Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-23
HARBOR BOARD
SUSTAINS PLAN
OF CAPT. FRIES
CORPORATE INTERESTS FAIL
TO SECURE CHANGE
ENLARGEMENTs MADE IN AID or
NAVIGATION
temporary Victory Won by Those
Who Have Been Fighting for
Free Port at San
Pedro

BY unanimous decision the harbor
lines board, which met in Wilmington
Thursday to hear objections to the
Fries plan, has not only sustained Capt.
Amos Fries as against the attacks OF
the private interests, but has made en-
largements.
The decision was officially announced
from the United States engineers office
in the Central building yesterday af-
ternoon. Such decision had been an
ticipated, but it was not expected be-
fore the last Of the week or the first
of next week. Consequently the action
was not generally known last night.
According to the decision the lines
are changed so that the west basin OF
the outer harbor Is made 900 feet wide
instead of 500, that the lines of the Y
shaped inner harbor on which Water
street In Wilmington fronts is changed
to be coincident with the line of Water
street, a change that sufffces winning
ton in its wishes and makes possible
the use of the municipality owned 'front.'
age of eighteen acres. In addition the
outer harbor is altered so that the pier
lines are established for distance OF
1000 feet and the channel lines con-
tinued that distance. This change is
to accommodate the immediate con-
struction of open piers for the use OF
deep sea shipping.
In short, the plea for adequacy and
future commerce has not only been met
in its approximate sense, but the board
has leaned rather to the maximum
than the approximate.
Complete Victory
The decision Is regarded as COM
plete victory for the dlsinterested mar
bor advocates, who have so long bat
fled with the corporate interests that
have tried, even after the certainty OF
San Pedro has been near, to curtail as
much as possible its freedom from
their control.
In the concessions made by the mar
bor lines board to these private inter-
ests there is none that Is not In the in
tereet of navigation and enlargement
The change suggested by the Bannings
In the channel running northeast ana
southwest past the north end OF MOI
mon island Is conceded. II means tne
increasing of the width of that channel
from 250 feet to 800 and will be accom-
plished by moving the north line OF
4 that channel shoreward.
\ The board does not intend to forward
its report to washington until about
CJulv 10, and gives notice that supple
nenrary suggestions will be received
Turing the intervening two weeks. II
understood. however, that the board
/ stanch for the Fries scheme and that
(ol Biddie was an important factor IN
he enlargements proposed. OF sucn
6tails the board, with military rigid
ikl will not talk
The Official Statement
The statement issued yesterday fol-
liws:
United states Engineer office,
722 Central building
Los Angeles Cal. June s2. 1908.
To whom 1t May Concern;
After carefully considering all the
arguments submitted at the public
hearing held at wilmington. Cal. on
June is, 1908. and after considering
fully the future possibilities OF san
pedro barbor the harbor line board has
decided to recommend that harbor lines
bo established in accordance with those
shown in red on map on exhipition Ut
the hearing. with the following eHcep-
1. A pierhead line to be established
haeo feet seward and parallel to the
bulkhead line proposed In the outer
3 That the west channel in the
Inter harbor be made 600 feet wide by
moving the west line 100 feet shore
q That the west line of the west
channel be continued straight to the
rderhbad line. -,
4 That the pierhead line on the
cast side of the west channel be termi-
mated by a line perpendicular to the
outer pierhead line.
s. That the crook proposed Tor
either the east west channel De
onstfed and that the channels ba ter
minated by line running perpendicu-
lar to J-a through the north end OF the
west channel.
approximately ninety feet from the
east jetty in the inner harbor beginning
at the government reservation line
around Deadmans island and extending
northerly along the double work of the
east Jetty to the special government
reservation 700 feet In length.
q That the pierhead line at the
- fbn reservation
shall begin at point about ninety
feet westerly from station O." and
thence run straight line to the
original pierhead line at the southeriy
extremity of the present wharf OF the
Salt Lake Railroad company
g. TO make that portion of the har-
bor line just west OF the present turn
inr basin and north OF Smiths island,
parallel to and fifty feet from the CEN
ter Of the Southern Pacific company's
tracks for a distance of about s5o feet
slip Omitted
o. That the slip requested in the
west basin. extending from the chan
mel to the edge of Smiths island. near
the southern Pacific company's tracks
be omitted. In general terms the board
does not believe It desirable TO provide
for any slips. as these can always be
made by persons having the necessary
state rights to the land and frontage
along harbor lines
10. That a slight change be made in
the line proposed In the west pasin
north OF Smiths island. SO as to give
an easier entrance to the channel rum
ming north and south along the west
edge of Smiths island.
IL That the straight line along the
west side OF Mormon island be changed
to two lines forming an obtuse angle
with the channel and following APP
proximately the high water line.
H. That the 250-foot channel run
ming northeast and southwest past the
north end OF Mormon island be made
400 feet in width by moving the north
line OF that channel shoreward nifty
feet
i3. That curve be substituted for
< the two straight lines forming an angle
on the southerly side OF the channel
south Of Mormon island. the curve to
be about 1 degree 30 min.
<% II. That the Y-shaped turning basin
In front Of the town OF Wilmington be
changed slightly 30 that the northerly
line OF the west arm shall coincide with
the south line of Water street. and the
southerly side Of that arm be given
fContinued on Page Twc)