Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

Pedro. sought a location farther north
and where 30 was least likely TO be an"
uuyod 10y competitors. The wharf con-
sIugttd by the SIUthe Pacific at sam
"a Monica ls 1890 feet long and ter
inmates Boo FIVE and Oue-half fathOm5
of water, IFS actual cost was about six
hundred thousand dollars. Up 20 this
time the Southern Pacific had worked
faithfully for twenty years In conjunc-
tion with the people OF Los Angeles for
the development Of San Pedro haybOr
II was in the winter of 1912 while the
representatives OF the people Of Los An
giles were making every effort TO secure
an appropriation from Congress for the
san Pedro deep-water harbor improve
ment that the first active opposition OF
the Southern Pacific was developed,
THE OPENING GUN.
The opening gun in the great contest
was telegram signed by the Southern
Pacific chief Of engineers produced be-
fore the Senate committee on commerce
by Senator Frye, chairman OF the COM
mittee, and the leader Of the forces In
opposition to San Pedro In the Senate
throughout the entire contest. This
telegram II Is said contained the state
ment that the holding ground at san
Pedro was rock and therefore unsuit-
abb IA anchorage purposes. This was
afterwards thoroughly disproved by
the Craighill board, and four years lat
er the same engineer testified before
the Walker board that the holding
ground Of San Pedro was all right and
practically free from rock. However
this telegram answered the purpose
for which II was sent. and caused the
l.. 81
San Pedro harbor 10 be thrown out Of
the appropriation bill. An appeal was
then made 90 the committee TO take the
necessary steps to settle the question
Of the harbor cite once and for ALL"
"ONCE AND FOR ALL"
In response to the appeal, a prow-
sion was inserted I'm the river and har-
Dor bill Of 1892. which formed the basis
OF the appointment OF what was after
wards known as the Craighill board.
This was a board OF Ave engineering Of
hcers OF the United States army app
pointed by the secretary Of war, TO
make a careful and critical eXamina-
ton Of the proposed deep water har-
Dor at San Pedro or Santa Monica bays,
and 10 report which Is the most eligi-
bic location for such harbor In depth.
width and capacity to accommodate
the largest ocean going vessels, and the
commercial and naval necessities OF the
country, together with an estimate OF
the cost OF the same
The phrase land the commercial and
naval necessities OF the country" was
interpreted TO mean that the board
should consider what relation the pro-
posed harbor bore 70 the commerce not
only Of southern California alone, but
OF the whole country, and that the find
ings by the board would be a final de-
termination OF the yeXed question.
BATTLE WAKES WARM.
The Southern Pacific formerly took
up the cause Of Santa Monica before
this board while the people generally
took the side OF san Pedro. the free
harbor' as against what they called
the monopoly harbor at Santa Mo-
Mica 10 was now stated for the first
time that the Southern Pacific had been
buying the land along the shore whore
the proposed harhor was 10 be locat-
ed az Santa Monica. The report OF
the board was IN favor Of San Pedro,
and was presented 20 Congress and re-
ferred 70 the committee on rivers and
harbors December T. 1892.
The \report was an interesting and
document, and prac-
tically completed the case for San Pc
dru. II failed 20 touch on the South
ern Pacific control OF Santa Monica,
bur ala consider thoroughly the Ques-
ton OF the material commercial neces-
sity for a harbor In southern California
near Los Angeles.
AN ESTIMATE OF COST.
The boards estimate OF the cost Of
the san Pedro breakwater
was S2.Ss5.324 The publication In 1898
OF the report OF the Craighill board
stopped for a brief time in Los Angeles
an discussion OF the subject OF the
harbor location. The Los Angeles cham
her Of commerce took a neutral posi-
ton until the hoard made It's report
and then believing that their time for
was az an end, appointed
General Charles Foreman as a special
delegate % Washington who proceeded
20 the capitol accompanied
by Mr.. n. f.. GibbCn, The delegates
were armed with petitions and manu-
scripts OF business men and commercial
OF an sections OF South
arn California, Utah, Arizona and New
Mexico, There was no river and har-
Dor bin during the winter Of 1884 and
he delegates devoted themselves TO
work In 1894 the long
wharf AZ Santa Monic9 was completed
and Mt Huntington paid Il a visit OF
INSPECTION. While IN aos AngeU- on
his visit Mr. Huntington expressed
himself very forcibly against tho San
Pedro harbor Improvement 70 several
II the chamber OF commerce and tried
% pursuade them 10 favor Santa Mo-
lica.
HUNTINGTON TALKS.
A. tI,,n,t,,,.o.. ..ta, tsNfa,.. -.