Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-26

ence and work that got the breakwater To-
Gated there, and the money for dredging the
inner harbor, as well as money in the seventies
for the east and west Jetties.
And furthermore, it is by reason of the
population of Los Angeles that there is in
congress a senator and representative working
successfully for the fortifications to protect the
harbor, and it is the wealth and population of
Los Angeles that led the general staff of the
war department to write that remarkable re-
port urging the early fortifcation of San Pedro
harbor. And yet certain men and papers pre-
tend to ask what Los Angeles has done for
San Pedro harbor
And right here want to repeat what have
said other occasions. The harbor is not
San Pedros or Wilmingtons Long Beach 5.
1t Is the public'S harbOr, built with public
funds by the United States and what is needed
now is to make it just completely possi-
bic public harbor in fact as well as in theory.
The McCartney-LeedS consolidation bill is so
fair and just that L cannot see how any fair
minded object to it.
There must be municipal wharves and as
soon as consolidation is effected that question
must be worked out. There must be some in
the outer harbor, probably along the Miner
fill, where the city of San Pedro has reserved
rights. Then there must be some along the
present water front, between the Southern Pa
cifc slip and Smiths island, and then in the
east and west basins. OF course, there is the
area between the government reservation and
the breakwater where municipal docks could be
built, but as have already written the cham
her of commerce of San Pedro, hope to see
that area made a naval station, because in my
opinion that is the best place in San Pedro
harbor for it.
Then there is the breakwater, which is the
ideal place for docks for the great ocean
liners because there any depth of water up to
fifty feet and any length of wharves up to
1000 or more feet can be built whenever COM
merce requires it. But any money spent any
where in the harbor increases the value Of
every other part of the harbor and all harbor
towns.
For instance, Long Beach harbor would
never have been thought Of and could not
have been carried out it is E~s@ being
ried out if it had not been for the great i'm
provements the government has made at San
Pedro. Any money spent hereafter at San
Pedro or Wilmington will increase the value
OF Long Beach water front, and yet there are
people in Long Beach fighting a fair con-
solidation bill.
Majority Should Rule
Some say it should take more than a ma
jority vote to consolidate. In other words,
they think a minority should rule. So do all
kings and emperors and those who form an
olgarchy. A republic is a republic only
long the majority rule.
The opponents of consolidation are claiming
that taxes will be enormously increased by
consolidation. This also is absurd. If San
Pedro wants to establish a borough, her taxes
will be Just the same as without consolidation,
except to pay her share of expenses for harbor
bonds, and as 1 showed in the beginning, the
, total amount Of bonds San Pedro must stand
good for is only $4,000 out Of every $4,000, OGO
to be spent the harbor. And more than
San Pedro's streets.
Can any imagine better deal for San
Pedro?
In connection with this harbor, hope TO see
the pilots put on fixed salaries commensurate
with their responsibilities, the cost to be borne
by the consolidated city. Such act would
more favorably advertise San Pedro harbor
than anything else except public control with
municipal wharves which will insure the low
est possible charges and berth room for every
vessel that comes.
In conclusion I want to say that the United
States engineer office has done everything it
thought best for the harbor and never any
thing that might injure it, and 1 would not
write this letter if there a shadow Of
doubt in my mind that consolidation of Los
Angeles and the beach towns was not the best
and only thing to insure a great harbor at San
Pedro.
The Panama canal will be open January l.
1915 and possibly sooner and San Pedro must
be ready for that opening, or be set back ten
years. And San Pedro cannot get ready with
out consolidation.
- To sum up, San Pedro has everything to
gain and nothing to lose by consolidation.
Very sincerely,
AMOS A. FRIES,
Captain Corps of Engineers, U. S. A