The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-22
BARGE TERMINAL
MUST Be ENLARGED
Prompt Improvement Neces
sary to Meet Demands of
Big U. S. Barge Line.

Temporary but immediate improve
| ment and enlargement of freight hand
| ling facilities of the government, barge
| terminal at the foot Of Georgia avenue
TO increase It's capacity from 500 tons
| TO 1000 tons daily OF miscellaneous
freight was taken under consideration
by the terminal commission at 1890
o'clock Thursday at a called meeting at
the Chamber Of Commerce, Prompt ac-
ton is necessary against the tremend.
Gus increase of the Federal barge lines
carrying capacity, which win be eff
fected early IN the fall with the instala- =
tlon OF 400 large steel barges and six
large twin screw towboats now build
ing, In the carrying trade between St
Louis and New Orleans
With its increased facilities the gov
ernment. barge line, officials of the line
nave Informed the Memphis commits
sioners, can not profitably make Mem
PMS terminal of the line unless at
least 1000 tons of freight can be un-
loaded daily. Our problem, therefore, :"
said j. b, Edgar, one of the commits
sioners, "is to install mechanical de-
vices at the present terminal which will
enable 1t to handle this amount OF
freight, The present equipment Is ade-
quate to care for the 500 ton barges
and the old liver type steamers which
the barge line Is now using, but viii not
meet the demands of the new equip
ment,
We will not be prepared to spend A
great amount of money in improving
the present terminals until we learn
what effect the currents Of the MIssis-
sippi are going to have on it's future
availability, But temporary improve-
ments might take care Of the situation
until we can get engineers to make a
thorough investigation and can build
another terminal at a, different site II
~.
try to install devices which will not
have to be junked If the terminal is
abandoned, but which can be moved to
any location, Several devices are be-
ing, considered, including endless chain
and electric hosting systems For load
ing, the chutes now In use would prob
ably prove adequte, but the big prob
lem Is unloading. The unloading facil-
tiles now consist of trucks and an in
cline, to haul the freight up to the
warehouse"
II is hoped by the improvements to
make the facilities for handling cotton
and cottonseed products entirely adc-
quate to the needs of the port OF Mem
phs, Mr.. Edgar said The commission
er Will cooperate to the fullest TO
aid the Memphis exporters in their
plans for improving shipping facilities
through New Orleans
Barge terminals have already been
established at New Orleans, Memphis
and st. Louis, Mr. Edgar said, and
Cairo, Ill, Is planning to install ter
minals, The barge line will carry
through freight. touching only at the
important terminals.
The commission will select competent
engineers and advisors, probably get
ting one or both from St Louis and
New Orleans. The local terminal IL
now paying a good profit, Mr.. Edgar
said, and. they have ample funds to
carry out their plans Two hundred
and seventy thousand dollars In cash
Is already available and $500 900 adj
ditional bond issue can be reached this
summer.
The other members of the commission
meeting with Mr. Edgar are H. NJ
Stratton and s. B. Anderson They
will probably select a chairman be-
fore the meeting is concluded