Railroads and Wharf. Santa Monica Coming to the Front in Good Style. The Los Angeles Times, Sep. 9 1891, p. 2
Railroads and Wharf. Santa Monica Coming to the Front in Good Style.
A Most Encouraging Out look for the City by the Sea.
The Terminal Company Have been Granted a Franchise.
The Southern Pacific's Application Laid over for a Week to Arrange Minor Details-Miscellaneous.
The Los Angeles Times,
Sep. 9 1891, p. 2
The meeting of the trustees of Santa Monica Monday evening, judged by results, was perhaps the most interesting ever held in the town. Their action is far-reaching, and out marks the beginning of an era of prosperity for the city by the sea, which will tell most favorably for a time the end of which it has not yet entered into the mind of man to place a limit.
As it was generally understood that final action would be taken in the way of granting franchises to the Southern Pacific and Wharf and Railway companies, a large crowd of anxious spectators was present to witness the result.
The Southern Pacific Franchise
As soon as a few local routine matters were disposed of, the application of the Southern Pacific Company for a certain right-of-way within the corporate limits was called up for consideration.
Col. E.E. Hewitt of the Southern Pacific stated that new matter had been introduced into the ordinance as previously read, and it was his opinion that it was equivalent to a new ordinance, and therefore could not be passed upon the same night it was introduced. He then introduced Col. A.B. Hotchkiss, attorney for the road.
Col. Hotchkiss said he had conferred with R.R. Tanner, attorney for the town, and they had agreed that it would be at least safest to defer the passage of the ordinance for one week. The Colonel then went on in a very lucid way to expound the legal phases of the case, and closed with an eloquent allusion to the important interests involved and the possibly great outcome of the scheme they were then attempting to inaugurate. He therefore asked that the ordinance be simply read and laid over for passage at the next meeting.
Clerk Pollard then read the ordinance.
Your correspondent has already stated the points in the franchise. The company ask for a right-of-way beginning at the old freight depot and tunneling through the bluff, passing under the bridge and Ocean avenue and coming out at the beach near the Santa Monica bath house, some fourteen feet above the sea level, and then passing along the base of the cliff to the westerly border of the city, and thence two miles northward, passing the mouth of Old Santa Monica Canyon and terminating for the present at Santa Ynez Canyon, where it is proposed to build a wharf. The company agrees to erect bridges and other structures at the crossings, so as to render it perfectly safe: to keep a flagman at the tunnel, and to erect a good, substantial wharf at Santa Ynez Canyon. The work is to begin in forty days and be completed inside of one year under a forfeiture of $5000, which is secured by depositing with the Town Treasurer a certified check for this amount.
There appears to be no obstacle in the way of the passage of the ordinance.
The Terminal Franchise.
The ordinance granting the Santa Monica Wharf and Terminal Railway Company a right-of-way into South Santa Monica, was then called up and read. The conditions are the same as those exacted of the Southern Pacific. They put up a forfeit, which consists of a deed in escrow, of thirteen acres of land, which becomes the property of the town in the event they do not begin work in forty days, and complete it within a year.
The ordinance was passed by a vote of 4 to 1 as follows: Yes--Allen, Lewis, Vawter, and Carrillo. Steere refused to vote.
When the result was announced there was loud and prolonged applause,
The line of the Terminal begins at Front street, (the first street beyond the second bridge,) extends along Lucas avenue, passes between the ostrich farm and the ocean, and proceeds thence across the lowlands of the Ballona, east of the lagoon, and connects with the Santa Fe at the first canyon west of Inglewood. The distance is about five miles.
Work on the Terminal will begin as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made. The material is now in the county, and within a few weeks at furthest there will be lively movements on the South Side.
The following gentlemen are the incorporators of the Santa Monica Wharf and Terminal Railway Company: James Campbell, president; Dr. Elswood Chaffey, secretary; Arthur Gayford, treasurer; E.E. Hall and J.A. Stanwood.
Notes.
It is learned from an official that it is the intention of the Southern Pacific people to begin work on the tunnel at once.
As to the wharf, work will begin late--perhaps not until the track is laid as far as Santa Ynez Canyon.
The Southern Pacific people say they do not want a wharf immediately in front of the town because it would spoil the bathing of what they regard as the finest seaside place, (naturally) in the world.
The company further claim that there is better protection at Santa Ynez Canyon than immediately in front of town; and that deep water is nearer shore at that point.
There are other points that are quite apparent. The company secures the coast route to Valencia for their through line from San Francisco, and they get possession of the most northern practicable points on the coast of Los Angeles county. It will also be the first point for vessels coming south and the last going north, which is a big advantage.
It has also leaked out that the Pacific Coast Steamship Company refused to land here. which is the reason for the abandonment of the wharf enterprise some time ago. The steamship people say they will land at the wharf when it shall have been built at Santa Ynez Canyon.
A suggestion has been made to the Southern Pacific Company that it would be about the proper thing for them to stiffen up the old stump of a wharf in front of town, and add some 500 feet--the structure to be used for fishing and boating. The suggestion has been very favorably received/
A gentleman informed your correspondent last evening that he had it from one of the stockholders of the Los Angeles and Pacific (foothill) road, that the Terminal (Union Pacific) people had secured this defunct line, and would put life in it at no distant day.