Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-12
DEBATE PLANS Of
HARBOR LINES
GOVERNMENT ENGINEERS GIVE
PUBLIC HEARING
ALL INTERESTS REPRESENTED
Hon. VIII A. Harris Addresses the
Meeting on Behalf Of Citizens,
Who Protest Against Pro-
posed Changes
ALL INTERESTS REPRESENTED

public hearing relative to the proposed
changes in the harbor lines suggested
by the Southern Pacific, Salt Lake and
Banning companies, in the assembly
rooms of the Los Angeles chamber of
commerce yesterday morning.
Col. w. II. Heuer, Col. Thomas II.
Hanbury and Captain C. II. McKinstry
OF the engineering department of the
regular army were present, the first
Francisco yesterday morning for that
purpose.
The allied corporations were also
represented, Superintendent r. H. In
gram appearing for the Southern Paci-
fic, Thomas II. Gibbon for the Salt
Lake and Hancock Banning for the
Banning company. Besides these
were attorneys and others interested in
the plans of the corporations.
A large number of Los Angeles and
San Pedro business men were present
at the hearing. Members of the Har-
Dor league of San Pedro who attended
were: John T. Gaffey, Fred Lloyd, w.
Burke, M. L. Campbell and f. w. Kel-
logg.
w. j. Washburn called the meeting
to order, and then Col. Heuer briefly
stated its objects. He called on the
different interests present to present
their views on the question of a change
in the harbor lines.
Addressed Meeting
Hon. Will A. Harris, Thomas E.
Gibbon, J. A. Gibson, r. H. Ingram
and others addressed the assemblage.
Mr.. Harris appeared for the citizens of
San Pedro, who are protesting against
the adoption of the plans proposed by
the allied corporations.
Mr.. Ingram was the first to speak
He said his company, the Southern Pa
cifc, is desirous to see the changes
made because they will afford more
dockage, which, in his opinion, is more
important than additional anchorage.
adopted, will give 1850 feet of wharf
room. This, he said, will probably
meet all requirements of the harbor
for 100 years to come.
Mr.. Gibbon said the Bannings had
consented to make large concessions of
land to carry out the proposed changes
in the harbor lines, that the Salt Lake
company had agreed to give 173 acres
OF valuable land, while the Southern
Pacific, having only fourteen acres of
land to give at this point in the harbor,
agreed to expend $150,000 on improve
ments. While some questioned the
titles of the Bannings said Mr.. Gibbon,
considerable expenditure of money to
determine the case in the courts.
Attorney Gibson appeared on behalf
of the Banning interests. He said the
only objection. as far as he can see,
to the proposed change in the harbor
lines comes from San Pedro. He as
serted that the people of the harbor
town are laboring under wrong impress
sions when they say that the new plans
will tend to direct trade away from
San Pedro.
Mr.. Harris Remarks
Attorney Harris followed Attorney
Gibson. He declared there is nothing
in the titles to lands held by the Ban
ming interests that should frighten the
government in prosecuting the former
plans for the improvement of the har-
bor of San Pedro. He claimed that the
people of San Pedro and of all South
ern California are desirous of improv-
kI1A 4.
plans, SO that everybody might be pro-
tected. 1t would be a grave mistake,
he argued, to fill in any part of the
inner harbor, especially where the con-
improvements would be in
the nature of improvements to private
interests at the public expense. He
said:
1.-THE people of San Pedro want the
harbor lines fixed as originally drawn
by the board of engineers, and their
are here to make strong
protest to the change proposed. The
Southern Pacific, the Salt Lake and the
companies appear to stand
close together for the change. We rec
ognize the great interests of the COM
panies, and there is no disposition to
injure any of them. The associated
say they are willing to make
concessions Of territory. the
title to which is in doubt. in order that
they may secure undisputed title from
the government to a strip of land down
the center of the inner harbor, a wharf
age where slips could not be introduced
and taking up space that would pre-
vent anchorage of ships.
"The San Pedro people expect that
the dredging of the inner harbor viii
commence in the near future. They do
not hope to concentrate business oppo-
site the town, but all are interested
In having the harbor lines remain as
first planned, so that 1t will accommo-
date business of the future and not
be under the control of any combina-
ton of corporations.
1.-TWO of the corporations now have
common interests. The Southern Pa
cific and the Salt Lake Railroad COM