The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-07-05
PORT DEVELOPMENT.
Director Norris to Improve Facilities
by Modern Methods-To Break
Monopoly and Encourage
Commerce by Municipal
Management.
PHILADELPHIA. July 4.

huudStiitHt.
Philadelphia, July 4.
Convincing examples of the handi-
caps under which a port is placed
through private ownership of its
waterfront, and which at the same
time show how conflicting interests
and varied management render valu-
able frontage virtually useless, Of
ten idle and tenantless, are not lack
ing under present conditions in the
Port of Philadelphia, where, strip by
strip, the harbor front passed into
private control years ago.
While it is true that under the
present practical and aggressive
management of the Dock Department
the unfavorable results of such con-
| ditions have been minimized so far
as has been possible, it is equally
true that unless there is change of
policy the remedy cannot accomplish
much more than it already has.
Director George w. Norris, of the
| Department of Wharves and Docks,
after a thorough study of conditions
| in a dozen other ports, where
| problems similar to those confronting
| Philadelphia have been successfully
solved, has frankly announced his
attitude, declaring unqualifiedly in
| favor of the municipality owning and
| controlling it's own faterfront.
For" said the Director in stating
! his position, Il find private owner
ship a relic of business methods of
! half a century ago, not at all in ac-
| cord with the progressive principles
which must be adopted now if Penn
! sylyania's port at Philadelphia is to
| compete successfully with other At
/ lantic seaboard ports that are now
! spending millions of dollars in i'm
| prOvements and the higher standard
! ization of port facilities.
such a condition creates both the
! temptation and the means for the
arbitrary regulation of competition
| and the artificial depression of COM
merce. 1t puts the port facilities
under a dozen, perhaps a hundred,
! different executive heads, among
which there are often bitter antagon-
! isms, and the inevitable result is a
reaction upon the ports develop
ment. These conditions are a direct
additional tax upon the ports COM
merce and tend to discourage a nat
ural expansion.
"A port is the point of exchange
! between the methods by which COM
merce is transported. 1t is the point
! where of necessity land carrier and
water carrier meet and transship
their cargoes. Every consideration
of sound business economy demands
that the most equitable conditions
shall obtain at such a point and that
! private enterprise shall not step in
| there and be virtual dictator to both
railroads and steamship lines so far
as according the port facilities are
concerned.
Competition is the safeguard
against eXorbant rates. Monopoly
regulates or entirely vitiates the eff
fects of competition. Private con-
troll of a harbor's facilities gives to
| such persons or corporations exert
ing such control a monopoly of the
ports business. For if they have
not that business already, they have
at their command the means of turn
ing it into their own channels, or, as
an alternative, denying it to any 9TH
er part of the port, and denying it at
the same time to the community de-
pending upon such port for COM
mercial intercourse with over-water
countries"
Another variety of objection ap-
plying to private ownership is that
small wharves, without either the
water or the pier space for accom-
modation for modern vessels fall into
disuse and represent so much value
less portion of the ports water
front.
; An instance of this is had in the
efforts of the owners of Pier 8, South
Wharves, in the Port of Philadel-
phia, to sell. The present pier is
only 220 feet long and So feet wide.
1t has a water space of 32 feet on
one side and 40 feet on the other.
/ In all probability this pier will re-
main unenlarged so long as it re-
| mains private property, and just that
much available waterfront is denied
) vessels which could not dock or turn
in such cramped quarters.
/ Another instance is the private
ownership of a 16 foot stretch OF
riyerfront between two municipal
piers at the foot of Race street. Still
Immediately south of Market street
ferries of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Here a pier 149 feet long and 65 y
{ feet wide cannot be widened for
another illustration is that of Pier l
greater commercial purposes be-
= cause of the scant "A feet of water
l space on the south side, while recent
3 legislation prohibits any widening oil
. piers which will diminish the dock
I ing space to less than $50 feet.
SPORTING NOTES.
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