Col. Hotchkiss Southern California, Monday Evening, November 13, 1899,
Plain Truths
Col. Hotchkiss Has Opinions of His Own
And Expresses Them
Through His New Publication Public Economy.
The following printed article is taken from a recent number of Col. Hotchkiss's Public Economy.
"Free harbors do not exist on this coast.
"San Francisco harbor, through the intermeddling of politicians and misguided public opinion, is the most costly place in the world for the handling of commerce. Trade is tolled there, almost to the verge of prohibition. San Diego is acting wisely, and is in the eyes of the commercial world a reasonable port for the use of ships. Great sums are being expended to deepen the entrance to the magnificent bay, and with the completion of the Nicaragua canal, sure to be done within the next ten years. the lines of ocean trade which may in the meantime be concentrated there will stay there especially if Los Angeles keeps up her Chinese policy of exclusion.
The Santa Fe at San Diego has been given by that city every reasonable means to bring ship and car together, and the policy of that city is to encourage new lines to come to the harbor, including open lines of passage and tracks through and out of the city. I was present at San Pedro some years ago when Governor Stanford, Senator Frye and others were there looking over the ground to inform themselves as to the propriety of voting money to build a seawall at that point. Frye then remarked that it seemed to him that San Diego was near enough to Los Angeles to do its deep sea commerce. I remarked to the senator that we of the Pacific coast had never asked or received anything of consequence from Congress to give us commercial facilities, while down east from Maine to Florida millions had been expended to make and improve harbors only a few miles from each other. I said we had been entirely too modest fo our own good. He said it was true.
"It is my belief that we should have asked for breakwaters at both Santa Monica and San Pedro, and could have got them but for the unfortunate interference of the Terminal railroad.
"This suggestive article is written after reading Minister Barrett's pointed remarks and observing the injudicious cartoon of Mr. Willard in his Free Harbor book, and on my own responsibility as a citizen of Los Angeles, having interests therein of a substantial character to care for, and not at the instigation of or by authority or knowledge of Mr. Huntington or any other person connected with his railroad, but in the interest of public economy, of our resources and opportunities, for I am convinced as Mr. Barrett says that we are at the "turning of the ways."
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