Free Harbor Fight facts for kids

The Free Harbor Fight was a major disagreement in the late 1800s on the West Coast of the United States. It was a legal battle between the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and a powerful railroad company, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. The fight was about where the main port for Los Angeles should be built.

The railroad company's owner, Collis Potter Huntington, wanted the port in Santa Monica, California. But US Senator Stephen M. White stood firm against Huntington's plans. Thanks to Senator White's efforts, the Port of Los Angeles was eventually built in San Pedro, which was a huge win for the city.

Why Los Angeles Needed a Harbor

Los Angeles didn't have a natural deep-water harbor. In the 1880s, the only rail line to its small port in San Pedro was controlled by railroad owner Collis Huntington. San Pedro was seen as the best place for a port because the Palos Verdes Peninsula protected it from big waves and strong winds.

San Pedro and the small community of Los Angeles, about 20 miles north, grew slowly but steadily through the 1800s.

Huntington's Plan for Santa Monica

When Huntington felt his control over the San Pedro port was threatened, he came up with a new plan. He wanted to build a new port in Santa Monica. He planned to use money from the federal government that was originally meant for San Pedro.

Quietly, Huntington bought most of the land along the Santa Monica waterfront. In early 1892, he surprised everyone by starting to build his own harbor in Santa Monica. This included a huge pier called the Long Wharf. It stretched almost a mile into the bay!

The Long Wharf was built to compete with the existing port facilities in San Pedro. It became a famous tourist attraction. People would ride the old Jones rail line, which Southern Pacific now operated, to the beach just to watch the wharf being built. From 1890, Huntington tried to get federal money to improve his Santa Monica port. He wanted to control all shipping and create a monopoly, which would hurt the San Pedro port. He chose a spot that would guarantee his complete control over the Santa Monica port.

The Battle for the Harbor

The city of Los Angeles and its Chamber of Commerce decided to take Huntington to court over this issue. The fight became known as the Free Harbor Fight.

Senator White's Stand

In June 1896, for two full days, Senator Stephen M. White, a Democrat from California, spoke to the US Senate. He strongly criticized the Southern Pacific railroad's unfair business practices. He proposed an important change to the bill. His change said that if Santa Monica was chosen for the port, any other railroad company could use its harbor for a fair price.

Huntington and Senator William P. Frye, a Republican from Maine, begged White to remove his amendment. But Senator White refused to change his mind. With White's amendment, the bill was no longer under the control of the Commerce Committee. The full Senate quickly voted and approved the measure, including White's amendment.

The Final Decision

In March 1897, another group of engineering experts made the final decision. They chose San Pedro as the location for the new port. The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce won the fight! This made Los Angeles a "free" harbor, meaning it was independent and not controlled by the powerful Southern Pacific Railroad.

Senator White was seen as a hero. Crowds cheered as his train passed by on his way home. A big parade was held in Los Angeles to honor him. Even the Los Angeles Times, which usually supported the Republican party, called the Democratic senator “the greatest man the state has produced.” People raised $25,000 to build a statue of White, which now stands overlooking the Port of Los Angeles.

A Lasting Impact

San Pedro Bay grew into one of the world's largest and busiest ports. Santa Monica, on the other hand, became a glamorous beach resort. These changes had a huge impact on how the region's cities developed. A 16-mile (26 km) strip of land, connecting Downtown Los Angeles to San Pedro and Wilmington, soon became part of the City of Los Angeles.