Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-19
alTTEE SURPRISED AT
8WgATURAL ADVANTAGES
Rail FTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENTS
EXPLAINED TO VISITORS
Men Appointed by Last Legislature
to Investigate Conditions Promise
to Cooperate with Residents
of Seaside City

and other nearby CllleS Inspected new
mort harbor and Balboa bay yesterday.
The party left the Huntington building
at Sixth and Main streets at 1926 a. m.
and returned to Los Angeles about 8
o'clock in the afternoon.
THE comment of those who had never
seen Newport before was that they were
most agreeably surprised at the size of
the bay and the natural taclntes Tor
harbor there.
Senator l.. A Wright of San Diego,
chairman of the committee, said after
ward that the enthusiasm of all attending
the meeting held at the Hotel Balboa,
Newport was most propitious for the
successful undertaking on their part of
harbor improvement.
In his after-dinner speech at the hotel
H. also spoke of the surprise of the COM
mittee at finding such a vast natural
harbor, and their willingness to CO.
operate and do all in their power to aid
in building up this harbor for the fleets
of the future.
Will Visit Eureka
The legislative committee, Senator
Wright said, would go to Eureka in about
a month. But they leave today for San
Diego.
The committee was comprised of Sena-
tor l.. A. Wright of San Diego, chair
man; Assemblyman w r. Leeds of Los
Angeles, secretary; Senator T. J. Ken
nedy OF San Francisco, Senator Edward
1. Wolf, Assemblyman Louis Stroll of
San Francisco and P. o. johnson of San
Diego. Mayor Harper was represented by
his brother, Dr. e. j. Harper of Los
Angeles, while Secretary Frank Virgins
of the Los Angeles chamber of commerce
was one of the official representatives of
that body.
In all about 200 persons were in the
party when the banquet was held at
T
Angeles in two private cars of the Pacific
Electric.
e. j. Lewis of Los Angeles was in
charge of the party and made the day
one great success as far as management
was concerned. Reaching Balboa bay at
10:45 the party embarked in launches and
viewed the bay with it wide land-locked
inner harbor, riding eighteen miles In all.
The committee was especially interested
when they were shown the old harbor
landing of Old Newport, as 1t is known,
at Port Orange, where thirty years ago
freight and passengers were landed in
boats. The vast stretches of the inner
harbor were a revelation to them.
Have Faith in Harbor
One of the residents of Newport ex-
planned they believed that for 100000 this
harbor could be made the equal of San
Pedro, upon which 100000 has been ex-
pended.
Along the shores of the inner harbor,
where the country is called Port Orange,
they expect some day to have a great
residence district, fine boulevard along
the top of the stately bluff, with a trolley
line running in through the canon from
Los Angeles and other points, and ex-
tending along the water front Indica-
tons of oil formation are plainly visible
along the front of tho bluffs, which was
inf mint for fha
mittee's consideration.
After the members of the party had been
photographed in their boats by pano-
ramic camera, they returned to the hotel,
where the management had prepared
generous repast
Toastmaster E. ]. Lewis said that New
port was not trying to build up a pleas
ure resort for summer or for winter.
He declared he heard many of the COM
mittee were surprised at the extent Of
the harbor, and added that when the
chairman of the committee had asked
him what they wanted at Newport he
had replied that they wanted the commit
tee to report the condition of things
which they found at Newport before the
next session of the state legislature.
All Pull Together
There were no difficulties here; all were
pulling together, he said. and If the gov
eminent has decided that San Pedro can
be developed by a few millions. why he
felt sure they'd feel Balboa was also
worth while.
He added he was sorry Captain Amos
A. Fries of Los Angeles had been unable
to attend, but that Colonel F. V. Abbott
of the war department, Washington, d.
c., assistant to the chief of engineers,
had arrived on the Owl the night before
and had asked Captain Fries to go to
San Diego on government business.
The first speaker introduced by the
POSTMASTER wa Byron Oliver, who said
in part:
II have been here for twenty-three
years, and this is the first time I've real
lied the possibilities of our harbor.
realize that the natural advantages Of
California will make it the greatest manu-
featuring and commercial state in the
Union. l suggest that the members of
the committee have by this time deter
mined to give 100000 or Sc, 100000 for the
Improvement of Newport harbor."
DR.. e. j. Harper, the brother of Los
Angeles mayor, was then introduced as
5 the latter official representative upon
this occasion, and spoke in part as fol-
lows:
Has Great Future
II think Balboa harbor has arrived.
we came near today to celebrating the
zOOth anniversary of Balboas discovery
Of the Pacific Five years more will
bring that anniversary here. Balboa was
looking for the gold already found, while
we today are seeking the gold which
sun lies hidden in the everlas ting hills.
rms fact that our government is will
ing to send its great Atlantic fleet to
TINS coast is showing to the world that
we or America arc determined TO fight out
our destinies on the Pacific coast China
has awakened in the east and her re-
sources await the touch of American
capital We must havei harbors to meet
that mighty traffic which will be devel-
oped in the east Los Angeles. the me-
tropolis OF Southern California is looking
for opportunities to invest her capitai.
We are glad to come to Newport harhor
and beg the committee to look TO the
mighty interests of our state. NOT univ
our state government but the government
will be glad to put millions into this en-
terprise
The address OF Clyde Bishop of Santa
Ana, the next speaker was one of the
most practical + the day, as he called
attention to the fact that It is to the citi-
zens of Santa Ana and Orange county.
the people OF Newport must look for the
first practical aid in this harbor improve
ment work
First organize. was his cry. then agi-
tate. And he declared that at the next