The herald., 1898-03-18
PIGEONHOLED
Ayers Action on Bids for
San Pedro
NEW SCHEME ON FOOT
TO DIVERT ALL THE FUNDS TO
SANTA MONICA
ALGER'S AID IS NOT ENOUGH
To Defeat Improvement of San Pedro,
But Seems Certain to Cause
Annoying Delay

Special to The Herald
SAN FRANCISCO, March ~
Secretary Of War Alger's delay in ap-
proving the recommendation Of the
United States engineers that the con-
tract for building the San Pedro break
water be awarded to the Chicago con-
tractors, Heldmaier & Neu, on their
bid of $1,303, 1854, has given rise
to story that he will discourage all
improvements at San Pedro. The
corollary of this is that he would
urge congress to recognize Santa
Monica as the deepsea port of South
ern California, provided a breakwater
is built there by G. P. Huntington at
his own expense. This story has
been circulated rather freely of late
because of the fact that a few days
ago the New York Railroad Gazette,
in commenting upon the appropria-
tion Of $40O,OOO made by the house Of
representatives for the beginning Of
work at San Pedro, went on to say:
"There has been a strenuous con-
test in congress between the promot-
ers Of this (San Pedro) harbor and
those who desire to have the govern
ment's money spent on harbor at
Santa Monica. At the last named
place, it is said, an offer has been made
by interested parties to do the nec-
essary work of deepening and protect
ing the harbor without charge to the
government"
The words "interested parties" as
used guardedly by the New York pa
per, are generally conceded to mean
the Southern Pacific people. Hunting
ton cannot control the traffic of South
ern California as surely at San Pedro
as at Santa Monica. He has $780,
900 wharf at the latter place, and has
spent a great deal more money in
other improvements. These i'm
provements will be practically great
loss to him in short time after San
Pedro's harbor is improved.
When the commission, of which
Admiral John G. Walker was the head
recommended San Pedro, Huntington
was bitterly disappointed, and has
never ceased in his efforts to try to
defeat the improvement scheme for
that harbor.
Secretary Alger is not friendly to
San Pedro. His action in taking out
of the hands Of General Wilson, chief
of the United States engineers, the
approval of the bid of the Chicago
contractors and pigeon-holing the
matter in his own Office has not ceased
to cause unfavorable comment. Rich
ard Kerens of st. Louis, member of
the Republican national committee,
and one Of the owners Of the Los An
geles Terminal railroad, is now in
Washington trying, with poor success,
to get Alger to approve this bid. The
100000 appropriation for begin
ming work at San Pedro, as passed by
the house, is tackled on to the sundry
civil bill, and it would not surprise
even some Of the United States en-
gineers out here if the appropriation
was defeated in the senate, and thus
cause more delay.
The engineers say they know moth
ing about the alleged offer of Hunt
ington to build a breakwater at his
own expense at Santa Monica. Thew
say they would not be surprised if the
story were true, but even with Alger's
manifest friendship, they do not think
Huntington can defeat the improve
ment of San Pedro, although he may
succeed in delaying the work yet fur
ther.
Director Crocker Of the Southern
Pacific, when spoken to about Hunt
ington's offer to build breakwater
at his own expense at Santa Monica.
said:
III have only heard that New York
railroad paper intimated as much not
long ago. I believe the paper in ques-
ton is mistaken about the matter.
don't believe Mr.. Huntington has
done any such thing. If he has done
so, it is news to me-"
Gold From Sea Water
NEW YORK, March 1S.-About 90 ounces
of bullion. in the proportion of one-third
gold to two-thirds silver, and valued at
about $54O. has been received at the assay
office in the Cones. 1t came from the Elec-
trolytical Marine Salts company of Boston.