The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-20
OF HouSToNs
STATEMENT ON ALL SIDES.

Complete refutation of Secretary
Houston's statement that Pensacola
could not accommodate ships bring
ing nitrate of soda from Chile TO the
United states is contained in state
ments given to The Journal last night
by prominent shippers, and others in
terested in the development of the
city
All OF the men agreed that facilities
here are unrivalled by any port son
the gulf or Atlantic coast with the ex-
ception of New York, and chat COM
pIetes proof saof their statements is
shown by' past importations nitrate of
soda through Pensacola.
With a minimum depth OF 33 feet
on the bar, ample dock facilities, and
thirty feet OF water alongside the
docks, not one of them could offer any
possible explanation OF Secretary
Houstons statement, as Pensacola is
known wherever ships sail, as one OF
The finest harbors in the world.
AS there IS no physical reason why
nitrate of soda could not be imported
mere. and every advantage because
Pensacoia is nearer the port of ship
ment than other ports, and because
he harbor is less congested, together
with the fact that Florida farmers
have raised a protest, it Is believed
that some OF this trade may be di-
verted to Pensacola.
In discussing the despatch from
The Journals Washington cores
pondent last night, John A. Merritt,
of John A. Merritt and Company said:
we have ample facilities here for the
importation OF nitrate of soda, and il
has been imported through here In
large quantities. Pensacola harbor
has 33 feet OF water on the bar, and
thirty feet at the docks. and there is
plenty OF information in Washington
to prove this statement. There is not
a harbor south OF New York better
than Pensacola, or more capable of
handling cargoes OF nitrate of soda"
That such a policy is partially re-
sponsible for railroad and port con-
gestion, and indirectly for the order
Of the fuel administrators was the
opinion expressed by George w. Howe,
OF George w. Howe and Company.
Mr.. Howe said: Pensacola has as
fine a harbor as there is TO be found
sCdth OF New York. We can easily
handle vessels drawing up TO 33 feet
AID have handled vessels drawing 81
and a half feet. New York can prob
ably handle boats drawing thirty-five
feet, but vessels of that draught are.
not being used to carry nitrate If
soda for there are very few such
afloat."
Fl. r. Mitchell, OF the West Florida
Naval Stores Company said: There
is no reason why Pensacola cannot
handle this business. Pensacola has
al fine harbor as there is to be found
south OF Norfolk
Captain j. Fl. Aiken OF the Aiken
Towboat and Barge Company said:
Beyond n doubt. Pensacola can i'm
port nitrate OF soda, and anyone who
knows anything about American ports
and their facilities knows that We
have here one OF the finest harbors
in the country We claim a depth os
SO feet on the bar, and / feel conf
dent that vessels drawing S5 could be
accommodated. We have ample dock
facilities, and have demonstrated our
ability to handle such business by do
ing so IN the past. You cannot make
the denial too emphatic"
DR.. Louis DEM. Blocker, president
OF the Chamber said: ..Nhere is no
question about our ability to handle
shipments OF nitrate OF soda. We
have done IL, and can do il again
Pensacola's harbor needs no defense
before such statement, which is OBJ
viously absurd. There is enough data
on file in Washington TO disprove such
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