The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-31
Public Port of Seattle Owns,
Operates Six Ocean Terminals
CARGO CAP ACITY.
IS 100000 TONS
THE PORT DISTRICT
It's Organization and Develop
sncnt


executive Secretary Fort OF Seaete
The port OF Seattle l. n municipal
evaporation. entirely separate from
c1ty and county government. with
oDeciaiixcd powers relating TO the de
vosopmcnt 81 foreign and domestic
conmercc. Just as men specialize In
11Rercnt forms Of business. so we
1Qnvs h this municipal corporation q
GDeciniix<d form OF municipality. II
duoa not deal with governmental
pfoblcms, IL lss large business
evaporation. whose stGD sho,dsrs are
~ residents Of the district and
Whosc financial strength lies In the
tnxnbls value OF the property m
cDnaed IN the district. Tho port Of
4nnttlc has back Of its bonds prop
er1U 10 the value of $500. ooc. 900.
which represents the taxable value Of
King county.
The policies Of tire port Of Seattle
~ under the direct control Of three
pDrt commissioners. elected b. the
upopi> OF the port district These men
~ as would tho directors OF any
Urge business concern. They EN-.
~ experts. trnlBc men. auditoru.
GnG1nssrs ana exscutfves to take
(nso ct the operations The port OF
0nneeIs h tho only municipal corpora,
Uon In tho United States which spe-
4nllDes on harbor and port terminals
- the development OF commerce.
No municipality In the United
0saees h engaged. tn any great cxs
eohs. In the operation Of It's publicly
Qwned terminals. The port district
= the port OF Seattle now owns and
oDerates six ocean terminals. with a
nerthtng space Tor 90 s.soo-ton vcs-
~ ~ one fime. The psers have .
cnFgo capacity of 90. zoe tons OF
40Auht In addition TO Z cold storage
W1rohousc with q capacity Of IS 900
tDns- One OF the terminals fs do
vDeed largely to the handling Of ORR
entail oils and n equipped with an
- s4wase capacity a s.see.eso gal
The port district also owns ana op-
Gfaiss a bulk grain elevator OF Z ca
rectty Of LOO. 900 bushels Tho piers
- equ1ppcd with tho most modern
Gpec3n2ised handling facilities. includ.
~ one S1s-horseVower Cansry crane.
10 loe-ton shear ieg derrfcks. ave
4 nt16 leg derricks. three 1s-ton loco
nu<tye cranes and = large number
q e1ectr1c tractors. elevators and
GosUp stackers, SPECIAL facilities have
- Wads for handling the principAi
dmGDoditiss Of the Northwest. VIZ:
-. fruit. lumber ana grain Two
yess, Smiths Cove pier A. which has
Hen In operation for about three
yoarn. and Smiths Cove pier u. now
( r1enr1ng completion. are the largest
utng1e ocean terminals In the
Tinted States. The n~w Smiths
Give pier win accommodate II $500
tsn vesusls. with suficient railway
tnd switching facilities 10 load or
d1schargs cargo Of III ships at one
time.
Puts5e Ownership . Success
Ths public operation Of the six
large terminal units Of the port OF
0lnttJs has proven a huge success
II 1913 the total earnings Of the port
Glstrtct we're s2.ssi.Is2.s7. Total ex-
psnses were si.sio.fs9.s7. which In.
Clndss all expenses Of operation. sal
as1es, wages. supplies. maintenance.
Interest on bonds. and the sum Of
ote.3S1.s3 set aside for depreciation.
Ih1B makes a total net gain Of 500
D41-So. or net profit Of 10 per cent
On the original sum invested 20. 3oo.-
go.
According TO United States Gus
toms reports. the Washington Gus
toms district In 1918 was the second
district In the United States in the
value Of foreign exports and imports.
Geattic is the principal port OF the
Washington customs district In
1918 the value OF foreign exports and
imports thru this district was 1894.
S9e,e44, the major part Of this pass