The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-06
SHORT OF GASOLINE
WATER CRAFT OF PENSACOLA
 CANNOT MOVE.
Failure of Fuel Shipment to Arrive Cripples Business of Port-Rec- ommendations~ for GOvern-
 mcnt Improvements.


 Pensacola, Fla. Sept. 5.--(special)- Every naphtha launch in Pensacola harbor, with the exception of few pleasure craft. is out of commission today as the result of a lack of gaso- line. and as much inconvenience is be- ing experienced by those desiring to get about the harbor as would be felt If the street cars were to stop.
 For the past week gasoline has been short and none of the oil companies had any for sale, due to the fact that two tank cars shipped to this city had failed to arrive. The daily consump- ton of gasoline here is immense, ow- ing to the many launches that are en- gagged in the harbor in various classes of work, and the small amount that was on hand soon became exhausted, with the result that yesterday many of the boats went out of commission, and business of this character IS prac- tically at a standstill.
 Vessels plying between Pensacola and coast towns have not been able to move from their berths, while pleas ure craft are idle and unable to carry parties cross the bay to the life saving station, the principal pleasure resort. the shipments of gasoline, which appear to- have been lost on the Louisville and Nashville are daily expected, but if they do not arrive ser ious inconvenience will result.
 May Improve Docks.
 Lieutenant Commander Carter, In charge of the department of yards and docks at the Pensacola navy yard, has sent recommendations to the navy de- partment, which if carried out will re- suit in the expenditure of about $5,- 0OO 900 in Improvements at the local yard.
 In his annual estimates of the needs of the navy yard, the commander recommends the construction of a stone graving dock to cost $1,60o,000, and in that it has become almost an impera- tive necessity to have a dock of this character located on the gulf coast. He points to the present dock and states that while it has lifting capac- ity far above the average floating dock that it cannot accommodate the largest of the battleships now In service ana those to be constructed.
 Another recommendation Is the ex- penditure of $1, 100000 for breakwa- ter to protect vessels at anchor and at wharves and the navy yard from storms, such as were experienced last September, while another is for sea wall to cost. $700.00o.
 Many other improvements are rec 0mmenQeu Dy AllS them being a coal plant to cost $25O,- OOO. dredging $5O,000, machinery for central power house, $S5,000. machine shop for steam engineering $115,O00. plumbing shop for construction and re- pair 7O,OOO, sawmiIl for construction and repair, $50.O00, rigging loft for construction and repair $15,000 boat shop for construction and repair $s5- 900. shop and office building for yards and docks, $1O0.o0O, timber storage shed. $1O,OOO, shed for storage of com bustibie materials $50,O00, yard dispen- sary and operating room $25,Oo0, roads and walks, S25,O06. railroad track and equipment $15,O0O, tools for yards and docks, $1.SOO, making toal of S4,- S63, ,S00.00.
 Successful Melon Season.
 According to the officials of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, the water melon season in West Florida, which has just come to close has been the most successful and heavy to be ex- perienced in many years.
 Records show that total of l4O car loads were shippel from points be- tween Pensacola and River Junction, as against 5S car loads last year. Plan ters report the season a most profitable one. the principal markets being Pitts burg, Chicago, Cincinnati and New Or leans.