Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
CONSOLIDATION

Angeles, san PedrO, the Pacluc
~ coast and the United States IS
| consolidation that a reviewing glance
at some of the major issues at stake
! does not conduce to the mental quie-
tude of intelligent and appreciative
citizens who understand to the full ex-
tent of it's baseness the turpitude of
Savage and the other corporation
coyotes that have been shifting and
prowling and growing around the con-
solidation measure. The interests of
Los Angeles demand a consolidation
| bill without strings, without amend
ments, without interferences. The con-
! solidation bill must be a square deal
measure and consolidation must be
carried into effect with an eye to the
general good and the prosperity of the
people Of Los Angeles, San Pedro ana
the Pacific coast.
The destiny of Los Angeles is init
mately connected with the success of
consolidation. To hinder the move
ment now cannot prevent it from sue
ceeding some day, even as the sea-
port of San Pedro is bound to sue
| ceed in spite of possible damage to it's
reputation by the publication in the
important shipping centers Of the
world of the fantastic plans which
have been made to discourage foreign
| shipping. But it will be wisdoms
fpart to effect consolidation arrange
ments as soon as possible, and, as it
were, to set our big house in order
for our expected guests and not to
wait until their arrival before we be-
gin, madly and belatedly, to set things
to rights. It is against a penny-wise-
pound-foolish policy that The Herald
most earnestly protests.
We have labored zealousIy to induce
the people of this community to share
our metropolitan view of Greater Los
Angeles. We believe the vast majority
Of citizens sympathize with US and
share that view.
Los lgeles has reached a point in
its development where it needs San
Pedro, and San Pedro has reached a
point in it's development where it
| needs Los Angeles. United, they stand
to win. Divided, the seaport will be
exposed to the Vaccinations of willy
corporation politicians, who, after hav-
ing effectually scared away world
commerce by prohibitive pilotage fees
and other dues, will proceed to use
San Pedro for corporation purposes,
| and will reap the benefit of all the
governmental improvements. Such
condition cannot even be thought of
with patience.
Consolidation must be effected on a
square and fair basis. San Pedro must
be world port, and with a world port
at San Pedro Los Angeles will be one
of the worlds greatest cities.
With consolidation San Pedro even
before the completion Of the Panama
canal, will have become the leading
seaport Of the west; indeed, one Of the
principal seaports of the world. The
richness of the Pacific trade that must
yet be opened up is incalculable. If
we may compare Atlantic commerce
to an old, faithful, we'll worked, ever
productive and constantly lucrative
gold mine, we may compare that of
the Pacific to a mine that has hardly
been touched-one which contains
riches far greater than those Of the
older mine. The Importance of the
Pacific will be increased with the in
creased civilization Of some Of the
nations that use it, and with the in
creased facilities of nations already
using it.
Some years ago Frank Vincent, in a
book on South America, pointed out
the huge commercial possibilities Of
the South American Pacific coast, and
showed that the United States Pacific
coast was logically destined to be-
come more important than the Allan
tic seaboard. The most important store
is that which has the most customers
and the biggest volume of trade; and
there are so many more possible Gus
toners on the Pacific than on the A.
| lantic that the ocean Columbus sailed
must become second in importance to
that which Balboa discovered. An
| overwhelming majority of the inhabi-
tants Of the world live in Pacific sea-
coast countries. We believe modern
civilization will succeed in making a
commercial impression on the millions
of Asia. They will see it is to their
advantage to cultivate peace and good
will. When at last the problem is solved
| and there is mutual confidence and a
good understanding all around, the
Pacific will be thronged with vessels.
The big ocean will furnish highways
for the greatest commercial activity
in the worlds history, and San Pedro
will attract to Los Angeles much Of
the oriental and Australasian COM
merce as well as that of the Pacific
coast, north and south.
Greater Los Angeles sooner or later
in the twentieth century will become
the principal city of the United Sttaes.