge or one of ref
uge and commerce. The Secretary cites
the action of the Walker board in de-
Gliding to expend all of the appropria-
ton of S2,950,000 upon a breakwater,
and then states his position as follows:
The department has had many inn
patient inquiries as to when the work
will be advertised, and while there is no
disposition to retard the matter day,
the difficulty presented is always the
same, i. e, What was the intention of
Congress when it made this appropria-
tion for a 'harbor for commerce and of
refuge? The report shows clearly that
the entire appropriation, and more, will
be required for the breakwater, and that
to make a harbor for commerce large
additional sums will be required, the
lecture on account of there being the
possibility of having rock to excavate
instead of silt or sand, but taking for
granted that no rock exists, the Chief
of Engineers has, by my direction, and
from all information there is in the de-
partment, made two approximate esti-
mates for completing the harbor for
commerce, according to the plans sug-
gested by the board. 1t is believed by
me that a harbor covering $40 acres, or
half mile by mile in area-where
ships can be towed in, moored, towed
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 to inner har-
Dor to thirty feet, with width of 4O0
feet and construction Of two suitably
designed timber piers, located safe
distance on either side of the jetty en-
trance carried out to the five-fathom
curve to accommodate vessels whose
draught would prevent their entrance
to the inner harbOr, to be used during
completion of improvements in inner
harbor; dredging from central channel
to piers to thirty feet depth; 14,OO0 feet
of bulkhead for wharfage, S2,419,OOO;
cost of breakwater, S2,901, ,ISI; total.
50, $50, ,7S7.
This plan has the Objectionable feat
ure of the destruction of the piles by
the teredo unless creosoted, besides the
disadvantage of its great exposure to
fire as in case of those wharves where
steamers are moored alongside and en-
gines run upon them.
THE second plan is to dredge into
the lagoon and excavate a space of
practically 80 acres, a half mile by a
mile in area and here the estimate is
largely guess work. Several islands
will have to be removed, as shown by the
maps and it is possible that there may
be rocks to blast and remove. But an
estimate has been made to give thirty
feet Of water for this area, where an
average cut of twenty feet Will be re-
quired, and for this inner harbor, with
the dredging of the channel into the
same. the estimate is 81, 2,115,000; cost of
breakwater, $2901 ,4S1, making total
cost for breakwater and inner harbor,
S5116,ISI. The question is, Shall the
expenditure of S2,900,000 be made for
the breakwater or harbor of refuge,
leaving the harbor for commerce for
future legislation and appropriation?
From my conSLructloH oL the law
have not felt justified in commencing
the work without fully understanding
what the intent of Congress was when
the law was enacted. If it was and is
it's intel.t that the work on the break
water shall be advertised and this ap-
preparation expended for that alone,
the matter shall receive immediate at
tention If not, I hope such lnstruc-
tions will be given as shall leave no
doubt as to what the duties of the War
Department are in the matter