Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-21
PLEADS CAUSE
OF SAN PEDRO
PRESIDENT CALL RETURNS
FROM WASHINGTON
NATIONAL CONVENTION SHOWED
GREAT ENTHUSIASM
Southern California Handicapped by
Lack of Delegates, but Favorable
Resolution Carried, De-
spite Opposition

Joseph H. Call, president of the Mu-
nicipal Waterways ASSOCIATION, returned
yesterday from washington, where ne
represented Los Angeles at the firth
annual convention OF the Natlonal
Rivers and Harbors congress. he de-
scribed the gathering as the greatest
national convention held in this CEN
tllrv. evidencing a great interest in
waterways imp ovements in all parts
eThere were 5000 delegates in at
tendance out of the 1000 registered
said Mr.. Call last night Ihe gov
ernors of fully half the states were
present. Governors, members OF con-
gress and legislators were prominent
in the deliberations and on the pro-
gram. but in this respect California
was conspicuous by the absence of her
governor, senators or congressman from
the platform and program.
"There were thirty delegates from
San Francisco and Oakland as against
one from Los Angeles, and in the eau
Gus of state delegates it was declared
that no office allotted to California
should go south of San Francisco. rms
was carried out, even to the extent OIL
making a New York man. who mas
nominal residence in San Francisco -
E. Grunslxy, a vice president from CAN
fornia. I have his card; he Is con
sulting engineer with his office at 80
Broadway, New York.
"The San Francisco unemter of the
resolution committee violently opposed
a suggested amendment that might De
Of benefit to San PEDRO harbor. ana
stated that the port and bay of san
Francisco were amnly able to handle
all the commerce for the whole state
of California that would ever come
through the Panama canal. The trou-
BILE with San Pedro harbor, he assured
the committee-speaking as Caii1or-
MIA delegate-is that the state has con-
veyed away all stated tidelands. Whlcn
prevents the public Improvement OF
San Pedro harbor.
sHe objected on that account to an
amendment offered to the second
plank considered by the resolutions
committee. I was appointed mem
her at large by President Ransdeil ana
suggested the adding of demand not
only for the completion of present pro-
iects. but likewise of such other har-
bor improvements as would carry into
effective use those now under con-
struction. / argued that the compile
ton of the Panama canal would not
he Of great benefit to Southern Cali
fornia without the ADEQUATE improve
1nent and opening of San Pedro har-
bor. and that the interests of tax
PAYERS representing nearly 1.O0O.00O
population demanded that the harhor
be opened by the government. The
amendment carried in the committee
almost unanimously. being opposed
only by the San Francisco member,
and was adopted bv the CONGRESS-.
Immense Saving in Freight
THE Rivers and Harbors congress
stands distinctly for a policy, not a
project. and that, in brief, is the ade-
quate completion of inland waterways
improvements which will bring the
United States up to the position main
tanned in this respect elsewhere in the
world. What this will mean is shown
in the statement, amply backed by
proof at the meeting, that the COM
pletion of projects recommended by
the inland waterways commission
would save the United States annually
one billion dollars in freight charges.
President Ransdell made the state
ment, which l believe entirely true,
that the cost of completing the entire
system of waterways would be repaid
in the saving on freights in one year
alone.
GAS a general rule it was demon
strated at the congress that rates by
water are but one-tenth as high as
freights by rail.
Speaker Cannon, think, will firmly
oppose the waterways program.
could not gather any other attitude
from his address before the congress.
'The history of Atlantic coast har-
bors is filled with warning lessons to
Los Angeles. A prominent railroad
man, who is able to speak authorize
lively tells me that there is not
dock on the Atlantic coast north of
Savannah where an independent steam
ship line can land and handle its own
freight"
Mr.. Call will prepare a comprehen-
sive report upon receipt of certain Of
fetal data relative to the transactions
of the congress.
The recommendation in the resolu-
lions to which he referred, which en-
bodied his amendment, was adopted by
the congress as follows;
1--WE further urge that congress at
this session authorize the completion
of such river and harbor projects
heretofore entered upon as are of such
a character as to surely fit into and
carry into effective use any larger,
comprehensive and connected water
way system that may be subsequently
adopted"