seek other transportation that will become established and difficult to abandon, thus permanently adversely affecting intercoastal water-borne commerce through this port. The people of this community and the Federal Government have invested millions in the development of this harbor and its dockage facilities. This commerce is the result of years of development work. The area served has a population well over 200,000 people. The destruction of their steamship service would be tragic. . We understand that there are a number of suitable vessels said to be under the 20-year limit, laid up by war conditions. We respectfully urge that every effort be made to make this tonnage available for this service and that any other steps open be taken to prevent the loss of this important service to the port of San Diego. This letter is sent at the unanimous request of the board of directors of the San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce. Respectfully, IRVING E. FRIEDMAN, President. Same letter sent to Congressman Ed V. Izac, Senator Hiram Johnson, Senator Sheridan Downey. Rear Admiral EMORY S. LAND, Chairman, United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C. MARCH 29, 1940. DEAR SIR: The announcement of the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. that their service to the port of San Diego is to be discontinued, as a result of transfer of some of their vessels to other services than the intercoastal trade, is a striking example of the urgent need for action by the United States Maritime Commission to prevent the depletion of Pacific-coast shipping facilities. We are advised that because of the remunerative charters which can be made for some of the vessels now in the intercoastal service, there is a possibility that the other two lines serving the port of San Diego, namely the Quaker Line and the Isthmian Line, may transfer some of their present ships from this trade. We respectfully request the attention of your self and your honorable body to the solution of this very serious problem. Respectfully yours, SAN DIEGO INDUSTRIES, INC. MARCH 29, 1940. Hon. ED V. IzAC, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The announcement of the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. of its intention to transfer its ships from the intercoastal trade to more renumerative charter trade on other routes, eliminating the port of San Diego from its service, is a serious blow to this community. Unless some action is taken by the United States Maritime Commission to replace in the intercoastal trade those vessels which are being chartered to other service, the Pacific coast will face a very serious situation affecting every manufacturer and every other businessman in this western section. We have today written to Chairman Emory S. Land of the United States Maritime Commission in this matter. We will appreciate your best efforts to have the Maritime Commission undertake some satisfactory solution of the problem. Very sincerely yours, SAN DIEGO INDUSTRIES, INC., Similar letters to Senators Downey and Johnson. To Members of San Diego Industries, Inc.: SAN DIEGO INDUSTRIES, INC., The board of directors has instructed that your attention be called to the seriousness of the situation resulting from the withdrawal of certain vessels from the intercoastal trade. The American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. has announced the elimination of San Diego as a port of call and other steamship lines have intimated that their service to this port may be reduced. The reason for this depletion of service is the transfer of intercoastal vessels to charter service on other routes. The board of directors urges that you immediately send air-mail letters to Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C., and to Congressman Ed. V. Izac, House Office Building, Washington, D. C., and to Senators Hiram W. Johnson and Sheridan Downey, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C., urging that some means be found to maintain adequate intercoastal service. Your cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, SAN DIEGO INDUSTRIES, INC., MARCH 29, 1940. Admiral EMORY S. LAND, Chairman, United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C. DEAR ADMIRAL LAND: As president of the Hi Hatters Club of the San Diego Club, one of the big institutions of this city, we want to call to your attention the seriousness which confronts San Diego with respect to the loss of intercoastal steamship service between ports of the Atlantic coast, and the port of San Diego. We say this advisedly because we understand that the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co., which for so many years has served San Diego in this intercoastal trade, is to discontinue calling at the port of San Diego next month. The discontinuance of these ships in the intercoastal trade to San Diego will work a big hardship upon the citizens and commercial interests of this city, as well as the United States Government interests located here. We believe the United States Government is big enough and strong enough to see that sufficient commercial ships are kept in this intercoastal trade, and see that these ships do call at the port of San Diego. We believe that this is especially true because of the Army and Navy interests of the United States Government at this port. Accordingly, in behalf of our members and citizens of San Diego, we urge you, as chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, to see that enough ships are placed in this intercoastal trade between ports of the Atlantic coast and the port of San Diego, so that San Diego may continue to receive the service which it justly merits from these intercoastal ships. Appreciating your efforts in behalf of San Diego, we are, Yours very truly, HI HATTERS CLUB OF THE SAN DIEGO CLUB, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. H. E. RHOADS, President. Hon. ED. V. IzAC, Congressman, House Building, Washington, D. C. MARCH 29, 1940. DEAR CONGRESSMAN IZAC: Enclosed we hand you copy of letter which we have just written to Admiral Emory S. Land, Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C., in regard to the seriousness of the situation which confronts the city of San Diego in the discontinuance of ships calling at the port of San Diego in the intercoastal trade from ports on the Atlantic coast. We know, of course, that you realize this seriousness and we trust that our letter will assist you in remedying this serious situation. Yours very truly, HI HATTERS CLUB OF THE SAN DIEGO CLUB, SAN DIEGO, Calif. Hon. HIRAM JOHNSON, Senator, Washington, D. C. SAN DIEGO, CALIF., March 29, 1940. DEAR SENATOR JOHNSON: As you will note by the enclosed copy of letter which we have addressed to Admiral Emory S. Land, Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C., of the serious situation which confronts San Diego, its citizens, and business interests, in the discontinuance of services of ships in the intercoastal trade from ports on the Atlantic coast to the port of San Diego. We trust you will use every effort at your command to see that this situation is remedied, so that San Diego, her commercial interests, and citizens, as well as the tremendous interests of the United States Army and Navy of this port, are protected to the extent that this service will be continued. With kind personal regards, I am, Yours very truly, Hon. SHERIDAN DOWNEY, H. E. RHOADS, President, Hi Hatters Club of the San Diego Club. Senator, Washington, D. C. SAN DIEGO, CALIF., March 29, 1940. DEAR SENATOR DOWNEY: We enclose herewith copy of letter which we have addressed to Admiral Emory S. Land, Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C., calling attention to the serious situation confronting San Diego, its citizens, and business interests, in the loss of scheduled steamship service in the intercoastal trade between San Diego and Atlantic coast ports. We feel sure you will do everything possible to see that this situation is remedied, so that San Diego, her commercial interests, and citizens, as well as the tremendous interests of the United States Army and Navy at this port shall be protected to the extent that this service will be continued. With kind personal regards, I am, Very truly yours, Re intercoastal steamship service to port of San Diego, Calif. Chairman, United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We are addressing you on behalf of our members, who represent a majority of the principal business firms of San Diego, Calif. Our members state that they are experiencing great difficulty in securing space for commodities moving by water because of the undertonnage in the intercoastal trade. Prompt receipt and delivery of goods via water is so uncertain that many firms are compelled to ship by rail at increased cost. To help remedy this situation we respectfully urge you to allocate sufficient registered vessel tonnage from the ships laid up by reason of wartime conditions to replace the vessels which have been, or may be, withdrawn from the United States intercoastal service because of sale to foreign governments, transfer to foreign flags, or charter to other services or trades. The further curtailment of steamship service to the port of San Diego will not only cause a substantial loss to the commercial and agricultural interests of San Diego and Imperial Counties but will seriously inconvenience the Navy, because the regular scheduled intercoastal calls are used regularly by the Navy Department. We earnestly hope you will take the necessary steps mentioned above to remedy the situation confronting this port. Sincerely yours, SAN DIEGO EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION, INC., By CARROLL A. STILSON, Managing Director. MARCH 28, 1940. Re intercoastal steamship service to port of San Diego. DEAR MR. JOHNSON: The business interests of San Diego are greatly stirred up by the announcement of the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. that they are about to drop the port of San Diego as a regular port of call. We are enclosing a copy of an air-mail letter sent today to Admiral Emory S. Land, Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, asking that some of the vessels laid up because of war conditions be made available to the United States intercoastal trade. We respectfully urge that you do everything possible to have this brought about. Yours sincerely, SAN DIEGO EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION, INC., By CARROLL A. STILSON, Managing Director. Same letter to Hon. Sheridan Downey, Hon. Ed. V. Izac. MARCH 26, 1940. Rear Admiral EMORY S. LAND, Chairman, United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The attached resolution, dealing with the very serious situation on the Pacific coast resulting from the transfer of vessels to other services, was formally adopted by the board of directors of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce after careful study. We respectfully request the consideration of the Maritime Commission of this matter, which is of vital importance to the entire western area of the United States. Respectfully yours, SAN DIEGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MARCH 26, 1940. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE El Centro, Calif. GENTLEMEN: The attached resolution was adopted by our board of directors after careful study of the matter by our shippers' committee. The rapid depletion of steamships serving Pacific coast ports is a matter of great importance to the entire western section of the United States. We strongly recommend that your chamber of commerce take action in this matter at the earliest possible date and communicate the result of your action to your Congressman and Senators and to Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Chairman, United States Maritime Commission, Washington, D. C. Your cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, SAN DIEGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Sent to the following chambers of commerce: Grawley, Calexico, Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, National City, Chula Vista, Coronado, Oceanside, Escondido. Senator ED FLETCHER, 1020 Ninth Avenue, San Diego, Calif. DEAR SIR: We are enclosing a copy of a resolution adopted at last week's meeting of the board of directors of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Copies of this resolution have also been sent to the following: Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Chairman, United States Maritime Commission; Senators Sheridan Downey and Hiram Johnson; Congressman Ed. V. Izac; and the Chambers of Commerce in the following cities: El Centro, Brawley, Calexico, Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, National City, Chula Vista, Coronado, Oceanside, Escondido. Very truly yours, SAN DIEGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, T. F. BOMAR, Manager, Industrial Department. Senator SHERIDAN DOWNEY, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. MARCH 26, 1940. DEAR SIR: The attached resolution was adopted by the board of directors of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce at a recent meeting. The depletion of shipping facilities from Pacific coast ports, due to the diversion of vessels to other services, has caused a serious situation affecting all of the ports on this coast, and in fact the entire western area of the United States. We will appreciate your best efforts to alleviate this serious situation. SAN DIEGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Same letter to: Senator Hiram Johnson and Congressman Ed. V. Izac. RESOLUTION Whereas an acute situation is rapidly developing in the United States intercoastal trade which threatens serious interruption and inconvenience to the flow of interstate domestic commerce between the Atlantic seaboard and the shippers and receivers of water-borne commerce located in San Diego and in the territory served by the port of San Diego, due to the withdrawal of registered steamship tonnage from the intercoastal trade route by reason of the sale of vessels to foreign governments, transfer to foreign flags, or charter diversions to other services or trades; and Whereas regular scheduled east-bound and west-bound intercoastal steamship service between Atlantic coast ports and the port of San Diego is an economical and important mode of transportation to shippers and receivers of intercoastal cargo in San Diego and in the territory served by the port of San Diego and the shrinkage or cessation of such steamship service affects economical conditions in this territory; and Whereas it is alleged that more than 120 vessels, said to be under the 20-year statutory limit, are laid up in the Atlantic coast due to the effect of the Neutrality Act, 1939; many of these vessels are said to be suitable for service in the intercoastal trade: Therefore be it Resolved by the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, That this chamber of commerce promptly petition the United States Maritime Commission to carefully investigate this situation and offer to American steamship operators in the intercoastal trade at low charter rates sufficient registered vessel tonnage which may be available in the laid-up fleet to promptly replace registered vessel tonnage which has been or may in the future be withdrawn from this trade route due to the sale to foreign governments, transfer to foreign flags, or diversion to other services or trades by charter. Adopted by the board of directors of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, Thursday, March 21, 1940. IN THE MATTER OF INTERCOASTAL SHIPPING TO THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO On motion of Supervisor Bellon, seconded by Supervisor Faddis, the following resolution is adopted by the board of supervisors of the county of San Diego: Whereas the city of San Diego is growing rapidly and its commerce is being largely increased by reason of the location at this port of various naval bases and the city is rapidly gaining importance as a manufacturing center in the airplane business; and Whereas domestic commerce moving in the intercoastal trade between United States Atlantic ports and the port of San Diego is an economical and important mode of transportation to this port, the territory served by this port, and to shippers and receivers of intercoastal cargo using this port; and Whereas it is understood that registered steamship tonnage in the United States coastal trade has been and is being rapidly reduced by charter transfer of vessels to other services or trades and by transfer of vessels to foreign flags, and it is understood that the United States intercoastal trade is under-tonnaged and shippers and receivers of water-borne cargo are experiencing great difficulty in securing space for the transportation of commodities moving to this port; and |