The San Francisco call., 1897-05-21
Explains Why the Work
Has Not Yet Been
Advertised.
Gives a Statement of the Vast
Amount of Labor to Be
Performed.
The Whole Matter Referred Back
to Congress for Complete
Instructions.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 2o.-secre-
tary of War AIger has made response to
the Senate resolution calling for state
ment as to what has been or is about to
be done with reference to making con-
tracts for the improvement OF San Pedro
harbor, California. The Secretary submits
the whole subject to Congress for further
instructions as to its purpose-whether to
create simply harbor of refuge or one
for refuge ana commerce.
He cites the action of the Walker board
in deciding to expehd all of the appropri-
alton OF $2,950, 900 upon breakwater and
says:
"The department has had many impa-
tient inquiries as to when the work Will
be advertised, and while there 8 no dispo-
sition to retard the matter day, the
difficulty presented is always the same.
i. e.: What was the intention OF Con gress
wien it made this appropriation for a
'barbor for CONNIE and OF refuge?
The report shows clearly that the entire
appropriation and more will be req quired
for the breakwater, and that to make a
arbor Tor commerce large additional
sums will be required, the exact amount
of which is largely con lecture on account
of there being the possibility Of rock to
excavate instead of silt or sand. But TAX
ing for granted that no rock exists, the
chief of Engineers has. by my direction
and from all the information there is in
the department., made two approximate
estimates for completing the harbor for
commerce according to the plans sug-
gested by the board. 1t is believed by me
that harbor covering 320 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 con-
sidered.
''First estimate: Based on report OF
board, deepening channel to inner harbor
to thirty feet, with width 400 Feet, and
construction OF two suitably designed TIM
ber piers, located at a safe distance on
either side of the ietty entrance and car
ried out to the fve-fathom curve to ac-
commod ate vessels whose draught would
prevent their entrance to the inner har-
bor to be used during completion OF i'm.
provements in inner harbor; dredging
from central channel to piers to thirty
feet depth; 140C0 feet of bulkhead for
wharfage, $2479,0O0; cost of breakwater,
81, ,901 7SS; total, s., 3S0,787.
"This plan has the Objectionable feature
of the destruction OF the piles by the
teredo unless creosoted, besides the dis.
advantage of its great exposure to fire, as
in case of those wharves where steamers
are moored alongside and engines run
upon them.
"The second plan is to dredge into the
lagoon and excavate space of practically
800 acres, a half mile by mile in area,
and here the estimate is largely guess
work. Several islands will have to be re-
moved. 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 required, and for this inner har-
Dor. with the dredging of the channel
into the same, the estimate is 81 It's 900; !;
cost of breakwater, 81, 901, 1877. making a
total cost for preakwater and inner har-
Dor OF $5, 176. 1877.
''The question is, shall the expenditure
of So, 900, 900 be made for the breakwater or
harbor of refuge, leaving the harbor for
commerce for future legislation and ap-
propriationP
'From my construction OF the law, l
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 its intent
that the work on the breakwater shall be
advertised and this appropriation ex-
pended for that alone, the matter shall re-
celve imm ediate attention. If not hope
such instructions will be given as shall
leave no doubt as to what the duties of
the War Department are in the matter. !"