Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-29
WANTS SHIPS TO
STOP AT HARBOR
CHAMBER OF MINES AFTER
MEXICAN LINE
WOULD MAKE SAN PEDRO THE
NORTHERN TERMINAL
President of New Navigation Company
Favorable to Los Angeles Port if
Sufficient Business Is
Guaranteed

With the plan of interesting Los An
geles business men in the proposition
of having the new Pacific Coast Navi-
cation company, the Mexican coast
wise steamship company reaching out
| for Southern California trade, estab-
fish it's terminal at San Pedro a meet
ing will be held this afternoon by the
directors of the Los Angeles chamber
of mines.
At this meeting the feasibility of
placing the matter before the Los An
geles chamber of commerce, the AS
ISOLATED Jobbers and the Merchants
and Manufacturers association will be
discussed.
Today's meeting was called as the
result of a communication received by
G. M. Swindle, secretary of the cham
Der of mines, from Luis A. Martinez,
president and largest stakeholder of
the new steamship line. In the letter
President Martinez stated chat he was
favorable to having the terminal of the
line at San Pedro, providing sufficient
business inducements could he offered.
Secretary Swindle of the chamber of
mines is enthusiastic over the outlook
and says that it all rests with the
business men of Los Angeles as to
whether the new steamship line will
make San Pedro a port of call He
believes that such a move would open
up the entire west coast traffic of Mex
leo to Los Angeles and believes that
there is a big field for business in that
direction.
That it will mean that the present
heavy commercial traffic and commerce
of Mexico which has been diverted to
San Francisco. would be open to the
Los Angeles market is the opinion of
Secretary Swindle. The concessions
already obtained by President Mar
tnez are that the line extend to San
Diego, and it is said contracts for this
purpose are simply awaiting the neces-
sary signatures.
Vessels Small, but Numerous
But it is the belief of those Los An
geles persons who are aware of the
purpose of President Martinez that San
Diego could not expect to figure strong
ly in the competition should The steam
ship line be extended to San Pedro.
Tie intended line, which is expected
will be running within six months will
extend from Mazatlan to San Diego
and as far south as Salina Cruz. 1t is
the opinion of those interested in -haV-
ing the terminal at San Pedro that If
the business men of Los Angeles real
lied the market that would be opened
by such a navigable line they would
at once busy themselves and accept
the proposition which President Mar
tinez looks on favorably.
The line controlled by Martinez con-
sists of large number of small vessels,
but make up in number what they lack
in size.
1t is said the vessels of the line dot
all the important harbors along the
Pacific coast. The fact that such
line would make the tice of transport
tation to Mexican points much less
than from San Francisco or any north
ern city would alone be big induce
ment for the MeXicans to patronize
Los Angeles industries.
After the meeting of the board of
directors today the matter will prob
ably be laid before the various mer-
camille companies of Los Angeles for
final disposition.
San Diego interests represent that it
will be more expeditions to handle the
Los Angeles and nearby traffic through
San Diego, inasmuch as it will save
considerable in discharging cargoes and
the same railroad rates will apply from
San Diego to Los Angeles as from San
Pedro, while a saving may be made in
unloading the steamers.