The Pensacola journal., 1913-01-09

DECLARE PLAN
NOT FEASIBLE
DO NOT FAVOR IDEAS OF COM.
MERcIAL ASSOCIATION TO EN-
PLoY A BOARD OF EXPERT EN-
cINEERs FOR DOCKS.

That the plan of the Commercial
Association to employ a board of ex-
pert engineers to submit ideas on
dock construction. is not feasible is the
view taken by the board of bond trus
tees. The board says the plan might
be all right IL the city had the money
to expend for such a purpose and could
anticipate what class of business is to
develop, but at the present stage think
that il is best to construct a shed
wharf at the bulkhead line with q
three-track open wharf running to the
pier head line. This, says the board,
will enable the city TO care for con-
in sight and will also hold the bulk
of resources intact until such time or
times as there is a demand for addi-
tionaI wharf facilities.
THE BOARDS COMMUNICATION
The boards communication on the
subject as presented to the city council
last night follows:
Pensacola, Fla, January S, 1918,
ITO the Honorable Mayor and City
Council Pensacola.
"Gentlemen:-W reference to the
municipal dock and belt railroad mat
ter, we have sent Messrs Dillon, Thorn
son & Clay. New York, copy of the
bond ordinance and asked them to give
us an estimate of their fee for passing
upon the legality of the proposed bond
issue. Their reply, together with our
recommendation in the premises, will
| be transmitted to your in due course.
I'VE are giving the matters of dock
| site, and construction and belt rail-
road, consideration, and will present
our recommendations as early as prac-
ticab1e.
/ Our idea at this time is that we
| should have a shed wharf at the bulk
head line with a three track open
wharf running from same to the pier
| head line, all planned with a view to
| the construction eventually of com
| plete system of docks. This will en-
able us to care for considerably n
business than is now in sight and viii
| hold the bulk of our resources intact
until such time or times as there is 8
demand for additional wharf facilities
No one can foretell at this time the
direction that this demand will take;
it may be for ore ships, general cargo
ships, guano ships, coal ships, fruit
ships, or ships in other trades-eacf
trade requiring special wharf facilities
and special labor saving machinery i
the commodities are to be handled t.
the very best advantage. The bond:
should be issued and sold as little II
advance of actual requirements a.
practicable.
With regard to the suggestion OF tht
Commercial Association that a design
ing board of engineers be employed
will say that We do not favor same
Men possessing the qualifications de.
scribed, and to do the work outlined
could only be secured at large cost ant
their work, as indicated above, would
very likely prove absolutely valueless
Two members of our board have eacl
had over twenty years experience II
the shipping trade. covering practically
all its phases and this board believe.
itself competent to pass upon all of tht
matters that the proposed designing
board of engineers would be expected
to pass upon. If there is doubt as x
this there is the vote of the council t.
L restrain us. for we can take no Step'
without the councils approval. Oul
position in this matter must not b,
construed as discourteous or hostile L
the Commercial Association, as w
have in the past and shall at all time
in the future, welcome suggestion
from it, or other bodies, as well as in
dividuals, in planning and carrying on
the work entrusted to us.
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF BOND TRUSTEES, p
JOHN A. MERRITT.
Chairman.
+. F. BINGHAM,
JOS. " RIERA.