The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-11-09


ehorage IS 80 miles from the city.
New Orleans River Town.
New Orleans is not a seaport but is
a river town. The depth OF water at
the Southwest pass is 81, feet. From
the mouth of the Mississippi river, it
is as far to New Orleans as It is to
the Pensacola harbor bar. The sail
ing time from the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi river to Pensacola is less than
10 New Orleans.
Then, in the future economic ad-
justment, Pensacola should be at least
the leading gulf port, so far as COM
merce is concerned.
But exports and imports do not
necessarily make great cities. CAL
weston with a population of 10000, is
the second port in the United States.
Industries. manufactures, however do
make cities, because they are wealth
producers and require population for
labor; a port as such, is but a steve
dore earning a handling charge on its
commerce.
Hence. while we may have proved
that Pensacola is to be the first port
of the gulf, we have not proven that
she will be the greatest industrial
city.
Pensacola First Port.
If Pensacola is to be the first port,
the same reasons which make her SO
should give her the cheapest freight
rates.
Economically, the raw materials
imported into the United States
should be manufactured at the sea-
ports, providing cheap power and suf-
ticient labor can be secured. The raw
materials imported via Pensacola
should be manufactured at Pensacola,
because she has cheap power. The
price OF coal in the Alabama fields is
from rs cents to $1.25 at the mines:
the rail freight to Pensacola is $1.10
per ton, which means coal for manu-
featuring purposes in Pensacola at
from $1.S5 to $2.35 per ton.
In addition to this, the archaen edge
of the gulf, which is the southern line
of water power. approaches nearest
the gulf just north of Pensacola. The
Alabama Power Company has pro-
posed to extend an electric transmits
sion line to Pensacola.
Population always seeks rnanufac-
turing localities.
The Logical Location.
The port is also the logical location
for manufacturing raw material pro-
duced in it's vicinity, especially for
export trade.
cinity of Pensacola intended for ex-
port, should be manufactured in Pen
sacola. A bale Of raw cotton is worth
$50. manufactured, $500. We are send
ing our raw cotton to England and
Germany today to their enrichment
and our impoverishment.
The same is true of our naval stores,
which should be made into drugs,
paints, varnishes, etc, before expor-
tation.
Wooden articles of many varieties
should be manufactured, especially
high grade furniture, as Pensacola is
the mahogany port OF the United
States.
The gulf coast is the logical meet
ing point for Cuban ore and Bessemer
coke.
The expert United States naval
board Of inspection for shore stations
lis unreservedly Of the opinion that
Pensacola is the best and only site
practicable on the Gulf of Mexico for
a navy yard of the first class" And
for the same reasons, Pensacola is the
best location for a great shipbuilding
industry.
Therefore. because via Pensacola is
the shortest, quickest, and the most
economical route between the natural
trade territories and the center of
population of the United States, the
largest tonnage should pass through
her port, resulting in the lowest
freight rates for raw material and
articles; which, COM
bined with power as cheap as that
found at any seaport on the gulf, and |
a large and varied supply of raw ma
feriaI at the lowest price, proves that |
Pensacola should be the greatest In !
dustrial city on the gulf coast
To summarize: Because the short |
est haul from the center of population, |
to and from the Panama canal, the |
gateway TO the natural trade terri |
tories of the United States, is through |
Pensacola, the best harbor in the |
south, Pensacola should be the first |
port on her seabeard.
Because of this same advantage OF |
location. the economic accessibility OF /
vast quantities of raw material and !
cheap power, Pensacola should be-
come also the greatest industrial city |
on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.