THE VENICE OF AMERICA HARBOR 



ON THE BAY OF SANTA MONICA. 



ABBOTT KINNEY 



THE Venice Harbor has received the approval of the Secretary of War 

 of the United States, and the permit for its construction has been 

 issued under the seal of the Government. The inner breakwater and 

 pier with cement-cased piles have been built. The larger work, giving 

 protection to the greatest vessels afloat, has yet to be constructed. 

 The plan of a deep-sea harbor off the coast of Los Angeles County was first 

 put into concrete form in the early eighties. This plan was the same as 

 that now commenced at Venice, and was located at about the same part 

 of the coast. Three United States engineers, of whom the late Colonel 

 Mendel was chairman, approved of the plan and declared it to be a practical 

 enterprise. The idea at that time was to provide a public deep-sea harbor 

 to be built by the United States Government. 



After some years this project was taken up by the late Collis P. Hunt- 

 ington. The location was changed, however, to the westerly part of Santa 

 Monica Bay, where the Port Los Angeles wharf now is. The advantage of 

 that location, as seen by Mr. Huntington, was the control of the approaches 

 and of the shore-line. The disadvantage is the increased distance from Los 

 Angeles, and the severe grade and curve necessary to get off the beach. 

 The reasons for selecting the site at Venice for a great harbor are as follows: 

 Venice is the nearest point on the coast to Los Angeles. It is fourteen 

 miles into the wholesale center of Los Angeles and ten miles from the pres- 

 ent extension of that business district. The line is direct, with the minimum 

 of grade, allowing the maximum of efficiency to the traction power for 

 freight hauling. Santa Monica Bay is free from any shoals, rocks, or dan- 

 gers. Venice being at the shore-line center, is the easiest and safest point 

 for ships to enter or leave harbor. The steady west wind at this point gives 

 ready and reliable access and egress to the Venice harbor by sailing as well 

 as steam vessels. The quality and quantity of water for ship use is superior 

 at Venice to that at any other point. Steam heat, power, and electricity 

 can be furnished at Venice at low cost. The fire protection by the salt-water 

 high-pressure system has no superior in the world and no equal on the 

 Pacific Coast. 



The Venice Harbor will cost less than any other to build. First-c!ass 

 granite rock for the outer harbor of Venice is found in quantity in the 

 nearby Santa Monica Range and close to railroad connection. This makes 

 the construction of the outer breakwater cheaper at Venice than elsewhere. 



The outer harbor will have forty feet of v/ater at mean low tide, with 

 ample sea room. The inner breakwater creates a shore-line for the harbor 

 and frees the natural shore-line from all drawbacks. It also protects the 

 outer harbor from the effect of shore v/inds. Both the southeastern and 

 northern clearing winds blow off shore at Venice. This minimizes the dan- 

 ger of access or egress to the Venice harbor and makes it the cheapest to 

 build, the safest when entered, and the most convenient for all craft on 

 the Coast, either merchant vessels or ships of war. 



Venice being the nearest coast point to the great distributing and com- 

 mercial center of Los Angeles, and with no grade or costly bridge structures 

 in the way, there is no question but what it is the place for the harbor to 

 handle the great ocean commerce knocking at the door of Los Angeles for 

 entry. No jetties or narrow channel approach will inconvenience or en- 

 danger vessels entering Venice harbor. 



One of the great advantages of Venice as a harbor is that the harbor 

 area can be indefinitely increased at low cost by extending the breakwater 

 north or south. There is no limit to the attainable size of the Venice harbor. 



The contract price for the construction of this harbor is less than one 

 and a half million dollars, including slips and warehouses complete. 



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