The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-06-30
SHIPPING BOARD
is INTERESTED
WOeful Lack of knowledge of
Pensacola's Harbor Fa-
cilities Uncovered.
Washington Bureau,
The Pensacola journal
BY GEORGE r.. MANNING.

BY GEORGE RI. MANNING.
Washington, d. c.. June 2e.-There
is more than a reasonable chance that
| the United States Shipping Board may
have a floating dry dock built at PEN
sacola, and that the Railroad Admin
! Istration and the Shipping Board,
working in cooperation, may adopt a
plan of making much greater use of
Pensacola harbor for foreign exports
! and imports in connection with the
| general plan of using the gulf and
south Atlantic ports TO relieve the
congestion of the harbors at New
York, Philadelphia, Boston and Hamp>
ton Roads.
Taking heed of the complaint made
in some quarters in Pensacola that
the excellent harbor facilities at PEN
sacola are being neglected in favor
Of other Gulf and South Atlantic ports
where there is congestion and where
the harbor facilities do not compare
with those of Pensacola, the journal
Correspondent set about to make a
careful investigation as to the causes
From conversation with officials of
the Railroad Administration and Ship
ping Board with whom he is well ac-
quatnted, the Journal correspondent
dfse5 cred that there 4ss an enormous
impression abroad among waasningtun
officials regarding the commercial
capabilities of Pensacola.
Tt was found. for instance. that Of
icials OF the Shipping Board and Rail-
road Administration. following infor-
nation given them by other branches
of the government, and contrary to
by Senators Fletcher and Trammen.
entertained the belief that while Pen
sacola has fairly good harbor it had
but meagre loading and unloading fa-
cilities for ships and very poor rail-
road facilities for carrying the freight
between the port and the interior.
The Pensacola Journal Correspond
ent learned from officials of the Ship
Control Commission of the Shipping
Board that the harbor of Pensacola
was not being utilized as a port Of en-
try and debarkation for supplies for
Europe TO relieve the North Atlantic
congested ports because of the belief
that railroad facilities were made
quate for making it practicable for
transporting materials in and out OF
the port by railroad. hne correspond
ent EXPRESSED TO these officials his
confidence that the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad and the c.. F. and A
could give ample facilities for export
ing great quantities OF material
through the Pensacola harbor They
promised to investigate the matter and
see If Pensacola harbor can be utilized.
From officials of the Port and Har-
Dor Facilities Commission OF the
Shipping Board it was learned that the
:,
been given TO locating a floating dock
al Pensacola was that as the Shipping
Board and Railroad Administration did
not intend to make U.s. Of Pensacola
harbor there would not be sufficient
traffic there to require a drydock
These officials. also had the opinion
that Pensacola was woefully lackins
in roalroad terminals and railroad
trunk line connections.
It was also learned that this sup
posed lack of railroad terminals and
trunk line connections at Pensacola
was to a large degree responsible for
the decision of the Emergency Fleet
Corp not 10 put a shhipyard at
Pensacola for building concrete ships
All along the line wherever the Pen
sacola Journal correspondent went ne
found almost all officials impressed
with the idea that Pensacola had q
fine harbor but no railroad facilities
for taking advantage Of II. There ap
peared to be no we'll defined idea as !
TO where this report about Pensacola |
lack of railroad facilities originated
but II can be said it was in some |
branch of the Shipping Board
It will now be recalled that severa
months ago when the Agriculture De
partment contemplating landing shil |
from Chill bringing nitrate at sonae |
Florida port. the ship was sent By /
Pensacola and landed at Savannah be
cause the agriculture Department hae |
been told, it alleged. by the Shippin
Board. that the harbor of PensacoI
was not deep enough TO accommc
late the ship and the railroad facili
les there insufficient 10 distribute II
nitrate. An attempt made then 10 f
he responsibility for circulating th
'eport was fruitless il will be RENEE
Continued on page nine.l