The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-09-26


Traffic conditions In the harbors
OF the Gulf of Mexico are somcw hat
different from those on the Atlantic
coast. The commercial function Il
more prominent. several OF the lead
ing ports are chiefly noteworthy a.
the termini OF southern and western
railroads. and have an exceptionally
large proportion OF through freight
between the interior and fore gn
countries.
New Orleans Is one OF the most
Important as we'll as one OF the most
interesting harbors In the country,
particularly Ia its advanced terminal
facilities. It's organization, and 10
methods OF public administration, II
Is n river harbor, about ace miles
from the gulf. but easily accessible
for ocean vessels,
\ Both the commercial and indus.
trial functions OF the harbor are i'm.
b portant II has about six miles OF
publicly owned wharyes. over % IA
number. and about 10 large stceI
; sheds and warehouses. There u .
= very considerable amount OF modern
trans-shlpping machinery for grain
fruit and coal.
The administration IA divided into
p three parts. The state board OF com.
= lmissiouers for the Orleans levee dis
D trict has control over the construc
y ton and maintenance OF protective
= ievees (carthen embankments "a
prevent overflow of the riycr.) This
! state board OF commissioners Of ths
: port % New Orleans construct, main
, tain aud regulate the public wharyc'
= and sheds. The Belt railroad com.
Z mission a municipal board has
: built and operates belt railroad
Q along the entire water front. about
= 1918 miles I'm length. with about
4 40 Industrial sldings or spurs. anc
y makes II dock. wharf and expori
I switch connections II IL intended
= thus 20 encircle the entire city viii
o la total mainline track Of about 2.
miles. The plan provides that thll
! railroad shall connect practically al
e the important wharf frontage viii
= all the trunk lines entering the city
. and with many Industrial establish
p monts. This railroad. In work al
2 ready completed and In extensions
r definitely provided for. Is the bes'
? example In the country OF n practi
q cal coordination OF rail. industrial
= and water business for the benefit
D OF the entire community a mer
chant or manufacturer on any part
% OF the line Of the road can receive
4 or send shipments. by direct connec
B ton. over any part of the entire
. trans-shipments. by direct connec
ton, over any part OF the entir,
: transportation system, rail and
water. OF the whole city. including
- all the trunk lines. The publ,
| ownership and management of thi,
belt line prevents undue control oil
) a given Industry or section by ans
one railroad.
? The excellent public wharf and
: shed equipment along the water
front appears 10 be constructed and
2 maintained with remarkable EN-
cheney. The work OF constructing
wharyes and sheds Is still IN
progress.
Most OF the public wharves and
I sheds are open" Very few leases
of any considerable length are made
so that the water front Is available
for general traffic on a system oil
dockage charges.
Il The city receipts from wharves
I sheds. harbor dues, etc. for 1908
were S360,662.0S. Out OF these
total receipts there was derived from
dockage about S269.OOO and from
the use of sheds about SIS. 900. Tn,
expenditures were s233.1S2.72.
/. Ownership-The city owns the
greater part of the active frontage
There are also large railroad-owned
terminals. especially the enormous
and highly developed docks of the