Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-09
To Preserve Remain
ingStrip Of Free
Z Harbor
Owner Of San Pedro Land
Makes Startling
Proposal
A. S. koyer Offers to Donate Valuable
Land to City, Providing Other
Holder Will Join in
Action

Announcement that A. S. Koyer and
j. c. Willmon had filed with the city
clerk of Los Angeles an option for
sixty days on approximately 400 feet
of frontage on the outer harbor of San
Pedro for $4,000 caused the greatest
kind of a commotion yesterday among
corporations interested in harbor
franchises.
This furore was increased late in the
afternoon by the declaration of Mr..
Koyer that he would agree, if Mr.. Will
mon signed a like agreement, to sell
this land to the city for the nominal
price of 500
Mr.. Koyer last night expressed the
belief that Mr.. Willmon would consent
to such an offer, in which event the
proposition will be made in writing and
filed with the city clerk for the con-
slderation of the city council.
City Attorney Hewitt was yesterday
apprised by Mr.. Koyer of the willing
ness of the latter to transfer to the
city of Los Angeles his interest in the
property, providing Mr.. Willmon would
do the same.
Spurred by Criticism
His action in voluntarily offering TO
accept the nominal price of $40 was due
to the fact, as he stated last night. that
he had been criticised for fixing the
price at $4,000 for his interest, or $780,
600 for the total of about 400 feet, and
because he wanted to make certain
bn oil
opportunity of securing the remnant
of the harbor frontage and be in
position to construct a municipal rail-
road to the harbor.
Mr.. Koyer said that in 1904 his por-
ton of the property was assessed at
$4,000. but that he went before the
board of county commissioners and
secured a reduction to about $4,000, on
the plea that the property was nom
productive and probably would not
produce a revenue for several years.
He said that inasmuch as it was as
sessed at 1000 three years ago he
thought that that price now would be
regarded as extremely liberal He has
received offers, he said, from various
corporations of much higher figure.
and had refused them not only in the
belief that the property was worth a
great deal more but that he desired to
retain possession of at least a small
portion of the harbor frontage so that
It could not be said that the entire
harbor had been grabbed by corpora
tions.
Monument to White and Otis
Mr. Koyer said that he had no desire
to pose as a patriot or philanthropist,
but that he thought men should occa-
sionally in times of peace make finan-
cial sacrifices for their country or state
If men in times of war were willing to
sacrifice their lives for the public good.
ION this piece of ground, practically
all that will remain of the boasted free
harbor of San Pedro if the Miner grant
bill is approved by the governor the
city of Los Angeles could build an in
dustrial monument to the late Senator
White and to Gen. Harrison Gray Otis,
whose combined influence resulted in
securing government aid for the inn
provement of San Pedro harbor.
"It has been claimed that this land
is bluff ninety feet high, but in reality
it is less than fifty, with ravine run
ming through the center and which
would be the natural outlet for a rail-
road which could be constructed by the
city of Los Angeles and give relief to
shippers from the eXorbitant rates now
freight from San Pedro to Los Angeles.
Suggests Corporation Plan
II am willing either to sell my share
of this land to the city for $4,000 or
turn it over at the same price to a COR
poration composed of honorable men,
who will sell no more than the neces-
sary amount of stock for actual cash
than is necessary to make the improve
ments and to pay to the city all the
earnings in excess of per cent on the
capital invested If the project IS
turned over to such corporation 1
would insist that the board of public
warks of Los Angeles be given a voice
i'm the management of the concern"
Throughout the day yesterday the
city hall was besieged by representa-
tives Of Lieut.. Miner and the various
railroad corporations whose interests
will be affected by the city securing
possession of the Koyer and Willmon
land.
These representatives called upon
Mayor Harper, and it is said urged
him not to consent TO the purchase by.
the city, on the ground that the price
demanded was excessive. They are also
said to have pleaded With the mayor
to withdraw his telegram TO the gov
ernor, urging the chief executive TO
veto the bill confirming the grant of
San Pedro to the Miner corporation.
Mayor Harper said last night that he
had not Withdrawn this telegram, and
IL is thought that he viii not do So