The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-01
RIVER TERMINALS.
Hannibal Missouri II 1912

j VI VI tAAO llNOArlAOANd6Os ~ oNSASo4a
ly means control of the river itself.
The character of the ownership and
control Of the essential terminals of
this public highway is, therefore, Of
paramount Importance.
/ The waterfront, even when acquir-j
ed by the municipality. is not, per Sc,
terminal adapted to modern traffic,
until provided with wharf and ter
minal facilities, any more than is II
strip of land alongside railroad q
station until it is provided with sta
ton facilities
For the establishment of proper
terminal, substantial concrete quay
| wall should be built by the municipal
/! ity, at the most convenient place
along the waterfront, out far enough
! to give sufficient depth of water at
/ the lowest stages. so that vessels may
/ lie close alongside to receive and dis |
charge cargo, passengers, etc, and
high enough to be well above high wa
ter and on a level with the adjoining
street The space behind the wall
icould be cheaply filed with sand
pumped from the river This would
form the permanent wharf, on which
should be built fireproof warehouses;
equipped with modern freight-handling
machinery, for the quick and economi-
cal handling of freight in its move
ment on and off the river. The quay
cb - 10 oil
low ample space for barges to lie
/ alongside, and here the wharf should
be equipped with locomotive cranes
!! for handling bulky cargoes, such as
grain, coal, sand, lumber, etc. In con-
nection with the wharf there must be
a belt railway running through the
warehouses and over open spaces for
the service Of barges, and connecting
with all lines within the municipality.
The technical physical layout and
planning Of intermediate and termin-
al ports, and the mechanical appli-
ancss best adapted to the handling of
their present and prospective future
traffic, must be left to expert termin-
al engineers, to determine for each
port separately in accordance with its
special requirements and environ
ments. They should be planned with
: a far look into the future, that they
must serve for all time to come;
therefore, room should be given for
= additions as expansion OF traffic may
Y require.
The terminal, with its entire equip
! ment and belt railway must be
5 owned, controlled, operated and ad.
d ministered by the municipality, for
/ the free and impartial use of all car
It riers whether by water or by rail
h subject only to such reasonable
L charges as will cover amortization
g and operating expenses. In this way
f it would preserve and maintain the
II public character Of the waterway with
y all Of it's inherent advantages. Above
u all, there should be no monopoly Of
Is such facilities given to or enjoyed BY
Is any private organization. The result
N Of SUCH a. monopoly Is the benefit O.
re the concern that has 1t, toethe detri
~ ment of the shipping public. EXCLUSIVE
private ownership of any water ter
minal Is indefensible
Terminals thus built, equipped AM
a operated, would reduce the presen
at terminal cost of handling cargoes a
81 least one-half, if not three-fourths
IS besides saving great deal of tim
es in loading and unloading, all Of whic
ls would be money saved to the carrier
m oh nd ok
OF er of the cargoes. They would ais
lis make shipment by water SO CONVEX
ia tent and inviting, that shippers woul
he be glad to patronize the river.
of After adequate water terminals ar
or provided and physical connection ha
ar been made with railroads and con
NY mercial and Industrial concerns, tn
problem is solved, unless free int
~ change of traffic between rail and W;
ill ter carriers is provided for. Their
lin must be through freight rates owe
ro- rail-and-water lines, the pro-rating {
on such through charges and the iss1
ur- ance Of through bills of lading
nd The mere construction OF termina
will not alone make for the full eff
OF cheney or the waterways, that u
ate people have right to expect, unles
ire there is complete and unfettered il
ia terchange OF freight between tt
nd railroads and the waterways, and IL
ct waterways and the railroads Their
fore, coordination, cooperation ar
he free interchange of traffic betwee
he railroads and waterways and betwee
wn waterways and railroads must be pr
nal vided, and SO provided that the benz
Try cial effects of the cheapness Of wat,
It transportation shall not be lost,
in even minimized, as result of sue
sed Interchange. To be ideal, such int
snt change should be accomplished so TIL
is each would be benefited in prep,
all ton to their increase In accommods
he ing the people whom they serve.
CIV The money being spent for the ii
IN movement of orr wafarWay1 will n