Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-15
BIG PRC>sy,T
LAUNCHED IN
LOS ANGELES
ELEVATED INDEPENDENT RAIL
WAY CONSIDERED
FORMER GOULD OFFICIAL AT
HEAD OF ENTERPRISE
Plans Include Dredging of Open Port.
Connecting Road to Be Used by q
All-Two Companies
incorporated

TWO projects OF tne greatest hhteiSSe
and benefit TO Los Angeles and sur
rounding territory, and, in fact, to the
whole southwest, took form yesterday
when articles of Incorporation were
filed in the office of the county clerk
for the Los Angeles Harbor company
and the Los Angeles Harbor Railroao
company, both having the same OH,
GERS and directors and with total
capital stock of $5,00O,0OO
The capital stock of the harbor com
pany is $2,5OO,000, of which $5OO,OOO is
preferred, and provision Is made lot
bonded indebtedness of $1,000O0O
The stated purpose of this company
is to develop the west basin and TO
dredge Bixby slough, build a narpor
and extensive docks at wilmington
and create facilities for the accommo-
dation of the largest vessels which now
ply the Pacific ocean. The depth OF
the harbor will be thirty feet. t1ve
years, 1t is estimated, will be required
to complete this work.
While the work of dredging is being
carried on. docks, elevators and ware
houses, it Is said, Will be constructed.
the docks to have more than mile OF
frontage and equipped in manner 10
care for the greatest amount of trafflc.
The expense of dredging west basin
and building docks is estimated at
$1,OO0,000 while the work IN Bixpy
slough will cost between TOUR anu HFe
million dollars. -
When the harbor is completed 1t will
he known as a free harbor," and ships
from the Orient will be allowed to land
at a rental fixed by the city of Will
mington.
Plan to Build New Line
The Los Angeles Harbor Railroad
company has a capital of $2,500,000 and
50 900 900 of bonds. 1t is the stated
purpose to build an independent line
from Los Angeles to Wilmington, a
distance of twenty-five miles.
A right of way has already been
acquired from Wilmington to Slauson
avenue. and several plans 1t Is said,
are under consideration for entering
the city.
This is the greatest problem con-
fronting the promoters of the new line,
and one of three ways will be decided
upon in the near future.
One plan is to ask the city for per-
nit to build an underground road.
similar to those now being constructed
in many parts of the east.
Another plan is to secure permission
to utilize some of the public streets,
while another is to get right of way
i'm a portion of the river bed.
If arrangements can be made to en-
ter the city in the last named manner,
it is the purpose, according to officers
of the company, to build along the
lines of the elevated system now in
use in New York.
The railroad will be built by inde-
pendent capital, which, it is declared,
has been secured The use of the
tracks will be allowed to all roads now
operating in Los Angeles. and to any
new roads that may be built in the
future. Competition will thus be as
sured between all lines entering the
city and each will have equal access
to the harbor, the development of the
latter being in the hands of an inde-
pendent company which will provide
dockage and facilities for all roads.
Free Port Is Promised
In this way Los Angeles will have
what it has long locke forward to
with hope-a free harbor and railroad,
uncontrolled by any one interest.
At the head of the new corporation
is A. C. Bird, who, at a meeting of the
directors Friday, was elected presi-
dent. r. c. Wintrode was elected secJ
retary and j. w. oakley treasurer at
the same meeting.
The directorate is made up of the fol-
lowing men:
A. c. Bird, Jacob Baruch, N. W. My
rick, Lee G.. Gates, Fielding j. StilSon,
r. c. Wintrode, A. p. Maginnis, H. C.
Oakley, j. W. Oakley, all of Los An
geles; f. =. Cary, Wilmington, and w.
j. Arkell of New York
Mr.. Arkell has been chosen to assist
The president.
Those who will have charge of the
legal interests of the new railroad and
harbor companies are the law firm of
Lawler, Allen, Van Dyke & Jutten and
Lloyd Murtrie.
A. C. Bird was formerly vice presi-
dent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul road and more recently has SUI
pervised the traffic of all the Gould
railroads.
Mr.. Bird yesterday said he had re-
tired from the Gould roads two years
ago. He has taken up the new
project with a great deal of interest.
He refused to say one way or another
whether Gould was connected with the
new enterprise, but did say that as
the Salt Lake railroad started as a
terminal and was made transconti-
mental line he would not be surprised
if the little road now planned grew
in like proportions.
Mr.. Bird will be active in the enter
prise and will be at his desk in the
Security building daily after the first
of the week.
MIR. Bird, who came to California
sometime ago to rest and recuperate,
has been living at Compton.
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