The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-26
President Of G. p. T. Ry. Be-
ieves Pensacola Would Be-
come Outlet for Coal.
CITY TO BE PROTECTED
Under His Plan, Mclaughlin
Says City Would Have No
Cause to Fear Unfairness

Elwood Mclaughlin. president of
the Gulf Ports Terminal Railway Co.
! is anxious that the people of Pensacola
| understand his proposition on the pro-
J posed municipal docks. In an excIu-
! sive interview with The Journal yes
terday. Mr.. Mclaughlin said:
According to Sundays press dis
patches. General Frank Hines, in
! charge for the secretary OF war Of all
transportation on the Warrior river,
imparts the information that the
citizens of Birmingham and Mobile
are preparing TO develop great ter
minals for handling bunker and ex-
port coal at Mobile in connection with
the Warrior river barge line and that
they are expecting to receive some
government aid in carrying out their
plans.
IF you have time to listen / can
point out to you that since compile
ton Of the Warrior river barge canal,
Pensacola has superior natural ad-
vantages for delivering bunker and ex-
port coal over any other seaport on
the north side of the gulf Vessels
whose routes lie on the north shore,
finding it necessary TO take on a
supply of coal. must go more than a
hundred miles out of their course to
get supply at New Orleans: "a miles
out of their way at Mobile. but only
seven miles out of their way to take
coal at Pensacola.
The l.. & n. and G. p. & N have
coal handling machinery at this place
Of ten times greater capacity than
4I,a;, Il.
coal from the mines.
Since the act of congress terminal
mig government control of railroads,
the power and authority of the Inter
state Commerce Commission has been
so enlarged that it can now order the
terminals belonging to any company
at any place. TO be used by any other
company whose own terminals are in
adequate For example, the L. & "
and G. p. & ~. both have excess OF
coal handling facilities and the Gulf
Ports Terminals have none. II these
companies cannot agree as to price,
the Commerce Commission can fix the
price and order the Goa Ito be handled
over the terminals belonging to the
roads having excess facilities. This
is exactly as it should be, but was inn
possible prior to March ]. / il not
therefore plain to be seen the great
tonnage that can be handled at this
place with the cooperation of the
Warrior river and the Gulf Ports Ter
minal Railway line, as soon as il
reaches the east side of Mobile bay?
The Gulf Ports Terminals having
only So miles of rail haul in combina-
ton with the barge canal will be able
TO deliver to the L. & n. and G. p. & y.
machinery from 90 to 1000 cars per
day when required; and having area
inside the city limits for storage
tracks for eleven miles of cars will
always be able to give prompt service
to vessels. Coal that goes into yes
sells must first go into car or bins:
il cannot be loaded direct from barge
into ships. II not received from cars
the vessels must travel "a miles our
Of their way to storage bins in north
Mobile. II is a well known fact that
the "a mile dredged channel. these
does not always have 2S feet Of water,
and sometimes has less than % feet:
none Of this uncertainty is present al
Pensacola; 80 feet can always be de-
pended on.
is 1t not plain that with the barge
investment the federal government has
here that Substantially the sane rates
to this place from Birmingham, the
Pittsburg of the south, may rcasoh-
ably be expected as soon as tho GuIf
Ports Terminal line is in operation to
the east side of Mobile bag?
IF idential rates are not made, will
not the shortened distance of ont OF
the way sailing, IA miles against 3s),
the certainty of always finding 80 feet
Of water; the certainty Of always find
ing coal cargo and bunker 81 pplie3
ready; the certainty of quick dispatch.
and no unjust port charges. be suf-
ficient to equalize rates with Mobie2
The Gulf Ports Terminal Railway Co.
being fully impressed that the time
has come for immediate action to pull
this magnificent stream OF commerce
this way, is ready to do fits part to-
ward to making this port attractive.
"On being asked by member of
the committee IL he Would state in
writing what the stockholders of the
Gulf Ports Terminal Railway are will
ing to donate or contribute towards
creation OF municipal docks and belt
line railroad, Mr.. Mclaughlin handed
him a typewriter statement. of which
the following Is a copy:
&" The stockholders OF the Gulf Ports
Terminal Railway Company. seeing
the importance of and necessity for
docks to induce the various steam
ship lines operating in the gulf to call
at this port. bit having nothing else
to contribute, propose to donate to the
city the use of. without requiring any
OF benefits than the
results which are expected 10
follow creation Of the docks and which