Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-17
VIEW HARBORS
ADJACENT To
Los ANGELES
Commission Pleased
by Prospects
Inspect Long Beach and Wilmington,
Note Dock Company's Works
and Find Annexation senti-
ment Is Growing

H1eHL lS STOWlng
Members of the Los Angeles city and
county consolidation commission yes
terday made what they declared was a
most interesting, instructive and enjoy
able trip.
Their journey included automobile
rides about Long Beach and Whining
ton and boat ride through the basins,
lagoons and channels which are to form
the harbors of the two cities.
They inspected the immense work
that is being done by the Los Angeles
Dock and Terminal company which Will
result in making Long Beach seaport
city, and they were enabled to see the
possibilities of the Wilmington harbor
through dredging and the construction
of docks and wharves.
Express Their Surprise
II never had the least conception of
the possibilities of this immense inner
harbor tract. What have seen today
certainly is a great revelation" said
President S. A. Butler of the commits
sion, and this sentiment was re-echoed
by all of the other members.
Each visitor expressed himself as
greatly impressed not only by the great
amount of work that has been done to-
ward improving the Long Beach har-
Dor, but by the opportunities offered
the Wilmington people of securing a
great harbor at the very doors of the
city and at comparatively small cost.
This inner harbor district is the
natural location for industries and 1
predict that within a comparatively
short time every foot of the territory
will be occupied by factories and in
dustrial institutions of various kinds"
was the prediction of President Butler,
as he stood on an enninence overlooking
the inner harbor district.
Il am more than ever convinced that
San Pedro, Wilmington and Long Beach
need the assistance of Los Angeles in
developing this great project and that
Los Angeles requires possession, in con-
junction with these cities, of the har-
~bors. The future of Los Angeles and
the harbor cities depends upon con-
Certed action, and such action can be
obtained only by consolidation"
Annexation Sentiment Grows
Another thing which was most no
ticeable to members of the commission
and which they said pleased them be-
yond measure was the pronounced in
crease in the sentiment in favor of
consolidation, both in Long Beach and
Wilmington.
In the latter city the pro-consolida-
ton sentiment according to the lead
ers in the consolidation movement
there, threatens to become unanimous
if the question is not settled very soon.
They say that large majority of
the residents of Wilmington even now
favor consolidation, but that it is neces
sary for the city to dispose of it's in
corporation suits before it can enter
into negotiations for consolidating with
Los Angeles.
In Long Beach the commissioners
said they saw indications of a change
favorable to consolidation, and they
were assured by leaders in the CONSOLE
dation movement that when the time
comes for a vote on the proposition
Long Beach will become a part of
Greater Los Angeles.
February Long Beach will vote on
the proposed charter and the predic-
ton is made that as a result of the
efforts of those in favor of consolid-
ton that the charter will be defeated,
leaving the way open for immediate
consolidation.
Third Time the Charm
Yesterdays trip was made on the
invitation of officials of the Los An
geles Dock and Terminal company, and
the consolidation committees of Long
Beach and Wilmington.
Twice previously dates had been set
for the visit, but on each occasion rain
caused a postponement.
In the party yesterday were Presi-
dent S. A. Butler, Secretary A. p.
Fleming. Walter F. Haas, John w,
Mitchell, John G. Mott Oscar c. Muel-
Ter, r. w. Pridham and r. L. Cheese
bro.
They left on the Pacific Electric at
/ O'Clock, and at Long Beach they were
greeted by delegation of nearly half
hundred leading citizens, while a
large crowd had congregated near the
depot
This reception was totally different
from the one accorded the commits
sloners on their first visit to Long
Beach several weeks ago, when they
were welcomed by one lone committee
man, and the difference was favorably
commented upon by the visitors who
expressed the opinion that the warm
welcome yesterday proved the truth
fulness of the report that annexation
sentiment is growing in Long Beach.
Inspect Harbor Work
Among those who welcomed the
commissioners were @. j. Curtis, vice
president and general manager of the
Los Angeles Dock and Terminal com
pany; c. II. Windham and c. G.
AmeS, directors, ana MAJ. "A. II. LOn-
deregger, engineer of the company;
DR.. A. l.. Perez, president of the cham
ber of commerce; e. e. Norton, cashier
of the National Bank of Long Beach;
C. II. Hoge, Il. M Todd, C. C. Doran
C. A. Buffum and j. N. Edgar.
Fourteen automobiles were in wait
ing, and the visitors were given a ride
through the business and residence
section of the city, and thence to the
scene of operations Of the Los An
geles Dock and Terminal company.
Here the party boarded launches
three in number and for the next hour
they We're conveyed through the va
rious channels and slips, where they
obtained an idea of the great amount
of work that has been done by the
company toward building harbor at
the very doors of Long Beach.
The visitors also were shown the