Vol 6 No 2 Spring Edition 1960

CONTENTS
THE PRESIDENT REPORTS New Administration Building Dedico!Ited ................................... Page 1 President, Long Beoch Board of Horbor Commissioners By H. E. RIDINGS, JR. Peace and Security Through World Tro!lde..
Petroleum News At Port
.... -.. "j""
Port Grain Elevator Authorized ..
........................ Page 14 ............................Po!lge 15 ................. _ ...... PlIge 22 News And ViewL . •
HARBOR COMMISSIONERS .... President Harry E. Ridings, Jr ..................._..
John P. Davis ..................................................................... Vice-President William A. Harrington ............................................................. Secre+ary Joseph F. Bishop ................................................................ Commiuioner M. W. Daubney..
. ........................................ Comminioner STAFF
C. L. Vickers..
.General Manager
Thomas J. Thorley ............................................ Aut. General Manl!lger
Alvin K. Maddy..
M. T. Courson..
. .. Executive Secretary
.. ......................Chief Accounting Officer Frank J. Hardesty ....................................... Chief Petroleum Engineer B. N. Hoffmaster....
.. .. Chief Harbor Engineer Capt. John Rountree ........................................... Porl Traffic Manager Robert H. Metzgar .................................. Director of Public Rell!ltions Orlo R. Peugh .............................. _ ...... Chief Maintanance Supervisor Val J. Deaser ....... Chief Electrical, Mechanical and Plant Supervisor Samuel M. Roberts
Roy E. Nellon..
..................................... Subsidence Control and Reprenurilation Administrator
.. ................................... Chief Wharfinger
COVER PHOTO
A colorful view of a colorful event . . . the "Wedding of the
Waters" during the dedication ceremonies for the Port's new
administration building.
Forty· nine years ago a group of Long Beach CItIzens
marched from Pine Avenue and Ocean Boulevard west·
ward to the brand new Long Beach Municipal Harbor
which is now the equivalent area of pjco Avenue and
Third Street. It seems almost inconceivable that they
r",,]ly did walk that distance behind the Long Beach
Municipal Band and led by the city fathers. The oc·
casion was to celebrate the completion of the first munici·
pal harbor facility in Long Beach and to welcome the
ship Santa Barbara which was arriving at that moment
with a load of redwood lumber. The tiny little port of
only two berths and five acres of land had no transit
shed upon its small wooden pier but the welcome was
big - big in pride - big in noise - big in plaudits
and big in prophecies. Mayor Charles H. Windham
stressed the Harbor's value as a CIVIC asset and
prophesied in glowing terms the future expansion of the
City and the Port. It is probable that few people in
attendance there believed that it could happen- but it
did. The Port of Long Beach has grown tremendously
in size. From five acres and two berths we have grown
to 1,000 acres and 35 berths. From a few hundred tons,
our shipping has grown to almost ten million tons. Even
though tidelands oil has made this expansion possible,
much credit should go to City and Harbor officials who
had vision, faith and an appreciation of the value of a
Port to the economy of a city - our city. As the Port
grew, so did our staff, the people who really make it
work. But our headquarters did not, and for many years
some of our people have been working in temporary
quarters all over the Harbor. I am not a prophet but I
believe that the Long Beach Harbor will continue to
grow - grow not only in size but in the commerce it
will handle and with prestige in the family of world
ports. My colleagues of the Harbor Commission and I
hope that those who will follow us - those who will work
in our new headquarters - will be inspired to progress
and accomplishments beyond our vision - beyond our
expectations.
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NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING DEDICATED
On Febru ary 23, 1960, the Long Beach Harbor De­
partment took occ upancy of its handsome new eight­
story Adm inistration Building on Pier A Eas~ a t a
location that commands a view not onJy of the Port and
City, but of the beautiful Pacilic Ocean coastline as welt
Tbe move of 250 employees from tbe former Ad­
ministration Building to the new one, plus about 100
from the Long Beach Oil Development Company, oil
contractor for the City. was the largest such operation
in City history. 1t was accomplished with two 40-foot
flatbed trucks, and three moving vans supplied by the
Smyth Van & Storage Co., and worked by their 24-man
crew. Some 13,000 boxes, desks, filing cabinets, tables,
chairs, dralting equipmenl, and miscellaneous equip­
ment and furnishings were fitted into- the new building
at a cost of A_hout $3,500: according to OrJo Peugb, Chief
Maintenance Supervisor at the PorL
The skillfully planned structure, 01 120,000 sq. ft_
area, brings under one roof for the first time all dicisions
of the Ha.-bor heretofore sca ttered throughout the Dis­
trict in search of working room .
The Harbor Commission approved schematic plans
and specifications lor the building in the Spring 01 1957,
and final plans about a yea r la ter. Construction began
with the ground-breaking June l6, 1958.
Tbe buildi.ng is almost as di stinguisbed for wbat is
outside it as for what was constructed within. The
approach is from tbe east side - ends aTe no rth and
south - ' .. and there. fronting on Harbor Plaza on the
east, is a great esplanade marked with plantings and
'walkways and supplied with benches for the use 01
visitors.
From that place, the eye tra vels southeasterly down
the shoreline to the Ci ty's east boundary, and over the
Outer Harbor, the lederal breakwater, a nd the broad
ocea n beside it. This is a tremendous panorama , outdone
only by what one can see from the top floors of the
building.
With all th e beauty 01 this view before them, those
wbo corne to> the plaza still will find th emselves looking
also to the West, toward the building itself. For there
is one of the most spectacular pictures one co uld see in
1
R.ev. Alec G. Nichols. First Methodist Church, delivered the
invocation.
Mayor Raymond C. Kealer represented the City of Long Belich
at the dedic/l:tion ceremonies.
H/l:rbor Commission President Ridings introduces the other
of the Commission. Standing, left to right, are John P.
Davis, William A. Harrington, Joseph F. Bishop and M. W. Daubney.
mem~ers
a lifetime, a 74-foot mural highlighting the entrance to
the Administration Building.
The mural represents the revival of a ceramic art
which has been dormant for six hundred years. Executed
with direct painting technique on lerra cotta: in high fire
underglaze, the mural is believed to be the first done in
this manner since Della Robbia's renaissance pieces on
terra cotta.
Theme of the mural, done by Sheridan Stanton, is
the cbronological development of the Harbor. It begins
at the right, with Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his
navigator, Bartolome Ferrelo, shown landing here in
October, 1542. Cabrillo was the first explorer of the
west coast of America, and sailed under the orders of
Antonio de Mendoza, first Viceroy of New Spain. The
ships are the San Salvador and the La Vittoria, caravels
constructed by Cabrillo at Puerto de Navidad on Mexico's
West Coast, where the voyage began.
Left of this scene are shown the Canalinos Indians.
They became extinct by 1837, having lived primarily
on the islands of Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa,
San Nicholas and Santa Catalina. Their canoes, dis-'
tinctly different from those of other American Indians:
were made of built-up sections lashed together, with
asphalt caulking. They could carry up to 20 men.
Below the Indians are the fur seals of California. In
the State's history, more money was made through the
fur industry - based on the sea otter and fur seal­
before the 1830s than through all the gold mined in
California.
Next on the left is Sir Francis Drake's ship: the
Golden Hind, the first English vessel to explore the
Pacific Coast. Next is a New Bedford whaling ship,
symbolizing what was once a major industry of California.
The first Caucasian settlers in the state were from
whaling ships, drawn here by the California whale herd,
one of the largest in the world.
Below and to the left, one sees the loading of hides
in the Great Bay, during what has been called the pas­
toral period of the state's history, in the days of the
Dons. Above that is the Flying Cloud, fastest Yankee
Clipper of its time: with a 24-hour sailing record never
matched.
Representations of the early Americans in California
come next, indicating the acquisition by the U. S_ of
the State under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1858.
Above that is a drawing of a Panama mail packet (side
wheeler) that carried mail and passengers from Panama
10 California in the Gold Rush. Next is the SS Iaqua,
first to enter the newly christened Long Beach Municipal
Harbor with cargo in 1911. There follow illustrations of
yachts in the Harhor: commercial fishing hoats, the
Navy, and the modern freighter alongside a Harbor
wharf, as well as cranes, railroad tracks, and other
facilities found here today. In the background are pic­
tured the oil fields, Signal Hill, and Long Beach's down·
town buildings.
This mural will be where it is as long as the site
lasts, say those who know_ There is no adequate way to
convey in words the dramatic power of this pictorial
history of the Port and the Great Bay that preceded it.
In front of the mural is a reflecting pool containing
waters from literally the Seven Seas, the result of a
beautiful and memorable ceremony at the Building
dedication.
The new Administration Building was officially made
a part of the City's skyline in colorful ceremonies mark·
ed by a spectacular "Wedding of the Waters" in Ihe
refleeting pool. Thirty·one beautiful girls in national
costumes carried up to the rostrum gift containers whi ch
included water actually sent from their various countries.
One by one they exhibited .the gifts (many of them
cosily and rare) to a galhering of 1,000 people, Ihen went
to the far side of the pool, their backs to the mural, to
await the signal for emptying the containers into the
pool. This "Wedding of the Waters" symbolically united
all the porls far and near represented at the occasion in
a fellowship of international friendship.
H. E. Ridings, Jr., president of the Long Beach
Harbor Commission, was master of ceremonies, making
the opening remarks and introducing other speakers, in ­
cluding Albert Code, president of th~ Long Beach Cham·
ber of Commerce; Edwin Hyka, then exalted ruler of
Long Beach Elks, which organization pr...,nted the
Harbor with a new SO·star U. S. flag; Mayor Ray
Kealer ; Gerald Desmond, City Councilman, who appear·
ed on behalf of the Native Sons of the Golden West;
and Keith Houdyshell, president of the Downlown Lions
Club, whose organization made the waler ceremony ar·
rangements through Lions' Oubs in the many port cities
around [he nation and over the world.
In the audience, and introduced by President Ridings,
were other members of the Harbor Commission: John
P. Davi.s, Vice President; William A. Harrington, Secre·
tary; and Commissioners Joseph F. Bishop and M. W.
Daubney. Harbor Department officials introduced in·
cluded Port General Manager Charles L. Vickers, B. N.
Hoffmaster, Chief Harbor Engineer; members of th e
City Council; representatives of the architects; former
Harbor Commissioners, and others.
After the ceremonies, which were viewed by the Los
Angeles Consular Corps, Harbor employees, and ship.
ping and civic leaders of Long Beach, visitors were in ·
vited to tour the new 82,825,000 building, and enjoy
refreshments which were being served on the Sixth Floor
sightseeing gaJlery, overlooking the Port's modern
facilities.
Going into Ihe building, you enter beyond eilher end
of the mural, passing through large glass doors 10 the
lobby. Within are more glass doors, which open on an
elevator foyer, beautifully finished in Italian marble
walls and floor.
On the ground floor are maintenance and operating
quarters, and the municipal garage.
On this floor, tbe visitor first nolices the finely
finished woodwork, which has a smooth lacquer sheen.
It is korina., an imported wood, light in color. attractive
and good for interior finishin a . It is used through the
lower five floors, though walnut paneling is used in
executive offices.
The first floor is suitably divided by both movable
and immovabl e partitions and houses the administrative
staff of the Long Beach Oil Development Company. Just
off the eleva lor foyer is space for the LBOD receptionist,
who sits at a beautifully finished curving counter-desk.
Behind her is the LBOD switchboard. In fronl is a
waiting room for caHers.
Robert M. Gray, supervisor of operalions for LBOD,
has his office on this floor.
A. l. Code, president of the long Beach Chamber of Commerce.
eJtends thet group's congro.uletionl to the Port for the new
huilding.
·Thanh are extended by Mr. Riding, to City Councilman
Gerald Desmond, who presented a California flo9 fo the Port on
heho!llf oi the Native Sons of the Golden Welt.
Edwin Hy~a, right, Exalted Ruler of Long Beach Elh lodge
No. 888, presenh a United Stales fla9 to Mr. Ridings on hehalf
of the EI~s of long Deach.
3
long Beach Sea Scotrls of Ship 131, under Commander F. A Bntion, rat•• the "'Ig_
Vertical venetians are installed throughout the build·
ing, though some executive offices also have drapes.
Floor coverings vary from variegated tan vinyl tile
(asbestos) on the second, fourth and sixth floors, to a
light blue vinyl on the third and fifth floors.
At either end of the building are what are termed
"smoke towers." Tbey are fireproof staircases, all con­
crete and steel except fOT aluminum hand rails on the
stairs, Tbey are separated from the building on each
floor by a heavy steel fire door. Building occupants need
only step through and close the door, and they are sale
from fire in an "unbumahle" medium.
Continuing upward, we come to the second floor, de­
signed principally for the Petroleum Division, whose
affairs are closely related to those of LBOD.
4
Frank Hardesty, Chief Petroleum Engineer, has his
oIfice on the second floor, Most of the northerly end
of this floor is occupied by Petr,oleUm Division units.
Smaller offices are arranged in rows, planned for
other petroleum engineers and administrative personnel.
East of the main hall, space is set aside for a conference
room. South oI that, on the same sid e of the hall, is
tho generous Petroleum Division vault, for valuable
records, samples and eo on.
WaUs in some parta of the north end are covered
with Vicratex, an attractive material that looks like dress­
ed leather. It is washable, and highly durable.
Behind the elevators on the west are rooms for tele­
phone services, with telephone company equipment
occupying one room, and the switchboar'd the other.
DiM De Bie represented the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, which
sent <1 bran jar with the emblem of the City of Antwerp on it.
Also the porf sent along another gift for the occasion, a set of
r t engravings by the famous Flemish master, Pieter Bruegel the
Old. The engravings are of various types of 16th century sailing
ships. With Miss De Bie is Diane Olson, Miss Port of Long Beach.
From Ihe Port of Haifa, Israel, c"me Dvora Yedidia. She car­
ried an ornamental jar made especially for this occasion by Harza
Isreel Ceramic Works.
Miss Lore Leiss carried a miniature oa~ wine cask sent here
for the ceremony by the Port of Hamburg, Germany.
Here to represent Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong. was Miss
lydia Wang. She carried a ginger jar containing .!I umple of the
harbor water of the Hong Kong port. which incidentally, is reo
ferred to by the Chinese as "Fragrant Harbor."
Representing the Port of Honolulu was Miss Yvonne Mongeon.
The colorful gift from Hawaii is a coconut resting in the husk, .!Ind
containing a small bottle of water from Honolulu Bay.
Kari Kristiansen, drened in a Norwegian national costume,
represented the port of Bergen, Norway. end carries e silver jug
containing a sample of that harbor's water.
A solid brass ornamental kettle called a Sura hi was used by
Min Cal Holmes in contributing w.!ller from the Port of Bombay.
Miss Aini Taberman represented the Pori of Helsinki, Finland,
which sent, with II bottle of harbor water, .!I cedificates which '!.!Ited
that at the time the sample was ta~en, the temperature was 0
degree Fahrenheit, and 20 inches of ice covered the Harbor.
Min Dan.!l Davis represent~d the Port of Houston, Texas. The
9ift from Houston W.!lS hand·made for the ceremony . . . .!I horn
from one of the cattle th.!lt helped ma~e Tex.!ls world-f.!lmous. The
horn is tipped with sterling silver and Ij~ewise has a sterling silver
covet cap. The nameplate identifies the gifts .!IS from the great
southern port of Houston.
5
Next .... u the representatve of the Port of Istllnbul. Turkey,
Peggy Tannenbllum, 1I long Beach dudent who studied Illst yellr
in Istllnbul under 1I student eKchange program. She cllrried the
bran decanter contributed by the Turkish port for the ceremony.
Ayesha HUHain carried an interesting container from the Port
of Karachi, Pakistan. It i5 a silver "Gulab Pash" made in Pakistan,
K.,%uko Mahumoto was the representative of the Port of Kobe,
Japan, .,nd c"rried a cont... iner of unum a ware, a specialty of
Ih"t city. The harbor and city "re pictured on one side. The other
side has " scene showing the Nunobiki waterfall, which flows
through the city ... nd empties into the hllrbor.
Odette MlIriulIel, who lIppeared on behllH 01 th. Port of
Le Havre, Frllnce, held ... n earthen jug m... de near Briq ubec , which
generally is a cont... iner for c... lv... dos, ... n apple br... ndy. Now,
however, it cont... ins a sample of harbor wllter from the Port of
l. Havre,
Min Carol Bldir represented the Port of london, England. She
held ... replic... of ... wine hutt, m...de of 0 ... 1t lind hound with stllin­
leu steel str... ps, It is II mini... ture of the wine caslt on th. roy... 1
y... cht Brit... nni... .
lind normally used for sprinHing rou .... lIter on guests at socilll
gatherings.
Representing the Port of Taiwan, China, was Miss Jelln Chew.
From fllrawllY China, the Port received ... bellutiful I... ntern lind
small porceillin jar, The meHage .,ccomp.,nying said: "M ... y the
light from this lantern and the water from our harbor help to pro·
mote e'ernal friendship between our two n,,'ions."
Bobette Mehgar represented the Port of leningrad , RUHia,
which sent a beautiful container. a miniature column made of glass,
stone and ivory, replica of a column by Pastrelli which stands on
the bllnlt of the Neva River, on the spot where the Port of Lenin·
gr... d was founded 250 yellfl lIgo. In en ... ccompanying letter, the
chief of 'fhe Port of Len;ngrlld says : "It is our wish thllt the sculp­
ture sent to you would remind the cHiuns of sunny California of
the sincere desire of the Soviet people to live in pe ... ce ... nd
friendship with the gre... t ... nd talented Americ ... n people,"
Miss Cheryl Stllrltenherg represented our neighbor, Port of
los Angeles. Their gift is II large green 91 ... ss decanter with their
port. flag included in the art work ... ttached.
Estrella Rivera, representing the Port of M... nila, Philippines.
6
Representing the Pori of New York was Min Carol Quinn.
The heavy glass jer from the Emp ire State contains water ta~en
from New York Harbor jurl a few feet away fr om the Statue 01
li berty.
rotepresenting the Port of Oolllkland. California. was Min Barbar a
Elston. The very appr opriate gift from this northern city is " ship' s
bell mounted on a wooden pedestal. The bell conteim " menage
of congratulations to the Port of long Beoch fr om the Port of
III
O".'"nd. Min Elston W/H gueted by Peter M. Tripp. Commissioner,
Po,t of O,,1Iand. at the ceremony.
Representing the Orange County Harbor Di1trict, or more
gene,ally .nown ", Newport-Balboa, w.u Min Sondra Coonh.. The
cont"inef was designed and made by employees of the harbor
department there. It i, compond of I'erling silver purchued by
the employees and is identified with the Orange County seal and
gold ribbons. On top of the baHI" i, II large wave through which
a min iature sl!Iiling sloo p is querlering on ihe wind.
Qi~~~~~~j1l
Representing the Pori of Melbourne, Audralia , wu Min Betty
Hughe s. The Jpecially-m"de gl." fl"sk cont"inJ w"ter from Pori
Philip Bay, Melbourne, AUJtrali". It is "embl"xoned with" co at of
.rms 01 the City of Melbourne.
Representing the Port of Redwood City was Min Jen H"rrison .
The sm\!lll gold-colored bottle is encrusted with miniature ua ,hell5
and en .riistic ,ketch of the old Jailing venels t"!\It visited Red­
wood City many yee" "90.
)~N
IN
Representing the Port of Rio de Jene iro was Min Vi doria
[ge lesias . The gift from Brnil is a very handsome white ceramic
jug. The message accompanying the g ift is: "Rio de Janeiro and
long Beach - two porh - two netions-two OCeans. Mey this
water from the BlIY of Guana Bara make us remember that the
routes of commercial navigation will shorten the roads of the world
and bring nations clos.r together." At right is lions Club Pr.s id ent
Keith Houdyshell.
\
Janette Vliln Kampen. representing the Port of Rotterdlilm.
poured water from that h.nbor out of a blue IiInd white ceramic
jug called a cruet.
Repr.tenting the Port of San Oiego was Min Judy Burban"
The 9ift from Our southern neighbor is tI beeutiful heavy red
stone iug.
Present for the Pori of Stln Fnnc ilco Wtll Min Wilma Sigler.
The gift from the Golden G.te is probably the oldell of all re­
ceived . It i, more than 100 yean old - a vitreous stone medicine
bottle believed to have been brought to San Francisco et the time
of the gold rush. The boHle was unearthed about a year ago in
the e lcavation pit of a new offht.t b.uilding being ereded on the
wat.rfront. It wal over the rnown wr.dage of an old sailing ship ,
a bar" the APOllO which burned , san~ and later was covered
over in the 18605 when the Port of San Franci,co began building
"awalls.
7
Representin9 the Pori 01 Stockholm, Sweden, was Rite Zender,
who poured from a buutiful Swedish glenware container made in
the ih"pe of an apple.
The Port of Stockton sent" 9ift of an e)(act sc"le model of "n
early Conestoga w~9on. carryin9 a h"nd-m"de wooden cesk, which
contained the Stockion water.
Pam Shaw was Min Alameda, repreunting the widely-known
Encinal Terminal. Her prelenhtion, a plaque with ship's lemp
attached, was among the most unusual seen et the ceremo.ny. The
lamp itself contained the gift weter from the Pori of Alameda.
Hun9 on gimbals. it i, of poliihed chrome end finest workmanship.
From the Pori of Vere Cruz, Me)(ico, came Miss Carol Romero.
The container she held is a vial made expresdy for the occll~ion
from a native onyx-like stone called Tecali, which is tll.en from
quarries in the Mexican state of Puebla. It was hewn and poli~hed
by Tecali region Indians who are descendants of those who lived
in Ihe area before the conquest and colonization of Mexico by the
Speniardl.
Representing a port with II picturesque name - Table Bay
Herbor, Cape Town, South Africa, was Miss Gretll Nelson. The
conteiner sent by this pori is a clay canteen used by cowboys of
that ereo. Two scenes are fired into the glazed surface of Ih"
Canteen-one is a man on horse blick, the other II view of Table
Bey Herbor, showing ships, and a mountain in the background.
typical landmark of Cape Town.
There are positions for two ope rators, with an extendable
section to permit Lhree ope rators to work the board if
necessa ry.
South down the haU of this 5e<:ond floor are the
offices of Orlo Pe ugh, Chief Maintenance Supervisor,
and Val 1. Deaser, Chief Electrical, Mechanical and
Plant Supervisor. Personnel for these two divisions are
located around the two head offices. Across the hall, at
the soutJleast of the building, are additional roonis for
LBOD, one a lounge area, the other for storage. Room
310 on this floor is assigned to the Subsidence Control
Division, and in anoLher a rea is a library.
On the third floor are the lirst sections of the Engi·
neering Divi:sion. Tnspection Section is in the northwest
part of this floor, and extends Jor some distance south­
erly along the west si de. lh the ' ricrrtheast area and
extending to the lobby are offices of the Engineering
Design Section. Behind the elevators is the large Engi.
neering Division vault., 1900 sq. It. in area. In the
S}ll,ltheast area, the Survey and Mapping Section is
:quartered.
8
On the next £loor - the fourth - are headquarters
lor both the Civil Engineering Division and the Traffic
Division. Bob Hoffmaster, Chief Harbor Engineer, has
his staff in the northwest portion 01 the floor, with the
Engineering Cost Analysis Section next in une.
At the soutbwest of the lifth flo or are the offices of
Capt. John Rountree, the Port's Traffic Manager, and his
stafL
Across the hall, the southeast corner is occupied by
the Subsidence Studies Section of the division, and the
Right·of-Way Section. The entire remainder of the east
side of floor four is devoted to the Prior Planning Sec·
tion and the Architectura} Design Section. First-aid
rooms are located on the west side of this floor.
Up another stairwa y, the fifth floor houses chiefly
the Accounting Division under Ted Courson, Chief Ac­
counting OHice r, and the Subsidence Control and Re·
pressurization Divisior,h under_So M. Roberts, its Adminis­
trator. In the northwest area _are offices of the Petro.leum
Accounting Section. At the' soutll end, Subsidence 'Co n·
trol ,takes up ,remaining space. In the central part to
Anoth.r f.mr. of the n.w .dmlntrtr.tlon bundt"O In&Jud•• 95­
foot vi.w 9_II.ri •• which extend alon9 two sid •• of the .ixth floor.
Oi_n. OllOn, Mlu 'ort of Long Bach, d.monstretes how ... i.itors
to the bulleling througho.n coming yean: will enloy an unequall.eI
pilnorilme of the contUn. with the city on on. siel. .nd Port
.dwitl•• on the other.
Th. 7....foot mural with • r.fI.ction pool before it it; • ririklnq
future of the new Adminirlranon Builellng. Th. mllr.l , .X6Cutect
with elirect painting technlqu. on t.rra cotte, rep,osenn the r.... i...al
of • ceramic .rt which has been elormant for 600 yurs. Th.
lCen". which ruel from d9M to left. elepict' the chronological
d ..... lopm.nt of .Long Beech Harbor, tog.ther wjfh • historical
background of California.
9
i
A north.oderly view from the roof of the new Adminidtation
Building provide. 0 mognificent view of the long Beech ,kyline.
In the foreg,ound is port of the p~rking oreo fot Port shU end
vilitc.... and, beyond thot, 'acifie Londing ond the Solley ,erlouront.
A rooftop view looking g.nerolly eorl include. the parking
o,.a, beyond that en .,... under d..,.lopm.nf by th.
Aftd .t
the for end of Pier A. the Reef Ruto.,rant.
'ort
Swinging .round the oth.r wey to th. southwest end wm the
cemera loeb tranm ,hech end•. w.,..hoUHt m.tddng down to
Pierpoint landIng_ Wotk on the new piers F and 6 Is progtHiing
.t f.r I.ft, and part of Clit"line 1,lend is visible on thll horizon.
Th• •dminlstration buildin'l'I neIghbor to the northwest I, the
0
the V.n Camp S•• FoocI Compeny.
"yond thot ... Pl... A. 8 and C.
modem world headquarters
11
;
Th. affiee of Charle, L Vicken, General M"nager af the Port af lang Beach.
the west, space is provided for a main file vault of
1400 sq. ft.
Moving to the sixth floor, the gTeatest and most
impressive single feature is the Board Room, on the
north end. Of 2600 square foot area, this commodious
space provides 126 seats for the public, and accommo­
dates a long U,shaped Board table sround which Com·
missioners and Harhor staffers sit for the Board sessions.
Rubher floor tile is underfoot here, with walls of hand·
some waJnut veneer. A rail of ironwork, with a central
lectern. separates the audience hom the officials. Over­
head, in brilliant modern star patterns, the fixtures. for
lighting permit soft but ample illumination.
Outside the Board Room
00 '
the west is a visitors'
gallery, glass-enclosed, presenting a view of the entire
~arbor District from this sixth·story height. This gallery
IS approxunately 95 feet long, and caiI accommodate a
large number of sightseers. A similar space is afforded
on the east side of the Board Room, providing a view of
parts of the City and the shore line. These areas are
12
floored with rubber tile, and have walnut veneer on the
walls.
Entering a foyer between the Board Room and the
lobby section, a room against the east wall has been
designated as a press-room, for use
r;
-a
by reporters covering
Board meetings. A battery of public telephones is nearby.
In offices on the south end of the sixth floor are
Charles L. Vickers, General Manager; T. J. Thorley,
Assistant General Ma.nager; Alvin K. Maddy, Executive
Secretary; M. D. Hughes, Director of Petroleum and
Subsidence Control Operations, and R. H. Metzgar, Di­
rector of Public Relations. A conierence room is also
located in this area.
On the top floor ~ the seventh - is a large room
with glass picture windows surrounded on three sides
by a wide walking.deck of about 200 ft. length. An
employee's cafeteria will be operated there by a private
lessee, and attractive tables and chairs will provide seat·
ing for 72 persons.
'.
A modern and efficien1 room hils b.en provided for 1he r.gu­
lar m••1ings of 1he Board of Harbor Commissioners, shown here
wi1h naff members and d.penment heads. Not visible in 1his view
is 1h. IImpl. seating !.rovided for the public and those having
business with the Boar .
In the center of the area, down a short hallway, are
three small rooms to be used as a projection booth for
the Board Room. Movies, slides, illustrative charts and
other material can be projected into the Board Room for
Commissioners and the audience to see and study. It is
planned to have movie and slide projectors and other
equipment ready for use at all times in this room, which
also affords space for film editing and repairing.
Out on the walking·deck again, one gets the best
look yet at the Harbor and the sea. Combed by the ocean
westerly, this is a place to go for a breath of air, or an
after·lunch constitutional, and with nothing overhead,
the sky seems near.
Atop the highest part of the huilding is the chosen
site for the Harbor's giant heaco~ soon to sweep land
and sea nightly with its signal to ships and men.
The 3,300,000 candlepower beacon will have a dia­
meter of 24 inches. It will revolve. on its axis at an
angle of 1 y, degrees above the horizon, at a rate of two
times 8 minute. It will be equipped with an automatic
bulb-changer for assuring a constant ligbt, without
attention.
The responsibility of Val Deaser, the light and equip­
ment were scheduled to be shipped to Long Beach about
April 11, after which installation work would start.
Originally suggested by a seafaring man, Capt. Hans
Urdahl, master of MS Moldanger, the great ligbt would
become a navigation aid for ships on the ocean making
for the Port of Long Beacb. More, it will be seen for
many miles inland, especially by airplane pilots.
This Port of Long Beacb light will serve to remind
all wbo see it that bere is America's Most Modern Port,
which exists to serve business and industry by creating
markets overseas for our goods, and by providing a
gateway througb which necessary raw materials of the
world can reach America's industrial plants, in relurn.
13
PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH WORLD TRADE World Trade Week, Ma y 22.28, directs public atten·
tion to a basic factor in the American economy - that
our general prosperity depends on world trade.
Every home and business, the well·being of every
individual- our standard of living - all are aHected
by our two-way world trade with other countries.
The Port of Long Beach, in cooperation with neigh­
boring Los Angeles Harbor, and trade, civic and service
organizations., sponsors \1:'orld Trade Week in Southern
California. It is proclaimed nat.ionally by the President
of the United States.
Stanley T. Olafson of the Los Angeles Chamber of
Commerce is credited with having originated World Trade
Week in 1927, 85 a means of stimulating public interest
in the harbors, ships and shipping of the Southland to
and from world ports. It has been observed annually
since 1935 over the nation. It falls in the week which
includes National Maritime Day - May 22 - established
by Congress to commemorate completion of the first
trans-Atlantic voyage by a steamship - the Savannah,
in 1819.
Observance of World Trade Week is basically edu·
cational. Breakfast, luncheon and dinner speakers will
emphasize the importance of world trade to the people of
America and their livelihood. Public schools will publish
a bulletin on the subject for use of administrators and
teachers. Thousands of informational brochures on World
Trade Week will be distributed through the schools.
Press, radio, and TV will carry news and features on
world trade that week, and trade papers and journals will
do likewise. Displays will be made up illustrating the
harbors, export and import activities, ships, and so on.
Robert H. Metzgar, public relations director of the
Port of Long Beacb, John A. Sowers of the Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce, and Troy S. Garrison, director,
public relations, of Los Angeles Harbor Depanment, are
the information committee for World Trade Week.
Inquiries should be addressed to them.
Special obsen'ances begin May 17 with a luncheon
at the Advertising Club of Los AngeJes, and continue
through Sunday, May 29, with an observance at Disney·
land. Specifically, the Week program is as follows:
Friday, May 20 - Junior Foreign Trade Association
luncheon at the L. A. Athletic Club. Mr. Olafson will be
the speaker.
Sunday, May 22 - Harbor Day - National Mari·
time
Day. An invltational luncheon in the Matson
Tenninal, sponsored by Long Beach and Los Angeles
Harbor Commissions, with Jatter as host.
Monday, May 23 - Los Angeles Consular Corps
luncheon at tbe L. A. County Jail, with Sheriff Peter 1­
Pilchess as host.
Tuesday, May 24 - Los Angeles Transportation Club
luncheon-at the Biltmore Hotel. This is the Annual
World Trade Week Luncheon.
Wednesday, May 25 - 33rd Annual World Trade
Week Breakfast at the Los Angeles Breakfast Club, 3201
Los Feliz Blvd., presenting speakers and entertainment,
including Boys Glee Club from Manual Arts High School.
14
Thursday, May 26 - 34th Annual World Trade Week
Luncheon - Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Spon.
sored by Foreign Trade Association.
Friday, May 27 - Propeller Club·Los Angeles Rotary
Club luncbeon at the Statler·Hilton in Los Angeles.
Sponsored by Los Angeles·Long Beach Propeller Club
and Downtown Los Angeles Rotary Club.
Friday, May 27 - Women's Division Community Af­
fairs Luncheon, at Chamber of Commerce dining rooms,
404 South Bixel SI.
Friday, May 27 Dinner Dance -
lIth Annual World Trade Week
Biltmore Bowl, Biltmore Hotel. Spon­
sored by Los Angeles Steamship Association .
Sunday, at Disneyland, there will be a parade and
special programs, with performing foreign dance groups,
fashion show of foreign clothes , etc.
SfI!Inley T. Olafson, manl1lger of the World Trade Department
of the Los Angel" Chamber of Commerce, and Icelandic Consul
in this area, is the man who originated the idee of a World Trade
Week, 33 years ago. After a long and successful career in
Chamber work, he now planl to utire. He will remain. however.
as consul for Icelllnd.
PETROLEUM NEWS AT PORT M. D. (Dud) Hughes, who took office Feb. 18 a.
Director of the Division of Petroleum and Subsidence
Co ntrol, is an "old hand" at Harbor oil and subsidence
affajrs.
In hi s new connection) Mr. Hughes occupies an office
on the Sixtn Floor of the Harbor Administration Build·
in g, acros:s from the office of Charles 1. Vickers, General
IVfanager of the Port, to whom Dud Hu gh es r eports.
In most of his years as a professional engineer, Mr.
Hu ghes has ha d much to do with the Wil mington Oil
Field and maHers related to it. Follow ing a period of
employment by Tidewater Oil Company as district engi ­
neer for the Los Angeles Basin Distl;cl, he joi ned tbe
then newl y organized Long Beach Oil Developme nt Com·
pany s~,lf. LBOD, formed to handle oil production on
contra ct for tbe City, was just getting und er way when
'he yo ung engineer joined that company.
From LBOD, Hug hes came to the Long Beach Har·
bor Department Oct. I, 1947, and took over th e position
of chief petroleum
operations for the
to launch his own
has represented a
engineer and mana ger of oil and gas
Harbor Department. In 1952, he left
consultin g prac ti ce, a nd in that time
variety of interests., some of which
have taken him half way around the world.
Among concerns for which Dud Hu g hes has done
special work are General Petroleum Corporation, Rich·
field Oil Corporation, Union Pacifi c and others, all co n·
cerned with the Wilmington Oil Fi eld. Beca use he is
intimately familiar with all phases of F ield operations,
he has more than once been drawn as witness into
various hearings and court actions.
At one time, for General P etroleum and Richfield
Oil Corporation, Mr. Hughes reviewed all the work of
the Engineering Board of th e Conserva ti on Committee
in the Wilmington Oil Field and fo r all other fi elds in
the State. He bas served th e Superior Oil Company,
also the Assembly Interim Comm ittee on Manufactu.ring,
Oil and Mining Industry. H e has served th e California
Division of Highways, and th e Coun ly of Los An geles.
Among his former clients is Clint Murchison , the
almost legendary Texas oi l multimillionaire, for whom
he perfonned some engineering services. He also has had
other clients in the Southwest. For the DrllIin g and
Exploration Compa ny of Ho uston, he wa s sen t to HoI·
land, Iran and elsewhere abroad as a trouble·shootE:"r
on oil maUers.
Dud Hu ghes lold with a grin of a near·adventure
he had in Iran . It was at th e ti me Dr. Mossadegh was
Premier, after he had exp ropri aled lranjan oi l from the
natio ns that d eveloped it, a nd then couldn't selJ it.
Foreiv;ners were pretty unpopu lar in th a t country th en.
" The sho rt o f it.," Mr. Hughes said. " was that some
of th e forei g n correspcmde nts at the hotel decided that
I was an envoy of th e U nited States there to bu y Ira nian
oil from Mossadeg h. Th ey wrote up a story and put it
in the papers to Lhat effect. without my knowl edge.
When 1 contac ted th e Goverrunent olli cial I had been
sent Lh ere to see, he \ . .· 85 reading the paper. He pretended
to be outraged by m y sayjng such things, until he read
the last paragraph, then he bu rst out laughing. In the
last paragraph, the wri ter said I had denied the whole
story."
M. D. HUGHES
The oil operations over wbich Mr. Hughes presides,
with its undertones of subsidence and unitization, fi rst
came into being in 1936, when the first oil weJl in the
Field was completed.
After the discovery well came in , oil co mpany rigs
moved right in and began drilling. It became vital for
the City of Long Beach to protect its interests in the
Field. The story is long and involved, hut at length ,
when the City advertised the second tim e for an oil con ·
tractor - the first instance having been generally un·
succes.sful- LBOD entered the bidding, an d its bid
was deelared the most suitable. Th e Harbor Depart.rnent
had wisely engaged top engineering talent to do th e
judging of the bids, and there wasn't must qu es tion
afterwards about which bid was the best for the City
and Harbor.
At about th e time that Dud H ughes was getting ac·
quainted with LBOD, an ot her engineer was employed
by the Petroleum Divi sion of the Ha rbo r Depa rtm ent,
whi ch then was headed by E. R. Stanley, a petroleum
consultant. This man today is well·kn own to all in th e
Harbor Department -- he is Fra nk J. Hard esty, Ch ief
Petroleum Engineer.
Mr. Hardesty had started out in 1922, with a freshly
gra nted deg ree of bachelo r of scie nce from the Uni versity
of. Chicago. A flu vi ctim , he ca rn e We-st to try to over·
15
In late 1941, with the outbreak of war, LBOD look
ed ahead and invested large amounts of its own money
in materials and equipment which it knew were soon to
be in shQrt supply. This cQmmendable fQresight enabled
drilling to continue where otherwise it might have been
held up.
Dud Hughes jQined the Marine Corps for service in
World War II , and saw duty overseas. He served fQr
tbree years.
In all this time, the contractor kept up its contract
by CQntinuing the drilling schedule agreed tQ with the
Petroleum DivisiQn. The CQntract had called for 50 wells,
but subsequently, LBOD has drilled considerably in
excess of 1,100 wells.
At the start of the cQntract, LBOD had tQ invest abQut
85,000,000 in the driUing program, which averaged Qut
at abQut $1,000,000 a month. The mQney nQt Qnly went
into drilling, but also productiQn,. tan~ farms, gathering
lines, treating equipmen~ and so on. All had to go in
within the first five months of the contract.
One Qf the principal reaSQns that LBOD had shown
such a favQrable stQry in the bidding for the CQntract.
amQng all the bidde~ was because it had been formed
by three majQr Qil companies, principally - Standard
Oil Company, Signal Oil CQmpany, and HancQck. CQm·
mitments fQr purcbase of Qil pwduced had been repre·
sen ted by LBOD as part Qf the bid - the cQmmitments
were firm, of cou rse, because the takers were the above
oil companies. Today, each of the oil concerns owns
28.5 per cent of LBOD stock, with less active interests
accounting for the balance.
FRANK J. HARDESTY
Another unusual angle to the LBOD stQry is the
fact that, as all motQTists know, oil is SQld by gravity,
such as 20 API, 30 API, and SQ on. UnfQrtunately fQT
come the after·effects of the disease. Recovering whilc
here, he worked for the Standard Oil Company in this
Harbor oil, however, it didn't always come out on the
right figure. but carried a fraction after it. Thus, if
area, selling oi1. Eager to get into engineering, he learn ­
it weighed out at 20.8 0 gravity, all the HarbQr CQuld get
for it was the price of 20 0 gravity.
ed at Shell Oil Company of a school where he could
study California geolQgy - Shell tQld him if he did SQ,
there wQuld be a jQb fQr him Qn his return. s., he saved
his mQney and went to school. When he returned tQ
Shell, that company employed him as pwmised, and he
CitY·Qwned wells the same as lighter Qils were, LBOD
devised a system fQr adding higb gravity Qil to its frac·
remained there ten years.
Alter a brief business venture with his brother, Frank
tional gravity production, so as to bring it up to the high­
er standard gravity. Thus no loss was sustained in the
returned tQ Shell again, but soon tired Qf the mQving
about which the work entailed.
On March 20, 1939, Frank went to wQrk fQr th e
HarbQr Department. The big job in thQse days was
pricing Qf the Qil produced fQr the City by the contractQr.
If Qne locatiQn produced 20.8° and anQtber produced
30.6° Qil, LBOD added the se<Qnd to the first until the
gravity was 21.0 0 Qr 21.1 ° gravity, and gQt full price
Pondering this, the cont ractor came up with a solu­
tion. Since oils of heavie r weight were produced in
working out plans for the Harbor's anticipated heavy
for it.
drilling schedule, and Frank was put to wQrk Qn that.
Several wells had been bwught in by the time Frank
Hardesty got in the picture. From them it was possible
fQr gOQlogists tQ ascertain facts about the Fi eld which
Under RQbert M. Gray, the Company's Qperating
superviSQr, tbe CQmpany today has 365 emplQyees, and
aided the Division in planning driUing locations. Then,
Division ,occupies the floor above it, as poioted out in
an accompanying story, making for ease of contact be­
tween the two.
with LBOD in full swing, the drilling pwgram began.
First plan was tQ drill 12 wells simultanoously, with
the Petroleum Division working with the contrac tor in
an advisory capacity. Incidentally, the same drilling rigs
aTe in use today, a fact amazing to many oil production
men. The rigs were carefully removed after each job,
as soon as crews had installed the "Christmas trees"
(abQve·grQund pwjections .,[ the well pipe, tQ wbich are
sHued various flanges, connections and gauges for
prQperly contwlling QperatiQn Qf the well). Then the
rigs were moved to the next location, sometimes by house
movers.
occupies the first floor in the new Harbor Department
AdministratiQn Building Qn HarbQr Pla.za. The Petwleum
Current oil productiQn through the hands Qf the Qil
contractor runs approximately 24,500 barrels a day ,
Mr. Gray said.
Gas proouction is about 19,000,000 cubi~ feet a day.
Going back tQ the early days Qf HarbQr Qil, CalifQmia
law specified a well spacing of 150 ft. at that time. The
driUer was required not to locate a new well within a
surface distan ce of ISO ft. fwm anQther well already
drilled or drilling. Pursuit of this principle Qver a IQng
period of time would have resulted in occupancy of great
This maU of lines is what a man in a helicopter, hov.ring
over the usiern edge of Pie r A at the ,ilt d iversion curve, would
,•• i{ h. had a tel.sco p. that would enebl. him to look far under·
tjround:~ These -are till the , Ient·drilled oil we lls under the los
Angel.," Ri.... r . stuery thet beg in in the trim batteries lying along
the Sc.nic Orl:ve, out toward end pad Pa cific land ing , There is such
a man of them it might appaa r that lome inlerfere with others,
but no4'.lo. Often hun:c.teds or thou sands of feet se per,,'e the
seemin41y crossing line..
•
17
age would go. But subsidence kept on, and in parts of
the Harbor, incursions of water at high tide made dik e
work necessary. As the sinking continued througb the
late '405 and into the '50s, some of the engineers return·
ed to increase their estimates. More dikes and landfiUs
were built up to offset the subsidence. This " building
of a second Port atop the first," as some called it, was
an expensive process, involving the movement of great
quantit.ies of earth. But expensive as it was., the value of
oil production was vastly greater ) a fac tor which naturally
led some operators to feel that nothing should be done
to interrupt the production in the field.
In the middle '50s, bowever, a new factor began to
fall into place in the "picture·puzzle" of subsidence. The
Long Beach Naval Shipyard, situated in the West Basin
of the Harbor, began to have trouble with some of its
installations due to water incursion. Some of the great
drydocks in the Yard began taking water at high tide,
and quay waUs were built up around them to protect
th em from flooding. Other facilities were threatened. The
Shipyard's location was just a short distance from the
apparent center of the subsidence "bowl". But at first, .
everybOdy expected the Sinkage to slow down and stop
in the next yea r or twO.
In 1957, however, word from the Navy Department
in Washington indicated that there was serious concern
in those quarters about the continu : .'.-d sinking. The Dc­
partment said th at unless something pretty effective was
A drllmlltic scene on Richfield A.2r7, ei!l1t of the Adminisha·
tion Building on Pier A. The ere.... wu in a redrH ling operation •
.... hile the cameraman mllde his "shoh," end here caught the der.
rid man, James J. Cahill, swarmin9 up a high ladder while the
huge traveling block waited in position, ,u~pended from the ero.... n
block high overhel!ld, for the next move.
areas of valuable Harbor land in the oil program. For·
tunately, however, a subsequent interpretation had read
into the law that the spacing applied to bottom· hole 10'
cation, not surface location.
At about tbat time, drillers had perfected the tech·
nique of whipstock drilling, or "slant" drilling as some
call it. That technique made it possible to "bunch" su r·
face drilling locations in the smallest practical amount of
space, and to direct the drill so as to reach bottom-hole
locations at some distance from the surface location. An
ensuing development at the Port was the re.drilling from
central batteries of wells the former bottom ·holes, so as
to release as much land surface as possible. Today the
visitor to the Port can see the closely spaced batteries of
wells, perhaps without realizing that the same we1ls reach
out some distances to outlyjng bottom ·holes for produc·
lion .
In the early 'Forties, as oil production. developed to
g reat proportions, engineers on bench.m ark survey in
the Port reported a lowering, or set~ing of the land sur­
faces. AIter thi s had happened more than once, with
evjdences of an increasing Tate of sinkage, or subs.idfmre.,
the H arhor Commission brought in engineers to survey
the matter and determine, if possible, how far the sink·
18
In thh picture on A-217, the "Kelly" ha, just been lifted out of
the "rat-hole" (large pipe in fore ground tilted lit lin lingle) lind
h being t.ken over the hole t o be dropped into the square hole in
the teble. Driller and hi, crew are cuHing a 40.foot "windo .... " in
the 8%" casing to stert a new slant drilling operlltion, lIccordin9
to John J . lon9. drilling ,upervisor of the Harbor Oepl!lrtment,
hown in the trede '" the "Tool Pusher."
done about subsidence in the Yard, it might have to be
closed or moved elsewhere.
The Navy in Long Beach is of course, a source of
considerable income. The Shipyard employs about 6,500
men and women, many of whom live in Long Beach.
The annual payroll at the Yard is estimated at S42,000,·
000. Even greater is the Fleet. payroll covering all oper·
ations of vessels having Long Beach as their home porl.
Thus a condition which may have been endurable for
the most part despite the cost of remedial work, now
became an urgent problem. A "crash" program was
initiated in the Long Beach City Hall when representa·
tives oj Field operators met with Sam E. Vickers, Long
Beach city manager. It was decided to attempt to stop
subsidence in Fault Blocks II and III, as they und erlie
most oj the Shipyard.
Almost from the start, engineers and others had
suspected that the sink was due to a reduction of fluid
pressure in the underlying fonnations. It was also be·
lieved that those pressures could be restored by the in·
jection of water under pressure into those formations
where pressure depletion had occurred.
In 1952, Dr. John Dodge and Mr. Hughes, then in
private practice as a peLToleum consultant, made an
engineering study for the Harbor Department on the
feasibility of water injection as a means of increasing
oil recovery and preventing further subsidence, and
recommended the installation of a pilot operation in a
small sub·pool in Fault Block V·B.
Threadif'lg pipe end.to.end in the hole is a fine art to these
"ruffned-,," as the industry C~lIi them. Specifically they are
CI~rence Polen , back-up man , C. Huddledon , wor.ing the lead
tongs, ~nd F. M, Pollard . c~thud man. Draw·worb power y~nh
the chain once it is wound around fhe upper piping. and furns it
almost. but not quite, ti9ht in the t"peted screw-joint. Some play
is left to keep from draining the pipe. Mr. lon9 8kplained.
Big "Tel''' Fisher, the driller, o perates the draw-worh that
powers ~i rtually e ~ery operation on the platform. Powerful natural
g~l-dri~en enginei operate the draw-works, re'ponding instantly
to the turn of the driller', throlfle. Weight indica ton show weight
on the pipe in the hole, and on the drill; brake and torque jndjc~ ­
ton iupply ~dditional critical information to the driller. At thi,
moment, prenure on the drill was 40,000 Ib,. PreHure on the mud
pump, which dri~85 mud down into the hole to remo~e steel frag­
menh from the pipe cUHing and other materials, was 750 pounds
per 'quare inch.
]n 1953, following this recommendation which was
endorsed by the Petroleum Division, LBOD installed •
pilot water-flood plant on Pier B, and commenced in ·
jection into that part of Fault Block V·B that lay between
the southernmost point oj Pier A and the easterly end
of the Navy Mole. This operation has continued quietly,
efIiciently in the intervening years. It was in the loea·
tio.u described above, served by this injection operation,
that th e first evidence was found that water flooding
could indeed check subsidence.
By the start of 1958, the Harbor Commission and
General Manager of the Port saw the need for central­
izing the scattered subsidence and repressuring opera­
tions into one pair of hands. Accordingly, Samuel M.
Roberts, former City finance officer, came to the Port as
head ()J that field of effort, and later in the lear was
appointed adroinistrator of the Port's Subsidence Control
and Repressurization Division.
Mr. Roberts, a graduate of Stanford University in
1937 (B.A. degree) and of the Maxwell Graduate School
of Citizenship and Public Affairs of the University of
Syracuse, N. Y., in 1939, followed his proJession of public
administration work up to the Harbor appointment. In
that capacity it became his responsibility to direct the
19
Here the square key on the "Kelley" has been fiHed down
into the square hole in the drill table. The lower end of the Kelley,
with the same thrud as the drill pipe, will be threaded in, and
drilling will begin again on the window-cutting operation. The
heaviest of objects on the platform are moved lightly about by
the traveling blod, operated by the driller from his control position
at the draw-worh. The only exceptions are thtt heavy tongs for
seiling drill pipe. These are hung on a lin6 over an overhead blod,
and aro counterbalanced to exactly the right weight by a can of
water on the other end of the line. Thus the 2S0-lb. tongs can be
moved about easily by a tongs man.
James J. Cahill, derrick man, on the ground for a "stretch,"
makes a minor adjustment on one of the tflree big Gardner-Denver
mud pumps, each driven by a Waukesha natural gas enigne, devel.
oping about 25 hp each. The pump' can deliver mud pressure
up to about 2,000 fbs. The rig and draw-works are seen beyond
the pumps.
20
Here is the drilling mud, bad from the well·depths, and shaker·
screened to remove metal paNicles , as it goes into the pit, to be
pumped agein down into the well. Mr. Long pointed to begs of'
the chemically-made "mud" stacked near the pit. One type, known
in "Aquo!gel" and termed a "cypon" type of mud, cosh $-48.00 a
bag, he said. Water loss and weight of the mud are both critical
in driling operations.
completion of unit and cooperative agreements to provide
for field-wise repressuring operations, and administer the
moves made toward repressuring at various points in the
Harbor.
A number of progressive steps were carried out there·
after which cleared the way for speeding repressuring in
the field , and for preparatory work toward initiating
unitization in the two fault blocks, 11 and III. The first
step was to prohibit, by vote of the electorate, further
drilling of the Field's easterly extension. Next came an
amendment to the City charter, to permit the City to
unitize its properties., hitherto forbidden.
Gov. Knight then called the California legislature into
special session to ratify the Long Beach charter amend·
ment and enact a subsidence law. This Act armed the
Harbormen with provisions for compulsory unitization if
the need arose, recognized the necessity for water flood·
ing to stop subsidence, and named the State Oil and Gas
Supervisor to administer the act.
Then began what has been characterized as a
major drama, in Long Beach Harbor. The "hero", was
said, was to be water flooding - the "villain," of course,
was subsidence, and the "setting" of the drama was the
Wilmington Field. Target date for starting the Units
II and III, vital to complete before further steps could
be taken without arousing a Swarm of lawsuits and other
deterrents, was Jan. 1, 1959. But that date came and
passed with scarcely a nod from the subsidence-fil!hters.
In the interim, a feverish program of construcrion of
water injection plants went into high gear, with the City
doing the financing - to be compensated later. The
number of plants multiplied. Two large units were plan·
ned, contracted for, and built, one on Terminal Island
where t.he greatest subsidence has taken place, and the
other on the mainland. The combined total capacity of
these two plants when in full operation is approximnlC'Jy
440,000 bhls. a day.
=
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Point. iIIudtllted by this chart, lent to HARBOR H~GHLIGHTS by Dud Hug h.n, might be
called" ",id. elevation " of whipstock oil clri lling methods ~5 practicea in Lon g Beach t ide lends.
Noh the bend in the hole farth.st left, labe led "Kick-off Point." Cutting diag ona ll y acron the
hol. I (apperently) is the Ed ison Feult line. Th e driller hll5 worked do..... n into II podel for med
by the T.rmo Fa-ult line and the t op of the "237" Z one . The geolog ica l strate ere named "t
left - at t op. the ground level is depressed to show the Chllnnel, in the middle of which i, "
parcel divider. At right is the original straight hole, .,.,hose bottom-hole is about to be tapped
by th e sl~nt.drilled hole ~t center.
21
major fault block areal rather than to attempt to form
one field·wide unit. The Fault Block VI area, with only
two producers other than the City, has been handled
through a cooperative agreement which has been com­
pleted and executed by the parties. The four major pro­
ducers in Fault Blocks II and III underlying the critical
Navy Yard and the City executed a Memorandum of
Intention to Unitize and Repressure in June., 1958. The
many technical problems made it impossible to complete
the final unitization agreements by the original target
date of Jan. I, 1959."
As the world knows now, the Units II and III, signed,
sealed and in effect, went into operation March I this
year. Broadly speaking, the "battle for the Shipyard"
is over, and the City need have- no worrjes about
:<losing" the Yard througb further subsidence. For the
area served by the Pier B Pilot Plant, as mentioned
earlier, was only one of several areas that reflected an
eventual end to sinking, while in larger surrounding
areas, subsidence rates were greatly reduced.
There is work to be done in Fault Blocks IV and V
- no Current plans are in effect for work on Fault Block­
I, as a large part of it lies outside Long Beach city Jimits.
At the expense of considerable digression, this intro·
duces the point at 'which Dud Hughes, with experience
both intensive and extensive concerning the Wilmineton
Field in his background, moves in to head a new gen­
eral Division of Petroleum and Subsidence Control, co­
ordinating and unifying the work of the two sub­
divisions for the greater good of the Harbor Depart­
ment and the City.
The City also has five other plants with a combined
injection capacity of approximately 502,000 bbls. a day.
In addition., Producing Properties, Inc., has a plant of
2,000 BiD capacity, and Atlantic Oil Company has one
of 1200 BID capacity. Thus there is a total plant ca·
pacity for the field at this writing of approximately
963,000 BiD. Along with, these facilities, a supply of
injection water was necessary. This was obtained by
drilling shallow salt water wells which produce naturally
filtered fluid for injection underground. Raw sea water
is unsuitable for injection. Other operators began in­
jecting water - some had done so earlier - until at
last accounls, approximately 364,000 barrels of water
a day were going underground, through some 121 in·
jection wells, 51 of them in Fault Blocks Il and Ill.
Eventually there may be as many as 268 injection wells
pumping water underground.
In 1958, another development came along to spur
the crash program to further effort, if that were pos­
sible. On Aug. 15 of that year, the federal government
filed suit against Long Beach, the Slate of California,
and 400 oil producers seeking to force action to stop
subsidence, and threatening to shut-in the Wilmington
Field. In December, the number of defendants was re­
duced to 121, and the complaint was amended to n.-"'quire
defendants to stop production unless and until the court
WRS satisfied that everything possible was being done to
stop sinkage. Pressure from this source was let up con­
siderDbly in March, 1959, however, when the case was
indefinitely postponed, the government having expressed
satisfaction with the progress being made.
Mr. Roberts wrote. in an address before the Interstate
Oil (',ompact Commission June 15, 1959: "As might be
anticipated, the negotiation of essential unitization and
cooperative agreements has proven to be the most diffi­
cult phase of the program. In order to expedite agree­
ment, detennination was made to unitize separately each
Harbor Highlights joins Harbormen and women in
saying, "Welcome, Mr. Hughes!" and in congratulations
to the Harbor Department itself on having such a fine
mind and likable personality as his to bring to bear on
oil and subsidence problems of the future,
PORT GRAIN ELEVATOR AUTHORIZED
Work on the newest and most modern grain facility
on the Pacific Coast started at the Port of Long Beach
in April.
The Harbor Commission authorized Port General
Manager C. L. Vickers to request the city attorney to
draw a contrDcl for its construction. The oontract was
awarded to The Weitz Company, of Des Moines, Iowa,
nationally known grDin facility builders.
Speediest of ils kind in California, the elevator will
be equipped to load ships at a rate of 1300 tons or 43,000
bushels per hour. The only port grain elevator facility
in Southern California, il will have facilities to store
over 810,000 bushels of grain.
Til-::- 24-story head house, central control of all oper­
ations, will be one of the tallest buildings in Southern
Cali fornia.
The Long Beach Harbor Department will build the
$20 million plant and lease it for a ,40-yeef perJod to
Kopp:d Bulk Terminals as operators, on Pier A, Berths
208 to 211. More than 7,000 feet of rail trackage and
320,000 square feet of paved work area for truck park.
ing will help 10 make the plant the finest of its kind on
the Pacific Coast.
Designed by Marshall, Barr & Associates, of Seattle,
Washington, the elevator will have the latest modern
features. It will be able to load or unload ships faster
than any other in California at a rDte of eight 50-ton rail
cars or twelve 20-ton trucks per hour.
Another time-saving factor allows trucks and trailers
to be dumped by hydraulic tilt platforms without the need
of vehicle uncoupling. Airveyors will unload ships at a
rate of 150 tons per hour and transfer the cargo to a
truck or rail car every 10 minutes.
Other features include the latt."St in sampling, weigh­
ing and grading machines; dust control devices., and
explosive-proof electrical and llghting equipment with a
c1assificatjon of 2 Group C.
Present engineering has takcn into consideration fu­
ture expansion plans for a total of 9-million-bushel­
capacity storage facility.
Construction started April 22, wjth a completion
date scheduled for May of 1961, ]n time for the first
export shipping of the June harvest in California and
Arizona.
I mports will come from the Philippines. South
America and West Africa.
Largest movements will be exports from as far east
as the mid-western states.
It is predictCi.i that a year after completion the
facility will be handling over 10 million bushels
annually.
22
LONG BEACH ADOPTS INTERNATIONAL THEME
A plan to establish Long Beach as "the International
City" has been favorably regarded ·by civic interests of
the community as a means for setting new goals for
Long Beach's future.
The City Council, the Port of Long Beach wilb its
ex tensive international trade, the Chamber of Commerce,
Convention Bureau, Downtown Associat es, and other
groups have looked with favor on the new proposal to
dignify Long Beach wilb this distinguishing title­
International City. The Port and City will co-sponsor an
International Beauty Pageant this summer, possibly as
the first step in the proposed program.
Among proposals advanced by sponsors of th e titl e
for development in key with the international idea are
the following:
-An 1nternational Maritime Museum, which may be
placed on the ballot in the general election this year.
-An International Trade Mart, similar to that in
New Orleans, as a center for interests engaged In the
exc hange of world-traded goods and services.
-An Interna tional Amusement Park, based on the
present Long Beach Nu-Pike, possi'bl), to be constructed
on an offshore location.
-A program to hring to Long Beach more business
and industry engaged in international trade, such as an
international bank, a larger number of import-export
businesses than are here now, more steamship company
offices, more customs brokers and travel agencies, etc.
-Consular Headquarters to he brought to Long
Beach (bolb offices and homes) from wherever they
are now.
-An International Commerce and Exhibit Hall in the
form of an addition to the Municipal Auditorium, prob·
ably to be placed on lbe ballot.
-Establishment of an International Cultural and Art
Museum in Lon g Beach in connection with the Inter·
national Beauty Contest.
-"Two promoters already are shopping here for site~
and intend to build international hotels here if Inter·
national City becomes a reality," declared the Chamber's
Two midshipmen from Long Beach flan~ Capt. E. Richter aboard
tne " Golden Beaf." At left is Michael H. Watson /lnd, /It right
stand, William W . Wesenberg.
"GOLDEN BEAR" IN PORT
The California Maritime Academy tramIng ship
"Golden Bear," with 205 midshipmen aboard, including
25 from Los Angeles County, docked March 14 at Berth
201, Pier A, in Long Beach Harhor for a three-day
stopover on th e Academy's annual training cruise.
The "Gold en Bear," the former attack cargo ship
U,S,S, Mellena, left the Academy's base at Vallejo
January 6. Since then, stops have been made in San
fran cisco, Balboa, C. Z_; New Orleans, Kingston , la­
mai ca and San Diego. Capt. E, Richter, USN (ret.),
is superintendent of lbe Academy, and Capt. E_ A_
Turpin, US MS, is the training ship's commanding officer.
Clw.mbergram,
-Internat ional Restaurant Row - promotion of exist·
ing restaurants as "International Resta urants" as a tourist
attraction.
"Oth er proposals involve coordinated international
publicity," the ChambeTgram said, "as an effort to land
a branch custom house here, an International Blvd.
Shoreline loop off the freewa y, international sports
eve nts, an International Concert Hall, the promotion of
an Inte rnational Music Festival, and the creation by the
City of an International Park wilb plantings donated by
foreign countries."
Dramatization of the international theme was worked
out recently at lbe dedi cation of the Port of Long Beach's
Administration Buildin g. described elsewhere in this
issue. Costumed young ladies representing ports of the
world and carrying handsome and unique containers of
waters drawn from each of the ports, poured them out
into the mural reflecting pool. signifying the internation·
ality of the Port of Long Beach_
PAINTING PRESENTED TO BOARD
Did Racine, Long Buch rear estate man, presented the Long
Beach Harbor Department with a colorful painting of the Mon·
terey coast by Andrus Klitgurd, distinguished Danish landscape
painter. Here H. E. Riding.s, Jr., president of the Long Beach
Harbor Commission, at right, is receiving the painting, which
itands on the easel at center. Klitgurd has received widespread
recognition for his work, both in United Shtes art circles and
abroad, Mr. Racine said. His landscapes and seascapes hang in
galleries and private homes in Long Beach and over the nation.
Miss Sylvia Dewtlld. a native of Berlin. Germany. poinh to
th<ll aeri<lll photo of the Porf of long Beach held by Charles L.
Vickers. Port Gener<lll Manager. as Capt. ludoll Petersen , master
of the Rheinland. loo~s on.
RHEINLAND SAILS
The MS Rheinland, of tbe Hamburg.A merika Line,
left her berth on Pier B, at the Argonaut Tenninal reo
cently and set sail for her home port of Hamburg, Ger­
many, in the last leg of her maiden voyage to the Pacific
Coast and return.
A sister ship of the Vogtland - both were commis­
sioned in September, 1959 - the Rheinland grosses
8,858 tons, 8,400 as a shelter·decker, and 10,900 tons as
a full·scantling vesseL She is 10,946 DWT, with the net
tonnage 5,202. Length is 499 ft., beam 62 ft. She was
launched in January, 1960, at Deu tsche Wedt, in
Hamburg.
The Rheinland is powered by M.A.N. diesel engines,
totaling 9,000 horsepower. Her senrice speed is 17.5
knots. She is equipped 10 carry 12 passengers, according
to her master, Capt. Ludolf Petersen.
The Rheinland's freighting capacities are 48,310 cu.
It. reefer space, and 516,650 cu. It. dry cargo space. On
her call at the Port of Long Beach, she discharged 1,400
long tons of cargo at Balfour, Guthrie's Berth 12, Pier B.
Cargo included skiing eq uipment, earlhenware, sew1ng
machines, machinery, canned meats, asbestos cement pipe,
glass, steel, twine, furniture, chemicals, fertilizer, cheese,
autos, motorcycles. and bikes.
INNSBRUCK MAYOR HONORED
Shown here, at right, is Dr. Alois lugger, Mayor of Innsbruc~,
Austria, receiving the key to the City of long Buch from Long
Beach Mayor Raymond Kealer. At leff is Keith Houdyshell, Presi­
dent of the Downtown long Be.!lch Lions Club. Dr. lugger W.!li in
town to <IIHsnd the dedication of the Porf' s ne.... adminidr<lltion
building and was an honored guest <lit the lions' luncheon 40110""·
ing the dediclltion ceremonies.
24
CAPE SABLE CALLS AT PORT
A new British freightar. carrying the largest IO<lld of un boxed
autos ever shipped to the West Cout, docked March II <lit
Argonaut Terminal on Pier B in long Beach Harbor on her m<lliden
voyage.
Aboard the 13,900-dudweight-ton Cape Sa ble, ne....est .!Iddi­
tion to the lyle Shipping Co. fleet, ""ere 1,022 British C.!I n, of
which 587 ""ere discharged here in oper.!ltions wperviied by
B<IIlfour, Guthrie & Co.• limited, the line's agents.
The huge shipment ....as made possi ble by speei.!ll fiHings of
fhree edra caT dech in the Cape Sable' s lower holds, plus one in
her 'tween deds so that the vehicle, could be stowed in six tiers.
The new venel is 505 feet in length and hu a beam of bb feet.
On hand to welcome C.!Iptain A. Sutherland of the Cape
Sable .... ere Myra Ph illips, left, Rootes Motors, Inc., and Dorothy
Deen, Cal Sales, Inc. , .!Iutomotive distributors.
PORT REPORTS 12% GAIN
RUBBER BUILDS TONNAGE
Rubber forms an important part of the cargo ton·
nages that annually push totals higher and higher as the
years go on at the Port of Long Beach, according to
CapL 10hn Rountree, Port traffic manager.
<1We have shipments going through the Port con·
stantly of both rRW and processed rubber," CapL Roun­
tree said, "in both directions, inbound and out. Of
course, finished goods like lootwear reach the highest
tonnage figures on the inbound side. while lalex tops the
outbound Ilst,
"Every so often, a vessel comes in from East Indies
ports with a load of raw rubber, usually in bale< of flat
rubber sheets, This is generaHy on its way to a rubber
processing plant somewhere inland.
"Latex~ which is in fluid form, is carried in the deep
tanks of the cargo carriers. and hand1ed in loading and
unloading just like any other liquid,"
Rubber in bales is easy to stow aboard ship, as it is
compressible, The only problem is the odor, which will
affect certain foodstuffs if they are stowed near the
rubber, the traffic manager said:
HFigures cited recently in the Los Angeles Journal
of Commerce pointed to the facl that America has 1500
plants these days, prQces..;;ing rubber. These pJants an
told employ SOme 270.000 men and women in 43 states.
In addition, many thouE-Bnds are employed in synthetic
rubber plants in this ~ounlTy."
Following are figures made available by Capt. Roun·
tree's division on rubber cargo totals of nil kJnds through
the Port in fiscal 1958·59, in short tons:
Inbound
Crude Rubber
Camelback
Crepe
Goods " ...... ,,",_.
Footwear
Hose "".......... " ........
Latex
Scrap
Sponge
Synthetic ......... "
Tires and Tubes
Total
Outbound
959,74
66,00
929,55
188,34
235,36
231.67
209,94
7.30
29,35
1,499.77
54,55
14.4(1
4160
7,47
23L55
10.75
476.16
4,187.85
205,96
6,618.42
"CANBERRA" LAUNCHED
A new superliner for the Pacific, Orient K Pacific
lines'S. S, Canberra, was launched at Belfast, Ireland,
on March 16.
The new liner, 45.000,ton5, is the largest ship to be
built in the United Kingdom since Ihe Queen Elizabeth,
Named Canberra after Australia 1 s capital, lhe liner is
expC',cted to go into Pacific sendee in 1961. She will
call on l':orth America.n West Coast ports of Vancouver;
San Francisco and Long Beach,
The ship will make scheduled runs from the United
Kingdom to Australia, New Zealand and North Ame.rica.
Of revOlutionary design, Canberra will have twin funnels
well aft and a sireamlined nppcaranc€', Her service speed
will be 27 y, kMIs.
Long Beach Harhor operations yielded a total revenue
of 51,474,221 in Ihe first hall of the current fiscal year
ending Dec. 31, 1959.
This figure reflected 8 nearly 12 per cent increase
over revenues for the same period a year ago. accorrung
to the Department.
Tonnage handled in the lirst hall 01 the fiscal
year totaled 4,881,549, slightly under Ihat lor a year
ago, T. J. Thorley, assistant general manager of the
Port, indicated,
The reason lor the minor decline was said to be an
incre~">e in Port tariffs.
On the other hand, the Harbor's net operating profit
incrPAiSed to $249,570, as compared with 1I110,906 re'
ported for the comparable period in 1958
n gain of
123 per cent. Pjer A in the Harbor turned in a net
operating profit of $51,616, which made it the No. 1
pier in the POTt, from the standpoint of revenues.
Biggest contributing factor to the gains reflected in
the statement was the occupancy by Balfour, Guthrie &
Co" of the Port's Pier B. Managed by that concern's
terminal operator. Argonaut TerrnlnaJ CompanYl the pier
handled 73 ships between Sept. 12, the opening date,
and the end of the year, A total of 85,000 tons of cargo
arrived al or were shipped from Pier B during that
period, Bert Elkins, Argonaut's terminal superintendent,
reported. Throughout 1960, an average of 22 ships a
month are expected alongside Pier B. with an estimated
total lonnage of 260,000_
Harbor Department oil operations brought total earn·
ings of $9,505,739 as against $11,242,298 lor the like
period in 1958. Net gain in the petroleum divjsion, after
distributing revenues among oil contractors and meeting
other expenses., amounted to $6,240)85 as compared
wilh $8,245,260 in the last halJ of 1958,
"CHUSAN" REFITS
A three-month refit of the Orient & Pacific Linerj
S, S. Chusan, which ir:cluded ah,conditioning, has just
been corop]eted in the LOlted Kingdom, it was announced
bv Warren S, Titus, 0 & P President.
. Chusan, 24,OOO~tons) is the sixth of the post-war
& P liners to be fully air-conditioned.
o
"KOLLGRIM" CALLS
The Norwegian freighter KoHgrim left Long Beach
Harbor Monday, April 4, carrying the largest quantity
of petroleum coke, 12,500 tons} ever taken from the Port
in a single ship.
The KoHgrim, on time charter to Yamashita Line,
delivered the coke to Nagoya and 'Vakamatsu in Japan.
Owned by Odd Berg, of Oslo, Norway, the 9,000·
gross-ton ves..~l is 475 feel long and has a loaded speed
01 14 knots, Before her arrival at the Port of Long
Beach, the Kollgrim delivered a ful! load of oyster seeds
from Japan. to Olympia, Washington.
Here, the freighter took aboard her ft>cord cargo from
the Port's bulk loader at a rate up to 600 tons per hour.
During 1959, gO,OB? tons of petroleum coke were ex·
ported through Long Beach Harbor.
THE PORT OF LONG BEACH
P.O. Box 570
Long Beach , CallfDrnla
BU LK RAT E
U. S. POSTAGE P A I D
Perm it No. 4 08 LonQ Beach, Calif .
FORM 354 7 REQUEST ED
View of the Long Beach .kyline .een through a pattern of pipes used in oil
production at the Port of Long Beach. Recent developments in the petroleum
picture ore related in this issue.