Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-06
NECESSITY FOR
ADEQUATE PORT
IS imp ERATIvE
SAN PEDRO HARB0R MUST BE
DEVELOPED AT ONCE Z
LOS ANGELES NEEDS TO ACT ON
THE DEFENSIVE
Interior Points VIII Attack Position
of Angel City as to Railroad
Tariffs-Water Rates
Only Solution

"Purely from a traffic standpoint 1t
is highly important we fortlfy our
commercial position by development OF
the harbor at San Pedro and winning
ton as quickly as possible" said f. r.
Gregson, traffic manager of the Assoc
ciated Jobbers of Los Angeles, aftN
his return yesterday from interstate
commerce hearings at Phoenix, Ariz:,
and Reno, New. This is essential,
from a defensive point of view, for
every interior point is about to attack
the position of Los Angeles as to job
bling rates. 1t became evident at the
Phoenix and Reno hearings that ocean
TRANSFORMATION may be of greater inn
portance than has heretofore been APP
parent. If reductions asked for are
granted it is possible the defensive
move TO protect our jobbing territory
must be through water rates, and this
makes an adequate harbor as soon as
possible the more imperative.
nat Reno the question of present ter
minal rates was involved, but Phoenix
did not directly ask for terminal rates,
only for those which should be deemed
fair and reasonable The line OF tes-
timony was for terminal rates Tor
Phoenix, however. 1t was argued that
Phoenix is entitled to as low rates as
Los Angeles, and that Los Angeles is
an interior point and not entitled TO
terminal rates. This question has been
so thoroughly before the courts 1t was
not seriously considered.
~. c. Stubs of San Francisco, as
sistant general freight agent of the
Southern Pacific, made the statement
at the Reno hearing that Los Angeles
receives very little freight through San
Pedro harbor. He did not appear to
be well acquainted with conditions in
Southern California.
1.-THE hearings have an important
bearing on traffic matters concerning
the coast cities. l think the interstate
commerce commission will gather evil
dence in connection with these hear
ings through testimony taken at Los
Angeles"
The report of deputy collector of the
port of San Pedro, William Mahar, for
the month of March was issued yes
terday. 1t shows a healthy growth in
the lumber imports besides an increase
in the importation of foreign freight.
During the month 50.506,000 feet of
lumber was received, besides nearly
IA 900. 900 shingles and 7,799,000 lath.
There also was brought in $4,000
shakes, 10000 ties, $500 posts, 1852 tons
of flour, 432 tons of paper, 6561 tons OF
grain. 591, 280 pounds of fertilizer, 1000
barrels of cement, 5000 barrels of oil,
1891 tons of general merchandise and
7472 passengers.
The exports include 1928 tons Of
general merchandise, 125,500 barrels of
crude oil and S113 passengers.
The foreign imports include 1,o9s,83o
pounds of nitrate of soda, 922 hard-
wood logs, "a bales of ochia, 49S bags or
tapioca, $500 mats of rice, 1343 packages
of miscellaneous merchandise, 100
packages of firecrackers, 168 rolls OF
mating, Is cases of curios, lis casks
of sake and 100 casks of soy.
The foreign exports include 800 cases
of dynamite, 1900 cases of powder, 200
tons of plaster. There were 25 pas
sengers.
This foreign freight is a start in the
right direction and a forecast of what
will come to and be shipped from this
port when the harbor is opened to
competitive commerce, when deep
draught vessels can come here to dis
charge their cargoes and take on other
cargoes.
Channel Too Shallow
Criticism is often directed toward
the wholesalers of Los Angeles be-
cause more goods are not brought into
this port instead of San Diego. All
thinking men here realize the true
reasons. In the first place the en-
trance channel is not deep enough to
allow the big boats to come into the
docks and no provision has yet been
made to care for the big boats in the
outer harbor. And in the next place
there are no public docks where in
dependent vessels can find berths.
They are forced to make terms with
the railroad monopoly or go elsewhere.
These are the conditions which the
people of Los Angeles and the free
minded voters here are going to
change. With free public docks in
the outer harbor,' where the biggest
freight steamers can come and dock
/ in safety at any time, without pilotage
or towage or excessive wharf and rail-
road rates to Los Angeles, the custom
house reports will show tremendous
! increase in business
The auto trucks conveying the goods
from public warehouses on the outer
! harbor over broad macadamized high
WAYS to Los Angeles and vicinity pre-
| sents a picture which can easily be-
| come a condition when consolidation
| is effected and San Pedro harbor comes
/