The sun., 1919-07-30
TO MAKE MANILA
SHIPPING CENTRE
Philippine Government Re-
ceives Aid Of Strong Or
ganizations Here.
FREE COMMERCE SOUGHT
American Products Now De-
pendent Upon Ports in
the Orient.
FREE COMMERCE SOUGHT
NJ c. G. nAroHELDER,

NJ c. @. BATCHELDER,
Asststant Chief. Far Eastern Division
Brear Of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce.
The Government Of the philippines
and prominen, business interests. with
the strong support Of the Bureau o'
Foreign and Domestic Commerce and
other organizations in the United States
are making efforts TO cause the neces-
sary steps to be taken to mako Manila
a great transshipping and distributing
centre for American products In the
Orient and thus liberate our commerce
from It's present dependence on Hong.
kong. Shanghai. Kobe, Yokohama and
Singapore.
The natural advantages of Manila
are very great. rs It has an excellent
harbor. and there is population OF near
ly 12e, ,0oo. 900 within q -ad'us of 1.7oo
miles "a little over ialf me distance
across the United States), while within
q radius Of $500 miles there ne the
7e0, 900, 600 souls Of China, japan. India
and other Oriental countries, whose
combined purchasing power Il even now
enormous and will be increased Inn
mensely In the near future through
their inevitable Industrial and economic
development.
Even now the total commerce with
the United States OF French Indo-China.
Siam, Straits Settlements and the Dutch
East Indies, which would naturally be
served by Manila. amounted In 1913 to
s27s.712,748, to which should be added
the commerce Of the Philippine Islands,
OF s126.52e,500, or a total OF S+o5.23s,-
24S. which will undoubtedly be tremen-
dously increased by the determined eff
forts which our manufacturers are
making to push their sales in the
Oriental markets.
While no one imagines that the bulk
Of this trade will pass through Manila,
nevertheless a substantial proportion
might do 50 under favorable conditions.
as the greater part of the huge com-
merce of Hongkong and Singapore con-
sists merely OF transshipments from
larger transoceanic vessels into the
smaller craft which distribute the goods
to the innumerable small ports which
serve the consuming population.
other Ports Have Advantage.
Hopgkong. Singapore. Shanghai. Kobe
and Yokohama have an advantage In
location in being the termini Of many
established steamship lines and In at.
tracing tramp vessels by the certainty
of being able to secure return cargoes
to almost any destination. II, how.
ever, Manila were to be favored by tho
Shipping Board in the way Of freight
rates and steamer facilities II could
soon build up a most profitable trade
In transshipments to French Indo-China
the Dutch East Indies. Malaysia and
other neighboring places. whose trade
ut present cannot handle to advanta g,
full cargoes of our miscellaneous manu-
factures
Superior port facilities and labor saw
ing devices often. as is well known, NOR,
than compensate for the natural advan
tages OF rival harbors, and Manila Is al
ready engaged in carrying out PLAN
which will place her In the front rank
as some of her competitors have made
quate wharfage facilities. so that nah,
vessels have to lie out In the harbors ant
load and unload with lighters.
Manila Bay Is a good harbor In itself
and the construction OF an adequat,
breakwater increases the safety for ship
ping. The main harbor IS dredged to ;
depth Of 80 feet, which can be increased
II necessary. The Pnuippine Govern
ment has already spent about $1,000. .oot
In improving the facilities. including thu
construction Of three large REINFORCED
concrete piers, measuring 7oxe00 feet
with ample covered sheds for storage. a
which the largest steamers now in US
can dock with ease.
A new reinforced concrete pier is nov
under construction, $50 feet long ant
21o feet wide, with 10000 square fee
under Cover. designed to be the fines
west OF San Francisco. This will accom-
modate four vessels at once and will b.
equipped with the most modern machin
cry, Including a sprinkler system ant
two great travelling cranes. mounted OIL
rails, which will enable vessels to Loaf
and unload twice as rapidly as at pres
ent, thus decreasing operating expenses
by lessening the Improbable delays II
port.