The herald., 1897-05-21
|ALGER HAS
ANSWERED
Why He Has Not Asked
for Harbor Bids
DOESN'T KNOW MUCH
And Wants Congress to Inform
Him
NO DISPOSITION TO DELAY
BUT THE ORDERS GIVEN ARE
NOT CLEAR
The Whole Matter Is Submitted to
Congress for Further Instruc-
NO DISPOSITION TO DELAY
BUT THE ORDERS GIVEN ARE
NOT CLEAR
The Whole Matter Is Submitted to
Congress for Further Instruc-
tion as to Its Purpose and
Intent

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, May 20.-Secretary
Alger has made response to the Senate
resolution calling for a statement as to
what has been or Is about to be done
with reference to making contracts for
the Improvement OF San Pedro harbor.
California.
The Secretary submits the whole sub
ject to Congress for further instruction
as to its purpoee-whether to 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 all of the appropriation Of
$1,000. 900 upon 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 day, the
difficulty presented Is always the same,
Le., what was the intention Of Congress
when it made this appropriation for a
'harbor of commerce and of refugee The
report shows clearly that the entire ap-
preparation, and more, will be required
for the Sreakwater, and that to make a
harbor for commerce large additional
sums will be required. the exact amount
OF which Is largely conjecture, on ac-
count Of there being the possibility of
rock to excavate instead of silt or sand:
but, taking for granted that no rock
exiets. the Chief of Engineers from my
directions and from all the information
in the department, made two approxi-
mate estimates for completing the har-
Dor of commerce, according to the plans
suggested by the board It is believed
by me that harbor covering S20 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 upon report of
channel to inner har-
tor to 30 feet. with width of 400 feet, and
Of two suitably designed
timber piers, located a safe distance on
either side Of the jetty entrance, carried
out to the five-fathom curve, to accom-
modate vessels whose draught would
prevent their entrance into the inner
harbor. to be used In the completion of
in inner harbor; dredging
from central channel to piers to 80 feet
in depth; $4,000 feet of bulkhead for
$2,479,000: cost OF breakwater.
$2,so1, 1877; total. $5,ss0.7s7.
"Thieplan has the objectionable feature
Of the destruction of the piles by the te-
redo. unless creosoted. besides the disad-
vantage Of its great exposure to fire. ae
in the 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 practi-
cally 800 acres, half-mile. by mile in
area, and here the estimate ie largely
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 l,ae
been made to give 80 feet Of water for
this area, where an average cut OF 20
feet will be required. and for this inner
harbor. with the dredging Of the chan
mel into the same. the estimate Is 81.
900; cost Of breakwater. $2.s0l. .7s7, maxi
ing total cost for breakwater ana inner
harbor $5.076.7S7. The question is. shall
the expenditure Of 81. .soo. 900 be made for
the breakwater, or harbor Of refuge.
leaving the harbor for commerce for fu-
ture legislation and appropriation?
From my construction Of the law. I
have not felt Justified in commencing the
work without fully understanding what
the intent Of Congress was when the law
was enacted. II It was and il its intent
that the work on the breakwater shall
-
y dvsrtited and this appropriat tion ~
= "A Sor that alons. the mattsS shall