Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-05
SHIPPING CALLS
FOR WIDER SCOPE
ON OCEAN SHORES
Trade in Coal and Oil Held
Back by Present Lack
of Facilities
By Associated Press

Washington, Aug. 5.-Port and
harbor facilities along the Atlantic
the Gulf and the Pacific must be ex-
panded two or threefold to provide
for the maximum service of the
american merchant marine. now in
the making, when once 1t is released
from War trafflc. Immediate expan-
SION Is necessary at many ports SO
that coai for New England war in
dustries can he moved by water.
These facts have been established
In the preliminary study of port con-
dltions made by the recently created
Fort and Harbors Facilities Com
mission of the Shipping Board, head
ed by Edward F. Carry. Present ia
cilities are shown to be inadequate.
and In time new ports may be cre-
ated.
New York and Boston harbors
have been examined by the commits
sion, and similar investigation at all
the larger ports of the country will
be made soon by Mr.. Carry and ex-
perts attached to the commission.
They plan to make visits soon to the
rapidly growing ports of the South.
inspection tours also will be made
to obtain information on proposed
new ports.
Every dock and repair plant has
been called on to answer a ques-
uonnaire regarding the type of its
facilities, present condition, exact
location, whether this location is ad-
Nantageous for the most efficient
handling OF ships, the terms, rates
ana conditions on which ships are
docked, the number of ships docked
a he
period each ship was in dock, and
brief statement of the work done
on it. Special information also is
sought regarding ports where coal
and oil are handled.
The coaStwise trade in coal and
oil is perhaps the most important
| that has been handicapped by in
adequate facilities At present, this
trade is limited only by shipping and
port facilities. The survey shows
these ports taxed to capacity at pres
ent, and in many instances overtaXed
and in almost all instances facing
serious congestion unless speedil.
expanded.
The coastwise trade in coal ana
oil is perhaps the most important
that has teen handicapped by in
adequate facilities. At present, this
trade is limited only by shipping and
| port facilities. This survey shows
these ports taxed to capacity at
present, and in many instances over
taxed, and in almost all instances
| facing serious congestion unless
speedily expanded.
New York harbor particularly is
overtaXed, and some southern ports,
especially Galveston, New Orleans,
! Jacksonville and Charleston, need
expansion. All southern ports, it Is
expected, will be enlarged because
signs of congestion are already in
sight. This condition results from
heavy traffic being diverted by rail.
roads from overland routes north
to southern ports either for ship
ment north or to the West Indies
and South America.
The commission, besides its plans
for port expansion, will consider the
diversion of imports and exports
from northern to southern ports
particularly shipments to and from
the Middle West, which now add to
the troubles of congested railways
along the North Atlantic seaboard
and in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Re-
lief is planned by transit through
southern ports to railways and
waterways.
Trade with South American coun-
tries. which has increased enormous.
ly during the war. will be considered
by the commission in relation to the
ports of the South. The diversion
of this trade, as also that of the
Mi5dle West, is regarded as de-
n rg vast increase of water
fl, facilities there.
Enlargement of Pacific ports Is re-
garded necessary with the expan-
sion of trade with the Orient.