Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-22

a street opened to the water front
today except Fifth street, and
that's only a landing where you
can go down to the waters edge
it. out paying if the Southern Pa
cific says so.
Make Large Profit
They are making a clean profit of
several hundred thousands of dol
lars every year, and yet have they
ever offered to San Pedro In return
for such a princely income thou
sand feet of frontage where the
people could do business just as
they pleased? Never.
On the other hand they have tried
in the past as they are trying now
to grab anything that looked like it
might be used by the public. Three
years ago they asked to have the
146-acre piece in the outer harbor
given to them, and tried to claim
the breakwater because their cars
happened to run over it. The war
department turned them down then
Just as it turned them down when
they tried to get the inner harbor
by their peninsular plan.
And now they want to grab con-
troll of the heart of the inner har-
Dor by putting a steel band around
1t. 1t isn't because they want to
have their railroad handy for the
business. See where they follow
the shore line. II they could get
that 100-foot right of way for fifty
years they could say to you: you
can't land there unless you pay our
price"
There wouldn't be a street leading
to the water front. It would shut
out any slips, which is the only way
that part of the harbor can be i'm
proved so as to develop its natural
advantages This is a direct blow
at an Pedro. No part of the inner
harbor, except that now made
railroad yard in front of your city,
is so available to the citizens of San
Pedro. 1t is just as near for your
laborers as the new lumber yards
on the east side. With a municipal
ferry you can go there and back
for four cents or less.
Must Pay Similar Rate
But if the Southern Pacific shuts
1t up you would have to pay 20
cents a round trip just as you do
now to go to Terminal, because
there would be no public landing
place, and no public streets leading
to the water front. They tried to
get franchises down C, d and E
streets of Wilmington leading to
Mormon island.
Then they come and say it is a
mere formality, just what they
are entitled to, because the Ban
nings own the land. And they
know better. All but three or four
acres of the 10 acres in Mormon
island is claimed by the state, and
suits are now in progress to test
their titles.
They are deceiving your trustees.
Tney know the franchises would be
good, even If the people win the
tideland suits, and then they could
say to you, What are you going
to do with your tide lands? You
gave US the water front, and if you
do any business there you will pay
us dear for it,"
Look how they asked for a 100
foot strip, beginning at the waters
edge. And notice how they left a
gap along the island proper where
they apparently think their titles
will be good.
If they were honest in telling you
they simply wanted what they are
entitled to they would be yelling
like mad for franchises over the
10000 feet of frontage along the
Salt Lake land. The title is good.
They know no one else but those
to whom they may lease land could
use that frontage.
Mbu fbaU Y-n telling fha truth
aren't they rushing for wharf fran
chises and rights of way along the
Huntington concessions? They think
the Huntington concession title
good and they can build there when
they please.
Attempt to Grab Public Rights
Study these franchises over any
way you please, and it works out
to be nothing but a brazen attempt
to grab extremely valuable public
rights by deceiving your trustees.
And what do they care for Mr..
Walton, Mr.. Duffy, Mr.. Tilton or
Mr.. Foot? Nothing; absolutely moth
ing, only so long as they can use
them. What do these franchise
applicants care for the families of
the trustees?
If the Southern Pacific can get
what it wants it doesn't care if the
wives and children of the trustees
hang their heads in shame because
husbands and fathers were deceived
into giving public rights-yes, pub
lie money away for nothing.
Public money? Yes, public money,
Just as much as if they took it out
of your city treasury, for those
rights are valuable and would sell
for large sums.
But you don't want to sell them.
There are things too valuable to
sell for any sum. Your honor, the
honor of your wives and children.
and liberty.
Control is what they want. con-
troll of your harbor. This is only
part of a nationwide scheme to
control all transportation in the in