Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-19
Meyer Intimates He viii Take Up
Fertilization of San Pedro
with War Department
is GUEST OF BUSINESS MEN
Makes a Record Breaking Trip
from Avalon to Harbor on
Torpedo Boat Perry
Continued from Page One,

merc1al ships from all parts OF the
world loading and unloading here. 1
thought of ships sailing from New
York and ports on the Atlantic sea-
products, passing through the Pan
anna canal and landing in Los Angeles
harbor: of their loading again, this
time with the fruits and grains Of this
Pacific slope, and returning via the
same route to their original starting
place. I saw oriental ships unloading
the riches of the far east here and load
ing again, sailing through the canal to
the Atlantic ports. 1 foresee a Won
derful future for this coast and for
your harbor."
COMPLIMENTS HARBOR
"As [ sailed around 1 was deeply
impressed with another fact, also. Los
Angeles harbor is a handmade har-
Dor. In saying that I mean no slight
to your port. You know a handmade
article is always superior to machine
made goods.
"As to the likelihood of a fleet being
sent here, let me answer you in this
manner-by telling what Is required or
a port before fieat can be accommo-
dated. In the first place there must
be thirty feet of water in the harbor
at low tide. It must also have docks
large enough to accommodate the larg-
est battleships with thirty feet of
water Immediately in front of these
docks.
There Is no port on the Pacific
coast which has all of these things.
Seattle has plenty of water, but no
docks large enough. The new dock
there, which would be the proper size,
will not be completed until 1912. In
San Francisco it is just the opposite.
They have not enough water there.
In the vicinity of the Mare island
navy yards the depth will not accom-
modate the big ships This feature can
be overcome, SO several engineers tell
me, but it all takes time. think
you can now readily see why the fleet
cannot come until the canal is finished.
"And as far as actual protection
goes there is no immediate need of
fleet on this coast. At least you need
have no fear Of not being protected.
The navy has demonstrated to the
world that it can go any place in the
world, and as long as this is so-and
the navy remains intact-the Pacific
coast need have no fear.
COAST IS FORTUNATE
'Tn some respects the Pacific coast
is fortunate in having nc large navy
yards and docks. When they are built
proportion. 1 am going to recommend
the abolition of number of the yards
on the Atlantic coast, as at present we
have more there than has the entire
British navy.
I'm closing I wish to state that by
every appropriation for two battleships
passed by congress the prospects of
fleet for the Pacific coast are bright
ened. You have harbor here to be
AP IN hnq
graduate you on it. also wish to
you on your city-t is
indeed a surprise to me, and l thank
YOU for the rare hospitality you have
shown me while here"
Following the luncheon those pres
ent were presented to the secretary,
and he then departed for Bolsa Chico,
near Newport, with r. w. Miller,
where he will hunt ducks until this
Pedro, he will board the Perry and go
to San Diego. From San Diego he will
return to the east, and it is expected
that the information which he has
gained will be made public through Of
fetal sources.
THOSE AT LUNCHEON
Joseph Scott, president of the cham
ber of commerce, presided at yester-
days affair and introduced Mr. Meyer.
Those present We're:
At the speakers table-Will D.
Stephens, E. t. Earl, Arthur Kenney,
Walter Raymond, the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Conaty, Gen. A. r. Chaffee, Mayor
George Alexander, Commander An
drews, Gen. H. G. Otis, J. c. Drake,
M. F. Ihmsen, F. Q. Story, Joseph
Scott, Secretary Meyer.
Others present were Jud Saeger,
Walter Lindley. Q. E. Parish, j. A.
Anderson, Bradner w. Lee, Homer
Hamlin, Frank King, A. j. Copp, G. f.
A. Last, w. S. Daubenspeck, Ran
dolph Miner, w. ]. Washburn, P. 70.
Hatch, Long Beach, r. H. Miller, F. J.
Stilson, Joseph d. Radford, G. III. Stoll,
70. L. Doheny, C. b. Boothe, Grant c.
Gillette, C. S. Vance, M. j. Monnette,
Emmet Wilson, F. P. Gregson, ]. M.
Schneider, w. o. Morton, W. G. Pat
terson. w. I. Hollingsworth, Joseph
Mesmer, o. M. Souden, Carl Trieste,
/. c. Gates, w. H. Neiswender, DR.. P.
Janss, James A. Toshay, John Willis
Baer, Frank Virgins, A. w. Kinney,
J. e. Fishburn, Sidney A. Butler, b.
r. C. Klokke, E. p. Clark, Harry Har-
rington, Nj. N. Avery, John Coffin,
Reese Llewellyn, Frank G. Prescott,
c. A. Parmelee, Albert Lindley, A. A
Eckstrom.