Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-15
SHIP SUBSIDY
PLANS TO AID
RYAN URGED
FRUIT COMPANY TO MAKE THIS
HOME PORT
PRESIDENT OUTLINES lMPoR-
TANcE OF DEAL
AS Municipality Is Unable to Assist, 1t
Is Proposed That Commercial
Interests Further
Project

The Los Angeles board of harbor
commissioners met yesterday after
noon to consider what they believe is
one of the most important projects
yet presented for the deliberation of
that body-the plan of President 7. F.
Ryan of the Pacific Fruit company
to make Los Angeles the base of op-
erations and the home port of an in
dependent steamship line controlling
one of the most valuable industries of
Mexico, with all its tremendous out
put.
Mr.. Ryan's plan is considered ex-
tremely important, and according to
Secretary A. P. Fleming of the board
of harbor commissioners was strongly
indorsed, but owing to a clause in the
state constitution, Los Angeles, as
municipality, is unable to indorse or
aid the project. Therefore, it is be
lieved by Secretary Fleming, the har-
Dor commissioners will urge that the
prominent business men of Los An
geles, represented by the Jobbers' as
sociation and the chamber of COM
merce, Merchants and Manufacturers
association, etc, lend aid to the plan
and devise some means whereby
subsidy may be granted.
Frank F. Gregson, traffic manager
of the Los Angeles Jobbers' associa-
llOus GuDliliLLSh TIC Ilebiio u eAiS - oJ~NN
to the harbor commission.
Statistics compiled to indicate the
advantage of having the Ryan steam
ships call at Los Angeles harbor also
were presented.
Mr.. Ryan operates several of the
finest and most profitable plantations
in Mexico, the principal product OF
which is bananas. The Importance of
this industry to Southern California
was not realized until it was brought
out that 10000 punches of bananas
are shipped to Los Angeles every
month. over 100000 lunches are
shipped to California, Arizona. Ne
vada and New Mexico each month, or
$500 carloads a year.
Anxious to Come Here
The Ryan company asks only a guar
anty of $4,000 tons annually, when he
will make this the basis of his i'm
mense operations, give the business in
terests of Southern California direct |
intercourse with the ports of Mexico,
including Port Manzanillo, and open up
one of the richest regions in the new
world for the southwest American
farmers, cattlemen, horticulturists and
other producers.
Last year the port of New Orleans
handled over 100000 punches of
bananas, a major portion of which, II
not over lWO-lllllh5f NOuAd NpAAiC ~
Los Angeles, it is said, if Mr.. Ryan's
project is successful.
Mr.. Ryan, in his report, states that
he is anxious to live in Los Angeles,
and for that reason wishes to make it
the base of his operations. His state
ment to the Jobbers' association and
other business organizations Of the
city says:
Il am now interested in the opera
. -4r 1afx To 1y mil In
and the west coast of the United
States, principally for the purpose of
handling fruit, northbound and have
made San Francisco the port of call
on the initial trips. I propose to con-
-inue this service and give the people
Of Los Angeles a guaranteed service
between the port of San Pedro and
touching at all important
ports, and especially such
ports as are favored with railroad
to the interior of Mexico.
This service will be regulated by the
transportation of bananas, northbound.
subject to a guaranteed service of fif-
een days or better
upon the part of the merchants of
Los Angeles 1 should want a guaran-
-eed tonnage equal to 1000 tons a
year, or its equivalent, the equivalent /
% be based upon an average of the
!
steamship company or the Cosmos
Inc, taking the average distances and
'ates, per schedule and classification
81 should expect to credit Los An
relies on tonnage with the revenue ac-
,ruing from passengers to and from
san Pedro, and would also credit
'reight coming from the interior and
moving on our boats from San Pedro.
freight transshipped from
me vessel to another at San Pedro.
'I would agree to cooperate in the
equalization of rates between Los An
seles and the port at San Pedro |
through rates in no case to be higher ]
han the average rate from San Fran !
'isco to the Mexican ports involved.
"The boats to be used shall be of
suitable character and of at least GOO I
ons burden-the passenger accommo- {
lations to be strictly first class"
Import and Export Figures i
Mr. Ryan also submits the following ]
'erified table Of imports and exports, c
moving what immense trade is be- I
ng diverted to New orleans and else I
where, and indicating the Importance
# a serious consideration of his will /
ngness to bring his vessels here. This g
able of statistics follows: f
Agricultural implements, $500 600; 1
i've stock (hogs, horses, Sheep, nearly n
1,OO0,O00; grain and grain products,
8 3000,000 all kinds of chemicals Gn-
luding baking POWDER, coal and
o1e, 100000; copper and manufac-
ured articles, nearly S2,0O0000; cotton il
nd manufactured articles, including p
lothing, etc, $3,500,0O0; fruits and S
uts, 100000; electrical appliances, ST. V
100000; monographs, etc, $500, 600. iron il
nd steel and manufactured articles. o
10,500000; builders hardware. 81. 1.OOO.- n