Evening journal., 1920-02-14
Study PORTS
in SOUTHLAND
Commissioners Back From
New Orleans, Charleston,
and Norfolk Trip
IMPRESSED WITH
NEW ORLEANS PLAN

Ton week ago, the wilmington bOafu
OF HarbOr Commissioners, comprising
Willard Speakman, president; Charles
Warner and Joseph Bancroft and their
secretary, Charles H. Cant. returned
TO this city late last night. after visit
Ing New 0rl ans, Charleston, 5. c., and
Norfolk, Va, since last Friday.
The trip was made 10 inspect the
modern improvements at the ports
named and this inspection was salts
factory In every way. The comm.s-
sloners will probably not decide upon
definite type Of development for the
LObdell tract until after several meet
ings have taken place and the advisory
board consulted. The matter will be
discussed at the meet ng Of the board
next Tuesday, although no decision
will be reached al that time.
In every city they visited the local
officials were received with courtesy
and shown every consideration. While
at Washington on the way home. the
commits dOne-s consulted with two Gov
ernment harbor experts who were deep
ly interested In the future Of Whining
ton as a port
0ulltu CAhlIo CtudtNl L. lNlolIl Dulf
and Repres entative Caleb r. Layton also
were visited In Washington. Senator
WOlcOtt was also called upon. but was
out.
The enormous dock developments Of
New Orleans, lhe second port Of the
country. were Of gr at interest 10 the
Here the bulkhead type
OF development was found TO be used
very generally. and the members OF the
commission returned 10 Wilmington
with a very favorable impression both
Of New Orleans as city. and Of The
officials there.
The burtheniny system at Charleston. !
and the Army supply base, were thu
Items which mosl interested the lOca
men. AT Charl stOn the Dulkhead sys
tenn was found 10 be used generally.
The combination pier-slip and bulk
head wharf at Norfolk was the point
NJ greatest interest. Al Norfolk. the |
were IL charge OF the
city manager.
The commissioners enjoyed their !
trip, although it was very fatlgulng. |
The temperature was lowering around I
he 20 mark at New Orleans. and roses /
Nere in bloom. No snow was seen /
mill the commission was near Balti- Z
more.
The following were the reasons for
making the trip south. as outlined by /
he board:
4. To find out the best layout en-
)loyed In other ports for the economic |
md efficient handling Of freight.
2. To look over the best quay wall |
.ypes OF development. as our engineer
md the advisory committee both be-
ieve that this Is best applicable to our
situation and needs.
3. To observe modern handling meth
IDS, such as the tractor and trailer sys-
EN-. In operation.
&. The necessity for a decision as to
he kind Of layout to be adopted here.
5. New Orleans, in particular Is
,redlted with having one Of the finest
)Orts In American, and Il was especially
by the technical advisory
committee that the board inspect their
ayout.
The following report was given 10 the
,ress as TO results Of the trip;
itinerary.
The board left Wilmington on FRI
lay. The sixth Of February. and ar
'ved at New Orleans on the sth. I'm
Ter the guidance OF the Dock Depart
nent officials. an inspection Of the har-
'Or from the water was afforded from
me Of their launches. This inspection
vas very thorough and took up one
4 the days spent there. On the follow
ng day, the use Of an automobile was
ilaced at the disposal Of the board
nd accompanied by Tiley McChesnkey,
OF the Dock Department, anf
lene Clerc, one OF the commissioners
n inspection OF all the docks, the new
supply base and the cot
on warehouses was made.
The trip TO Charleston consumed two
ays. Here A. V. Smell. secretary OF
he Chamber Of Commerce met the
oard and the day was devoted 10 an
Of the army supply base.
Which is the most modern terminal OF
he port. n
At Norfolk, through the courtesy OF
ir. Ashburner. city manager, access
,as had to the army supply base there.
nd a thorough inspection Of that
itlllll WIS lidhts |
That evening the board left for Wash
igton. and called on Or. Layton and /,
enator Ball the following morning. TO
yplain 10 them what Is being done in {
and TO insure their support {
! any matters that IL may be neces-
ary TO have acted on by Congress.
The board also stopped at Senator
yolcott's office, but he was not in.
escrintiOn of Ports Visited.
1. New 0rleans-The ADMINISTRATION
Z port affairs In New Orleans is vested
! a state Dock Department. and there
Jurisdiction is final in all respects. They
ontrol all revenue derived from the
ort. make all necessary Improvement
nd extensions and are responsible to
he governor only.
The water front with riparian rights,
New Orleans as In other places ac-
uired from Latin countries. rests In
10 State under the Code Napoleon /
ne basic law. which means that the
oard can erect wharves at any point
'ithoui purchase OF waterfront or any
gal proceedings The State therefore
, owners OF the waterfront are the
roper ones 10 operate them.
The development is almost without
yceptlon OF the bulkhead type. The
ne exception TO this being q slip op- :
rated by one Of the railroad COM
anies and this exception is not work >
ut out well. due TO the deposit OF Sill
ON the Mississippi The hsrbor IT.
slf is about 20 miles from the gulf. I
The bulkhead type here is well car
ed out Single story transit sheds
lrallel TO the wharf are used almost \