The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-29
THE REPORT DENIED
HELDMAIER & NEU ANXIOUS TO
GO ON
THEY HAVE AN AGENT HERE
Who Has Been Commissioned to Take
Preliminary Steps-Confirma-
lions of Their Good Faith

The fear that there was yet another Niger
In the San Pedro harbor woodpile has to a
certain extent been dissipated by dispatches
from Washington and from those in author
ity. Every effort was made on Tuesday
night to confirm the report of the Herald's
Washington correspondent that Messrs.
Hedmaier & Neu had thrown up the con-
tract, but owing to the fact that 1t was
members of the firm were reported to be out
Of the city, neither denial nor confirmation
OF the report could be obtained.
The Herald requested the Associated Press
tc also wire to Washington and Chicago on
the subject, but 1t was not till yesterday that
the following dispatch through this channel
was received:
SAN FRANCISCO, July 2S.-If Held
maier & Neu intend to abandon the con-
tract they have not yet notified the gov
eminent. If they abandon the contract
1t will go to the next lowest bidder, and
the Chicago firm will forfeit 500 900. The
offics of the Chicago firm was closed to-
day, the members Of the company being
said to be in the country. They are ex-
pected back tomorrow.
Anxious to Go On
The following Associated Press dispatch
was also received yesterday:
WASHINGTON, July 2S.-General Will
son, chief of engineers, has received
telegram from Representative Mann OF
Illinois, in behalf of Heldmaier & Neu OF
Chicago, to whom was awarded the
contract for the construction OF the
breakwater at San Pedro harbor, Cali
fornia, expressing great indignation at
the report that the firm had abandoned
the contract. He says that, on the con-
trary, the firm is anxious to go aheaA
with the work as soon as possible.
An Agent Here
The Herald also learned yesterday that an
agent of the Heldmaier-Neu had been In
Los Angeles for ten days, commissioned by
the firm to look over the ground and re-
port. An attempt was made to find this
gentleman last night, but he had left yes
terday for San Diego-of all places in the
world. A friend of the Chicago firm. who
has the utmost confidence that they are
anxious to commence the work as soon as
possible, maintains that they would
even be willing to lose money on the con-
tract, because they are confident that the
Improvements to the harbor will speedily
be followed by the building Of the Salt Lake
road, in which they have reasonable hope
of, being interested.
The Terminal Confident
T. E. Gibbon yesterday received dis
patch from George B. Leighton, president
Of the Terminal Railway company, dated
at Washington, saying that he has thor.
oughly investigated the rumor of Held
mailer G. Neu's abandonment Of the break
water contract. and that Heldmaier &
Neu are doing all they can to hurry the
beginning of the work
The First Pile
Nevertheless, despite these several con.
frmatory signs that Messrs Heldmaier G
Neu do not intend to forfeit their contract
the majority Of people, after the long and
bitter list Of disappointments and tricks
will hardly believe that Alger has given up
the fight and that Huntington has ceased to
give him instructions, until the first pile is
driven.