Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-12-21
WILL FENCE IN
CATALINA ISLAND
BANNINGS TO CONSTRUCT A
BULKHEAD
War Department Has Granted Per-
mission, in Spite Of Protests Of
Persons Not Identified
with Trust

Metaphorlcally speaking, the Ban
nings will build a fence around Cata-
lima island.
Literally, they will construct bulk
head along the front of the Bay Of
Avalon.
This proposed Improvement will have
the same effect as q fence surrounding
the entire island, as it will keep away
the vulgar crowd" or, rather, those
who desire to land without expanding
the amount of "vulgar" money now
imposed upor people who ride on the
Banning boats and land at the Banning
wharf.
head because of the recent attempts to-
loosen their grasp on the monopoly of
the island by the landing of passen-
gers from boats not in the Banning
trust, and they may do so by reason
of having secured the assent of the
war department at Washington.
Permission of the war department
has not been received, but formal as
sent has been secured, which amounts
to practically the same thing, and this
against the vigorous protests of prac-
tically every resident Of Avalon not
connected in some manner with the
Banning interests.
May Go Ahead
Following is copy of a letter just
received by the Bannings:
war Department, Washington, Dec.
6, 1906.-Sir: Referring to your letter
of October last, requesting that the
Santa Catalina Island company be
granted permission to construct bulk
head and to fill solid behind same in
Avalon bay, in front Of the property
claimed to be owned by the company
at Avalon, Santa Catalina island, Cali
fornia, as shown in red on blueprint
submitted beg to inform you that the
war department will interpose no OBJ
jeotion to the proposed construction,
provided the design of the bulkhead
shall be submitted to and be satisfac-
tory to the district engineer officer, it
being understood that this waiver of
objection on the part of the United
States conveys no authority for inva-
sion of the rights of others at the
locality, nor for the infringement of
local or state laws or regulations; 1t
being also understood that so long as
the company of its assigns controls
the water front of Avalon as at pres
ent, it be required to maintain, free of
charge, proper and secure mornings for
all boats In the bay. Very respectfully,
ROBERT SHAW OLIVER,
Assistant Secretary of War"
"Mr. Hancock Banning, vice presi-
dent Santa Catalina Island company,
593 Pacific Electric building, Los An
geles, Cal"
Protestants Turned Down
Letters also have been received by
the various proteStants, of whom there
are many. These letters are Identical
and read as follows:
orfT nj q n crfnr1 noo
9 6, 1906.-Sir: Referring to the petit
ton dated October 9th last, signed by
yourself and other owners of boats
and launches in use at the town of
Avalon, Cal, protesting, for reasons
stated, against the construction by the
Santa Catalina Island company Of a
bulkhead in Avalon bay, in front of
property claimed to be owned by the
said company, beg to inform you that
it appears from reports of the
engineer authorities that the pro-
posed bulkhead will not be an I'M
reasonable obstruction to navigation,
and that it will not be a bar, but will
probably aid in the handling of small
boats; also that the sanitary condition
of the beach in front of Avalon will
be improved as a result of such con-
struction.
"In view of the foregoing, the de-
partment has this day addressed let
ter to Mr.. Hancock Banning, vice presi-
dent of the Santa Catalina Island
company stating that the war depart
ment will interpose no objection to the
proposed construction, provided the de-
sign of the bulkhead shall be submitted
to and be satisfactory to the dis
trict engineer officer, upon con-
dition that this waiver of objection on
the part of the United States conveys
no authority for invasion of the rights
ftry he tn
fringement of local or state laws or
regulations, and upon theN further con-
dition that so long as the said COM
pany or its assigns controls the water
front of Avalon as at present, it be re-
quired to maintain, free of charge,
proper and secure mornings for all
boats in the bay.
you are further advised that as the
existing structures are not considered
obstructive to navigation, action by the
war department to enforce their re-
moval is not deemed warranted. Very
respectfully.
ROBERT SHAW OLIVER.
Assistant Secretary of War"
Ties Up the Island
Opinion is expressed by those who
are acquainted with the situation that
the construction of the proposed bulk
head will mean that further attempts
to land passengers from boats not IN
the Banning trust will be futile
No one directly interested in the af-
fair could be found last night who
would say that any further effort will
be made to make Avalon an open port;
but the clause in the letter from the
secretary of war regarding the in
fringement of local or state laws or
regulations raises the hope that some
means can be found by which the state
of California or the county of Los An
geles can compel the Bannings to per-
NIT landing of all boats.
w. ID. Stephens chairman of the Los
Angeles chamber of commerce COM
mittee on harbors, said last night that
the question of an open port at Ava
lon never had come before the COM
mittee. and he could not tell what ac-
ton the committed might take should
the affair be formally presented for its
consideration.
unMAH nAN0 rlUr AE maFA