The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-26

years ago; and at that time there was a
depth of less than two feet at the en-
trance at low tide Dredging and jetty
construction have since secured a depth
of sixteen feet at mean low tide, while
the work has been uncommonly success
full. There was no objection to its con-
tinuance until Congress authorized the
appointment of a board of engineers to
locate deep water harbor on this coast
This board was headed by Colonel Men
dell of San Francisco, and consisted
wholly of able engineers of the United
States army corps.
quite a contention developed before
that board as TO the location said Sem
ator White, but after discussion they re-
ported unan m usly in favor of San Pedro.
lhereupon followed somewhat eXtraor-
binary proceeding The very able and eff
ticient chairman of the Senate Commerce
Committee, who believed his own judg
ment superior to that of the engineers,
caused the report to be disregarded and
succeeded in ordering a new board, not
withstanding the vigorous and able oppo-
stion of Hon. G. n. FELTON,, who was then
one of our Senators.
The river and narbor act of that ses-
sion authorized the appointment OF fVe
United States engineers TO make the in
vestigation. The new board was headed
by Colonel (afterward generaD Craighill,
and consisted of five members. This
board, after full investigation, again de-
termned in favor of San Pedro. There
upon one of the most bitter contests that
has been had in the Senate for many
;
ed in the House no conclusion was
reached. The real fight developed in the
Commerce Committee, of which Senator
Frye was chairman.
"Our delegation was well aware Of the
situation, and being member of the COM
mlttee | was able to voice our combined
judgment. We went over the subject with
all the care and attention possible under
the circumstances. 1t was not a pleasant
task to antagoniZe the chairman of that
committee or the powerful interests that
also advocated the cause which he es-
poused The fight had Deen going on 50
| long that the older Senators had taken
sides with reference to it, and. indeed. |
was informed by a member of the Com
merce Committee that he had been
pledged to Santa Monica for eight years
| Committees came from California, eX-
perts and attorneys were heard, and as
result a resolution was reported to the
Senate providing for the construction of d
absolutely ignoring the unanimous recon-
mendations of two United States boards
entirely unable TO concur, and prepared
and filed minority report which was
signed by Senators Berry, Canery and
Pasco and myself, and would have been
ent. insisting upon San Pedro.
/. THE report went before the Senate in
connection with numerous other provi-
sions of the river and harbor bill, and
then took place a most serious and point
ed debate. l have no disposition to run
over that discussion which was partici-
and in which Senator Frye displayed most
remarkable ability as an adVocate-and
he is one of the ablest advocates | have
ever met. Those who favored the adop-
ton of the San Pedro reports. includina
myself and Senator Perkins, utilized
every argument at our command. Seeing
that the condition was precariOus and
that there was no Immediate hope of OBJ
tanning an appropriation for San Pedro
we expressed ourselves willing to trust
the matter to a third board To this
proposition there was great opposition
and finally as compromise it was pro-
posed that a board containing one naval
officer to be detailed by the Secretary of
the Navy, an officer Of the Coast and Geo
detic Survey, to be detailed by the super
intendant of that survey, and three eX-
perienced civil engineers skilled in ripa-
rian work, to be appointed by the Presi-
dent, should constitute a board to exam
inc the harbors, ana that the decision of
the majority of such board should be
final. This beard was headed by Admit
raj Walker. 1t came to Los Angeles. took
evidence thoroughly examined into the
subject and reported-with the exception
of one member. Mr.. Morgan, against
whose selection / had most earnestly pro-
tested-in favor of San Pedro.
"In view of these uniform decisions it
was thought that there would be no fur
Their difficulty but it so happened that
the Secretary of War did not agree with
these several reports and determined to
ignore them. He at first expressed him
self as believing that the Walker report