Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-10-03
Sees WILMINGTON As
Great terminal CITY

(COnCnued from tlrSt tage.J
grow that it viii take is rightful posi-
tion among the commerce producing cit
] les Of the world. It's commerce needs
quick and economical transportation ia
cilities.
"Being familiar. as an engineer, with
most of the larger ports of the world,
knowing their opportunities and their
limitations, their progress and rise.
there is no reason why Wilmington,
after becoming a seaport, should not be-
come a port city Of 100000 inhabitants
and that far more easily than it at
tanned its present population
rs the location for a seaport fav-
orable? No terminal engineer can say
I it is not.
Are there sufficient acres available
at reasonable cost for the large, con-
i tinuous area so necessary for a COM
plete terminal? My answer IS an en-
phatic yes
rs the ground suitable for eco,
nomical construction of quays piers,
sheds and warehouses? There Is no
| spot anywhere more favorable.
There are no lodges to be blasted,
no hills to be leyeled, no valleys to
be bridged, and no necessity for max
/ ing provision for a rise OF from Is
TO 20 feet OF water There are only
earth. sand and gravel, all Of which
can be quickly and economically
! handled
"The approach and egress are all
| that could be desired. The cost of
construction will be far below that
4 for the average port. AS TO finances,
! as is now becoming we'll known, port
! terminals installed without mistakes
with only a fair degree of manage
ment are not only self supporting,
but income producing. BY construct
ing in units each 500 feet OF linear
berthing frontage Is a complete oper-
ating terminal. capable OF earning
money. The number of units con
structed should correspond to the
value OF the commerce.
Shall the work be postponed for
another decade awaiting possible ton
mage increases? Tonnage will come
not only from Wilmington. but from
the cities, towns and villages of the
State. and OF the States OF the north.
south. and west, II Wilmington's port
facilities are superior TO those Of
completing cities. II there ever was
a favorable time to do this work, 1t
is the present There never was
time in the history OF the United
States, and probably never will be-
when such favorable conditions for
commerce exist.
The commerce of the United
States for the year ending June, 1916,
! MA
creased S1,576,411 and the imports
S54l ,O25,000. These figures far ex-
coed those OF any country in the his
tory of the world. This enormous
commerce is largely due to the war in
Europe. Much of IL will remain IL
besides the low cost of production
there be low cost of rates trans
portation with a correct physical pre-
paration for the transfer of the car
goes quickly and economically through
the port terminals. Much of the
commerce belongs to the United
States and will be retained on &C.
count of the raw material. the pro.
ducts from the farms, woods and
mines and the present wonderful "a
cilities for manufacturing.
This increasing commerce must
pass through the gateway OF port
cities 10 reach the profitable markets
Of the world. Wherever the new gate
ways for the passage Of commerce
are located there will arise the rich
est and most pOpulous cities. Those
gateways will be prominent which
possess natural advantages which can
be developed most quickly and which
have the fewest physical and political
drawbacks to overcome.
This city has been handicapped in
the past. Its manufacturers have
not had the same opportunity that
they would have had could ocean go
ing ships have been able to berth
at its wharves. II manufacturer
here desires to send goods to foreign
countries he must first pay its water
1 or rail transportation expense to
some large seaport town and then the
great terminal expense of rehandling
and of transterence, and probably
barge transshipment at the port Of
/ New York which port is by far the
most expensive known to commerce.
These expenses are preliminary to its
steamship rates. Is il any wonder
that the fanufacturer's profits are
greatly reducedg
. Inc Sltdktl uttldltu AndA 10 ut u
successful port the Quays. storage,
sheds. etc. should be of fireproof CON
struction, modern in their equipment
and ample in size TO overcome all
tendencies to congestion. He also
L dwelt upon the need for large storage
b buildings. The bonds for terminal
construction are in a more desirable
class than water bonds he said.
. "The commercial future of a sea-
port city is dependent upon its terni-
nal facilities he said "Transpor-
tation efficiency today is a terminal
problem. the main purpose of which
is to secure an adequate development
OF terminal facilities for the transfer
and handling Of freight That city
which through low terminal costs and
high terminal speed reduces trans
portation expense not only facilitates
commerce and manufacture, but
a