Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-03
COUNCIL GRANTS
WHARF FRANCHISE
50-YEAR RIGHT TO ALMOST
PRICELESS TRACT
TOWN is MAD WITH JOY
Champagne Flows In Harbor City In
Celebration Of Railroad Mag
mates Entry Into Local
Business Affairs

Henry e. Huntington's petition to the
board of trustees of San Pedro for a
fifty-year lease. upon eighteen acres of
outer harbor property was unanimous
ly granted at the meeting of the trus-
tees last night.
Previous to the meeting Of the trus-
tees mass meeting Of citizens was
held in the assembly room at the city
hall and the petition was discussed.
Assemblyman William H. Wickersham
opposed the adoption of a resolution
by the citizens urging the trustees to
grant the petition in its original form,
offering an amendment requiring Mr..
Huntington to insert in the lease an
obligation to extend San Pedro street
from the city limits 1900 feet into the
water. This amendment contemplated
the extension of the street across the
wharf to be built upon the ground
for which franchise was granted by
the county supervisors In 1903.
Mr. Wickersham explained that the
amendment was precautionary meas
ure for the protection of the city's
future growth, as a proposition is now
being considered to extend the city
limits to a point beyond the govern
ment breakwater. The citizens did not
approve of the amendment and it was
voted down and the original resolution
was adopted. Senator William H. Saw
age presided at the meeting and the
assembly room was crowded with busi-
ness men and property owners of San
Pedro.
Lease Is Granted
Following adjournment of the mass
meeting the trustees went into session
and the proposition of Mr.. Huntington
was reread. George e. Pillsbury, chief
engineer of the Pacific Electric rail-
way, restated the proposition and Of
fered to convey to the city of San
I'edro, at the time the lease is signed,
property on First street owned by Mr..
Huntington and Mr.. Hartman, which
leads to the water front on the inner
channel. This concession guarantees
to the city of San Pedro second out
let to the tide water on the inner chan
nel
After the proposition was read Trus-
tee George e. Peck moved that action
upon it be deferred for one week, but
the motion was not seconded. Trustee
NJ w. Tilton moved that the lease be
granted and Trustee Martin seconded
the motion. Upon vote the motion car
ried without dissenting vote.
When the result of the vote upon the
proposition was announced the specta-
tors who crowded the assembly hall
broke into prolonged cheers and order
was not restored for several minutes
Citizens Celebrate
Following the adjournment of the
meeting of the trustees the news
spread throughout the city and within
a few minutes the streets were
thronged with wildly excited and
happy crowd of jubilating citizens
Champagne flowed as freely as water
and individual parties of celebrationists
gathered to discuss and toast the "Fu-
ture Great of the Southern Pacific
coast.
Conjuring with the possibilities of the
future the citizens were "unspeakably'
happy and the scene presented during
the night, until the weary jubilators
became too tired to talk or think of
the future, was one of maddening joy.
Enthusiasm was at high pitch and
property values were soaring to the
zenith of high prices. 1t is doubtless
impossible to induce a property owner
to make price upon his holdings.
So wild was the populace that the
mere mention of the magic word
Huntington" was sufficient to almost
start a riot among the joyful throngs
and quieting the noisy celebrators was
so farcical that few attempts were
made.
The Proposition
AS granted, the lease gives to Mr..
Huntington, as trustee for the Sau
HeQfO tIlduWdy IeTIIllIldl anu WHIT
company. fifty year franchise upon
eighteen acres of water front on the
outer harbor. whereon will be built ter
minals, wharves and warehouses.
Mr.. Huntington agrees to build a
wooden bulkhead to protect the filled in
ground and when the government es-
tablishes the harbor lines this bulk
head will be replaced by a stone con-
.struction and of permanent nature.
AS a concession to the city of San
Pedro the Huntington and Hartman
interests will convey the property on
First street. leading to the water front
on the inner channel. giving an addi-
tional outlet to tidewater on the inner
channel. This will permit the city to
extend its limits to a point beyond the
government breakwater.
San Pedro street win be extended
from its present shore line to the hf-
teen fathom line, which is nearly three
quarters Of mile into the ocean.
Wharves, terminals and warehouses