The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-31


 ize5
 "Tn its conception, in tts scope, in its promise of g. big development TOT Bridgeport, it is among the most in- teresting things which have been brought before the public for long time. Back of 1t all is the support Of the different groups of men in every walk of life who heve made Bridge ports recent development possible. Here follows, then, the story of the l Port of Bridgeport.
 "T'odsy Senator George B. Clark of the 23rd District introduced into the Connecticut Senate a long measure which provides for a building opera ton by 0 new municipal corporation | formed out of the City of Bridgeport and the Town of Stratford, to be known as the Port of Bridgeport whose purpose 1t is to construct a giant terminal where the waters of Iohnson's Creek join the Stratford Meadows, so-called. The tentative plans for this terminal have been pre- pared by Idndon W. E7ssasE, one of the most distinguished engineers dn the United States MT. Bates has had in charge at different times all the wa 1 organizaa the Belgian Relief Commis- sion for the distribution of food at the beginning Of the war He Is the in ventor of the hydraulic dredge which operates by suction, and at the same time digs out the bottom of water ways and fills in adjacent lands,
 'TIr. Bates conception of the ter minal provides for the deepening of the channel from the main a1arbor into Tohnson's Creek, the preparation of @ great turning basin, the oonstrlDc- ton of several piers of 1,500 feet in length, which piers shall be 500 feet wide, having slips between them of 4o0 feet in width. The average $500 ton cargo steamer is about 450 feet song, and three of them could readily, be bertre0 along one side of one pier. Tn 9tS complete development these piers would take care of approxi- u1ately 20 cargo carrying steamers of adequate size for foreign trade. On these piers railroad tracks will be built unloading cranes and machinery will be erected, storage warehouses and factory buildings will be reared. Rail road connections will be brought down I from the meadows and join with the New Haven rOas1 at some point east Of St MichaePs cemetery on Stratford aven,leu
 Recognizing the fact that the air plane has become @ commercial ve- hiole, and that passengers and light freights arc now being carried by plane, a landing field for air machines will be provided. and 1t will be SC
 placed that bay of water in front of 1t will allow hydropianes to land as
 we'll In recognition, also, of the fact
 that the motor truck is an Integral
 part of any modern transportation system, a large parking and repair space for motor trucks will be pro, vided.
 "A canal will be dug across the meadows to join with the Housatonit
 river, This will allow commerce
 from up the Hos1satonic river to reacf
 the terminal without crossing the bal
 at the mouth of the river and goins
 around Lordship Point The flow O . water through the canal will alsS keep the slips and turning basin ant channels of the termiu&l from filling
 up.
 "Tn the view, of those responsibl, for this protect, the development
 which will come to Bridgeport ant a Stratfori will be nothing short O | marvellous The docks of New Yorl
 are now so crowded and confused
 and pf'otage. dockage and othe
 charges are go high thas great car . goes of grain for foreign shipnen will be brought by train to tn Bridgeport terminal; coal, sand, ce ment and other cargo materials des tined for Bridgeport and the bacl
 country will be brought in by wate
 and then shipped here; oh will b brought in from Mexican and Soul
 American ports; Tefneries, elevator
 and manufacturing plants will locat
 on adjacent lands; homes for work men will be erected and a hummin
 hiVs-of industry will be the outgrowtl f the projected development z '-The legal structure of the DOT conhemplztss the creation by the leg isbature of a municipal body whic E shall compr1se the entire territoria a ! limits of the City of Bridgeport an . :. Town of stratford as they now ar U or may hereafter exist To raise th N necessary funds for construction au - thority Is asked from the legislatur
 for the port of Bridgeport to fssu
 bonds and sell them and employ tn
 proceeds for the necessary work Au
 thority Is also requested to lay a ta1
 if 1t shah be found necessary, on a
 of the property and estates include -I within 8sAlseport and Stratfort
 whI~4 tax, however, Is limited to tw
 mills fin any one year In all proba
 bfltty the necessary Sunds for tn
 construction of the port will b
 raised by the sale of the bonds. Sue Y ports are in existence all over tn United States and in foreign countrie
 For the most part they are self-su:
 tatning. The rentals, dockir ! charges, leases, etc, are amply suff
 ctent, not only to pay the runnin
 charges, but pay of the bonds (
 they fall due.
 e The proposed act of legisiatul provides that the affairs of the DO
 of Bridgeport shall be managed I 1 board of nine commissioners to I a known es the Commissioners of u
 Port of Bridgeport" At all times s S of the commissioners shall be res o dents and voters of Bridgeport, ar
 three shall be residents and voters
 Stratford. The first three comni
 sioners shall hold office until Dec. 8 d 1919, three until Dec. S1, 1920, an
 three until Dec. S1, 1921. and as the
 terms expire new ones shall be chose
 for q term of three years each. IT }. port Commissioners, like the presel < Bridgeport Park roard, will elect i Hots.