Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-20
BOTTLE UP
HARBOR OF
SAN PEDRO
FLINT'S RESOLUTION STIRS UP
BUSINESS MEN
PUTS EAST BASIN IN CONTROL OF
CORPORATIONS
Commercial Organizations Planning to
Defeat Scheme to Halt Harbor
Lines Work Now In
Congress

Unless the chambers of commerce and
ether commercial bodies of Southern
California take immediate action in op-
position, Senator F'lint's resolution af-
fecting the harbor lines for the east
basin at Wilmington will effectually
bottle up San Pedro harbor for the
Southern Pacific interests.
Copies of Senator Flint's resolution
Rave just come to Los Angeles, only a
brief message on the subject having
-eached the city previously.
The resolution is brief in phraseology
but weighty in import. The document
is known as senate resolution No. "a
and reads:
Be it resolved, that whenever
requested by a majority of own
ers of land abutting on and un-
DERIVING the waters of the east
basin of the inner harbor of San
Pedro, otherwise known as Will
mington Harbor, Cal, the secre-
tary of war is hereby authorized
to fix and establish pierhead and
bulkhead lines, either or both, in
said waters, beyond which no
piers, wharves, bulkheads or
other work shall be extended or
deposits made except under such
regulations as may be prescribed
from time to time by him.
This resolution was read twice and
referred to the committee on commerce.
Los Angeles Awakens
AS soon as members of the harbors
commission last night learned OF the
congressional action. steps were at once
taken to overcome the hostile legfsla-
ton.
Resolutions will at once be presented
before all commercial organizations.
Friends of San Pedro harbor point
out that under the wording of the res
olution nothing will be done by the
secretary until "a majority of owners
of the land" request 1t.
AS the Southern Pacific corporations,
with the Bannings, control most of the
east basin frontage, they will make no
move. This is tantamount to saying
that nothing will be done until these
owners demand 1t.
This will keep the basin bottled up
by uncertainties. The great drawback
to new establishments being located
along the harbor has been this uncer-
tainty.
DR.. J. w. Oakley. manager of the
Imperial Investment company, said last
night:
This perniciors legislation, If en-
acted, will practically ruin the harbor
of Southern California. II we can't
overcome it San Pedro belongs to the
Southern Pacific.
"I am not saying this as an interested
property owner or stockholder, but as
a friend of Southern California. I am
willing to sign over my interests to the
CITY of Los Angeles If it will insure an
open harbor.
Corporations Dominate
"JJnder this resolution the corpora
tons will forever dominate the east
basin, and if they can do that their
influence for the west basin will be
equally pernicious.
Everybody in Southern California
should be aroused at once.
s'It is our last hope for the harbor."
Captain Amos A. Fries, chief of en-
gineers for the harbor, said that this
resolution would complicate rather than
clear the situation at San Pedro.
"The east basin includes the section
east of the Southern Pacific tracks, and
The west basin that west of the tracks,"
said Captain Fries.
"By mentioning the east basin specif-
ically the inference will be that that
basin is recognized rather than the
other one. although far more frontage
and more cheap frontage can be devel-
oped in the west basin."