Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-26
HARBOR SOLVES
WAGE PROBLEM
DECLARES WATER TRANSP0R-
TATI0N NECESSARY
AVENUES OF RETAIL TRADE ARE
OVERCOME
j. n. Call Says Channels Of Manufac-
turing Industries Are Stagnated by
Excessive Carrying Charges
on Railroads

In the opinion Of Joseph II. Call,
president of the Municipal Waterways
association, adequate public harbor
facilities in Los Angeles would so de-
velop manufacturing and other COM
mercial lines that the wage and em-
ployment problems would be solved in
this section. More than that, Mr.. Call
declares that harbor development Is
absolutely necessary IL the prosperous
growth of the Los Angeles district Is
to continue unchecked
EVERY one of you," he told his audi
ence at the Santa Monica bay meeting
Saturday evening, "can think OF a
dozen young men with nothing to do.
The avenues of retail trade are over
done, while those of manufacturing are
plugged up by excessive transportation
rates. The cold fact OF the matter is
that the railways are charging us every
year in freight rates $25,000,00O for
service that ought to come by water for
less than S5,000,000. That $20,O00,0OO
of unreasonable tribute, If diverted to
manufacturing industries, would give
us a business development that would
be tremendous.
present conditions cannot last al
ways. The growth of this beach Sec
ton. of all this district, cannot go on
purely because people are coming here
with money from the east to invest.
This is the only place in all the United
States where perfect climate Is COM
bined with healthfulness. This fact
has attracted desirable citizens from all
parts of the world, and has brought in
great amount of money, with its In
evitable building UP of this section.
But for a permanent and solid growth
there must be businesses established
and factories built.
1.-THE railroads, however, do not in
tend you shall be manufacturing peo-
pie They propose to move across the
continent products on which you must
pay an average freight of $25 ton,
and to take from this district $40, 600, 900
year more than you ought to pay.
They intend that you shall continue
to be consumers only; that you shall
not become commercial people.
Warned by History
"The inevitable results that follow
such condition of affairs are pointed
out In history. Germany and England
present sufficient warnings. In Eng
land today thousands, even millions.
are out of work and facing starvation.
The reason for this is that the rail-
ways have shackled commerce by ex-
orbitant rates, to enforce which they
have plugged the waterways of that
nation. Germany is now outdiStancing
England commercially, although twen-
ty-five years ago all Germany was
stagnant because of situation similar
to that which England now faces.
"In 1875 private corporations owned
the railways of Germany, and had Sc
cured control of the canals, harbors
and water fronts. They had either
closed up water transportation or had
raised the rates to enforce tranSpOrta-
ton by rail. AS a result imports were
largely exceeding exports, the people
were forced out of employment, for
raw material could not be obtained for
manufacturing, and the greatest dis
tress prevailed.
"Then a comprehensive national plan
was formulated for the acquisition of
the railways, construction of canals
and Improvement Of harbors and navi-
gable rivers. At that time the rail-
roads had practically a monopoly of
transportation in Germany, but at the
present time the waterways have been
so improved that more than two thirds
of the transportation is carried on by
water, and only one-third by rail, yet
the volume of business has been in
creased 500 per cent. Rates by rail
have been lowered to less than 11a
cents a ton mile. though they were
more than double that charge, and
water rates have been fixed at an aver
age of one-sixth of cent per mile,
even for short hauls.
Cologne az an Example
"Cologne, $50 miles from the water
front, has beenN made virtually sea-
port city, with the result that it's COM
merce has been increased from 49,
600, 600 tons in 1875 to more than 50,-
600, 900 tons in 1900. In cost of trans
portation each year a sum several
times greater than the total cost of the
waterways Improvement has been
saved.
"We can profit by these facts. have
heard a pessimist defined as a man
who, between two evils. chose both.
am no pessimist, but in a matter of
choice If / had to choose between two
harbors for Los Angeles I would select
both. We must have them to provide
for the development that is possible.
and, If allowed to come, must within
twenty-five years occupy every foot of
ground between the mountains back of
Pasadena and the water front. The
port of San Pedro Is not now on the
marine maps of the world because
there is no provision there for foreign
ships. We must get on the maritime
|
significant in comparison with the re-
suits.
eminent engineers have informed
me that less than a million dollars will
construct a canal practically at sea
level, inland four miles from Santa
Monica bay, that will bring the largest
ships within four miles of Los An
geles. That canal, with jetties. turning
basin and eight miles of wharfage. not
counting slips, can be built for less
than one twenty-fourth of the amount
Los Angeles will expend on the Owens
river proposition. Such a canal will
mean a million people more for this
district, and all the territory will be
solidly built UP between Los Angeles
and Ocean Park and Venice, with uii-
told opportunities for manufacturing
and commerce."
CATHOLIC 5AzAARS BEING
GIVEN IN TWO PARISHES