The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-20
{. E. Dobson, Just Back From
Washington, Talks of Its
Importance To City.
PORT WILL BE
MUCH BENEFITED
Docks Only Located Where Fa-
cilities Permit of Great
Many Other Uses.

The Importance to Pensacola of the
be located here is strongly emphasized
be located here 81 strongly emphasized
BY c. f. Dobson. who has Just re-
turned from Washington
Mr.. Dobson left Pensacola about the
irst of April for Chicago, spending a
few days in Detroit and Toledo. Ohio.
He has been closely in touch with the
members of the port ana terminal
facilities commission of the shipping
Board, and in discussing the great
dry dock 10 be built at this port, said
yesterday:
Il soon found that the dry dock
matter did not mean only dry dock.
bur whether Pensacola was 10 he a
port or not, for the reason that the
port and terminal facilities commits
sion of the Shippins Board was lo-
eating docks only at ports which thev
could be made to see were to be uSaf
for the transactions OF foreign asiasts
So that turning down Pensato'a So
the location of a dry doch mcaat
black eye TO Pensacola as pert
Senator Fletcher, as cha.rai4il
the senate committee Whiea land
Shipping Board matters was blas =
OF all most important TO SET 10 80. :.
on the proposition. The senator
whole-heartedly into the matter A. 81
went. with me on numerous octaSioa
TO interview the chairman Of ports ANA
terminal facilities committee and helts
in touch with them by telegram al
letter. We had the matter reads ~
pass two or three times and solGe
change would take place and We
would have to go out and colnmuni-
cate with a lot Of new people
When the matter OF some doubts
being raised by the railroad aataiu.s-
tration came up, entirely uneyrected.
after we thought they were fully con
vinced, Senator Fletcher was sicF in
bed. So I got Senator Trammeu -
the phone and he went at the thine
cheerfully and heartily, ard was of
very great aid in assisting us ~
bringing the railroad CON n1issioa
around.
las soon as Senatos Fletcher got
up, he went hard at the matter a&a-n.
and we were finally successful in Sc
curing the boards approval
There now remains only the matter
of an arrangement between tile Bruce
Dry Dock Company and the shlppias
Board as to terms OF contract Just
before leaving washington. Mr. Cary
assured me that the matter was III
excellent shape and its consummation
only matter Of routine.
1T is proposed TO build the 5000
ton floating dock OF sufficient dimen-
sions and so constructed that an ad-
ditional unit may be added without
any great trouble or considerable adj
ditiona1 expense, TO make it a 1000
ton dock.
THE matter of time, after starting
of the dock. depends upon
the contract between the property
contemplating building and the gov
ernment. This is matter of private
negotiation, which / believe is now
being conducted.
There is another matter Of con-
siderable interest here, and which we
were able to get satisfactorily con-
cIuded, with Senator F1etcher's assist
ance-that is the matter OF permit
TO build small motor steamers for sale
to foreign buyers, with the privilege OF
flag transfer
Under. the laws of the United
States at present such craft can not
fly any but the American flag. so in
order to Sell a vessel to foreign in
terests. IL they demand that they be
allowed to fly their flag, which they
generally do. it is Necessary to secure
a special permit from the Shipping
Board. We were able TO convince the
Shipping Board Of the desirabih~y OF
ging the building OF small
vessels and that they would in nowise
interfere with the boards own ship
program.
$50 that they have allowed. or Will
allow, under favorable conditions, the
building and transfer of many ves-
4 forI,t
pacity This viii be OF great assist
ance 70 small shipyards upon the gulf
The director OF operations also as
sured me that they would soon allo-
cate some of the vessels TO Pensacola
for the benefit Of It's trade.