The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-18
TERMINAL PLANS
TO Be APPROVED
BY ENGINEERS
Mississippi River Commission
Will Cooperate With Men,
phiS Officials COnferenCe
Held With Commission


Members Of the Mississippi river COM
mission, at a conference with members
Of the Chamber Of Commerce and with
the commissioners recently appointed
to have charge Of the cIty's municipal
terminal docks, assured them that they
would receive the cordial cooperation
and assistance of the river commission, !
both in the planning and location OF
the municipal wharf plant and in the
protection OF the Memphis harbor and
water front. !
J, B.. Edgar presented briefly the
case of the terminal commission, which
was only recently appointed, and which
las not yet been formally organized.
The other members are s. b. Ander-
son and l.. NJ. Stratton, both Of whom
attended the conference. The commits
sion is authorized TO sell $500 600 of
municipal criminal bonds, and may
either enlarge the present terminal
plant at the foot OF Georgia avenue,
construct an entirely new plant at an
other location, or sell the present plant
and invest the proceeds, with the funds
from the bond issue, in terminals at
some other more suitable point.
The present terminals, bought from
the River and Rail Storage company
last year at a cost Of 1925 600, are
equipped only for the handling of pack
age freight. Much objection was made
to the purchase by the river terminal
committee, which had been investigat-
ing the need of terminals and Of suit
able sites, for nearly a year, That
committee was composed of Tepresen-
tatives from the Chamber of Commerce
and from every commercial organiER-
ton. Failing to agree upon a site, the
committee turned the entire question
over to the mayor and city commits
%sioners.
The city commission placed it in the
hands of c. w. Miller, then commits
sionerNof streets, bridges and sewers,
with power to act. Mr.. Miller reported
in favor of the River and Rail Storage
plant, which the city commission then
bought, paying for it $225, 900,
The large business interests OF the
city, firms and corporations which
handle shipments in carload lots, pro-
tested but without avail,
The result was that after several
meetings of the river terminal commit
tee with members Of the traffic and
transportation committee Of the Cham
Der of Commerce, that. a bill author
izing a new bond issue of $500, 600 was
sent to Nashville, in which three com
m%issioners have full charge of the
building and operation of the proposed
terminals were named. Thai bill was
passed and Is now a law.
At the hearing Thursday Col. G., Med.
Townsend, president of the Mississippi
river commission; j. A. Ockerson, who
has been a member of the commission
since 1898, n Others, assured the
Memphis delegation that every ster
will be taken to hold Hopefield point
and prevent any further danger OF the
point being washed away, which would
permit the river possibly to make q
new channel along the Arkansas shore
and might change the entire water
front of MemDhis
Col. Townsend also, In response t.
the brief address by Milton H. Hunt
s of the Memphis delegation, regarding
! the caving Of the banks on the Mem
1 phis water front, said that he wouit
, have his engineers investigate and re
port, and hat steps would then be ia
|. ken In the matter.
H. N. Pharr, chief engineer Of the st
! Francis levee board, made q writer
{ report Of the danger from caving bank
field bend, Osceola bend, Luxora, Gold
e en- Lake, Bruins and Wyanoke. He ais
presented, a petition from resident
$ and members of the board at the lowe
t end Of the levee system near Helens
d asking for the building of a little owe
D.; four miles OF new leyee to protect
large area from back water, which nos
0 flows over more than 400, 900 acres dur
ing every high water period. he wa
!. asked to file a supplemental repor
W the most neeueu Wolh, DIS ~
9 commissions appropriation for thi
year is almost all expended or provide
= for in pending contracts.
Mai. r. @. Dabney, chief engineer {
the upper Yazoo district, and D..
Mangum, of Tunica, a member OF I'll
board, presented a brief report askir
for continued appropriations. main
for necessary revetment work.
4 Among the members OF the Chambt
of Commerce committee who met Il
commission were, besides Mr.. Hunt al
the terminal commissioners, Judge !
c. Floyd, j. ?. Norfleet,aC c, G. Hansoi
j S, L. Calhoun and others. @t ,
The steamer Mississippi, the commits
sion's official home while on. the rive
remained at the wharf at the foot
Monroe. avenue, until Friday mornln
u wien the trip to New Orleans was r.
o sumed. On board were all the men
~ bers Of the commission, Col. Tow
y send, Col. James G. Warren, Col. Ian
u ing ii. Beach, j. A. Ockerson, st. Loui
Us Homer p. Ritter, Boston, Mass; G. }
y West, Greenville, Miss. Edward
N Glenn, Louisiana, Mo, and L. }. Thon
40 as, assistant engineer, acting secreta)
rs Of tba commission.