Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-16
WORK
DONE NEAR SAN
PEDRO HARBOR
COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR AND
COUNCIL SEE PROGRESS
GOVERNMENT ENGINEERS TAKE
PARTY ON TRIP
ArgeIenos Learn from Actual observa-
tion Significance Of Tide Land
Litigation Brought on
Peoples Behalf

Capt. Amos A. Fries, who Is in charge
of the government engineering work
in the Southern California district, on
an inspection trip of the harbor work
at San Pedro.
Much of the morning and afternoon
was spent in viewing the gigantic work
that has been undertaken for South
ern California by Uncle Sam, the muni-
| cipalities, the railroads and private in
terests. and though to most of the
guests the visual developments were
not new, they furnished to all deeper
realization of the future that lies be-
fore the residents of Los Angeles coun-
ty when 1t gains an ocean frontage,
wharves and channels for the seaport
of Los Angeles.
With San Francisco figuring on
spending $50,00O,O00 to get a harbor
suitable for the commerce which the
Panama canal will bring the trip yes
terday partakes of historic interest to
the communities nearest to San Pedro
and to the state at large.
The start was made at 9:55 o'clock in
a special Pacific Electric car, with
Mayor Harper representing the NUM-
cipality.
Capt. Amos A.. Fries, the host had
as his aids Lieut.. Charles Leeds and
First Assistant Engineer d. e. Hughes
of the government engineers staff
The Los Angeles harbor commission
was represented by Chairman George
H. Stewart, Thomas e. Gibbon, f.. w.
Braun and Secretary A. p. Fleming.
]. e. Carr, the new member. is absent
from the city, and Mr.. Braun, who re-
signed from the commission a few days
ago, acted as his substitute.
The city council was represented by
five of its nine members Messrs. A. ].
Wallace, Henry H. Yonkin, e. A. Clam
pitt. Bernard Healy and r. w. Drom-
gold.
San Pedro had three representatives
with the party-Secretary w. F. Bick-
enbach of the chamber of commerce.
Frank Garbutt and Capt. Louis Han
son.
Cruise Around Aarbor
When the car reached San Pedro q
delegation of local business men met
the visitors and a few moments were
spent in fraternizing.
The Angelenos then boarded a gov
ernment launch for a cruise around
the harbor to note the sweep OF the
harbor lines and the matchless oppor-
tunities for ocean-going ships to find
refuge and landing places and to trace
the dredging courses.
The visitors passed Mormon, island.
alighted on the breakwater to view the
substantial character of the work and
then passed into the Southern Pacific
slip, noting the Miner fill also.
One of the points particularly noticed
was that the land which certain inter-
ests had sought to claim under tide
land patents presumably being sus-
ceptible of reclamation for husbandry
and agriculture) were under from five
to ten feet of water.
Mayor Harper and the councilmen
had never before officially noted these
conditions, and the facts were duly
impressed on them.
AS point after point was explained
by the government officials and the
harbor commissioners to the Los An
geles officials the scheme of the re-
Gently approved harbor lines was
shown to be based on the securing of
the greatest amount of good out of the
harbor for wharfage, turning basins.
fills and warehouse facilities.
Luncheon time having arrived the
party proceeded to the South Coast
Yacht clubs quarters, where a spread
was served under the direction of Sec
retary Bickenbach, who is to the San
Pedro chamber of commerce what
Frank Virgins is to the Los Angeles
body Of boosters.
0FScGHcS at OdHquSV
Talks were made by the visitors at
this banquet calling attention to the
greatness of the harbor project, the
necessity for united and aggressive
action and the changes in the worlds
commerce routes made possible by the
Panama canal, as well as the grow
ing Importance of the Alaska and
Asiatic commercial interests.
On motion OF Secretary Fleming a
vote of thanks was extended to Capt.
Fries and the San Pedro people for
their hospitality and courtesies.
That millions will soon be spent by
private interests aside from the gov
ernrnent appropriations was apparent
yesterday.
The long delayed work on the Miner
fill has begun with the arrival of the
long delayed piles. Many of these piles
will be used in the building of a super
structure along the lines of the Miner
fill, as indicated in the original plans
accepted by the city of San Pedro
when Lieut.. Miners company got the
franchise.
These original plans called for
tongue and grooved wooden bulkhead
to inclose the filled-in dredgings. Un-
der recent contracts, however, the new
work will be changed and will be much
like that on the government break
water.
The superstructure will be four piles
deep. capable of sustaining rock-laden
cars during the filling-in process. just
as was done on the San Pedro outer
harbor work.
Meanwhile the Pacific Wharf and
company Is completing It's inn
provement work on the bulkhead east
of the filled land at East San Pedro.
This company has closed contracts for
rock ballast. 1t will use a great num-
ber OF piles.
piles are also being delivered to the
Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific company for
use on the jetties at the mouth of the
San Gabriel river, where the approach
to the new Salt Lake lines drawbridge
is nearing completion.
Civil Engineer Floyd G. Dessery is |
making a complete survey of the lines
Of the proposed new channel leading
from the turning basin, at the upper
end of tho inner harbor at San Pedro, |
to the foot Of Canal street in Wilming-l
fCcntfnued on Page Twol