The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-07
Believes Secret of PensacOla's
Delay in Gaining Big Trade
is Lack of Docks
GOOD TERMINALS WANTED
Declares That Government Will
Not Aid Ports Which Do Not
Own Municipal Docks

your city; 1 love Pensacola and have
many friends here; / want you to
feel that I am one with you, and am
at your service; 1 do not want to ap-
pear to enter into affairs of the city
with which I am not familiar. But
L must confess to you tonight that il
is almost incomprehensible to me that
Pensacola has not made greater prog
ress, with the wonderful advantages
that you enjoy here.
"Such a situation as this city has on
its beautiful, crescent-shaped bay, is
unsurpassed, and that You have not
developed more, is to be a profound
mystery. But, in making a trip yes
terday over your beautiful bay, look
ing upon your harbor and it's ter
minal facilities. it came to me that in
those terminals might lie the secret.
"As L looked out over the bay, at
the harbor of Pensacola, l stood beside
a friend who pointed out to me the
docks, naming them for me, the l..
and N; the Gulf, Pensacola and
Northern; the Gulf Terminals rail-
road; and dock after dock belonging to
private interests.
Where are your city docks?" l
asked. And he answered: I'VE have
no municipality owned docks And
in that answer it seemed to me maybe
lay the secret of Pensacola's s failure
to go forward-for, gentlemen, 1 say
to you, that Pensacola has not accom-
plished one twentieth of what she
should have accomplished with the
wonderful bay you have here.
The government is mot going to aid
any port that does not own it's docks.
has and it will An
private interests are much like the
government. Take it to yourself: If
you We're a manufacturer, which port
would you choose to make your ship
ments through; the port the docks of
which were privately owned and
which could be juggled according to
the whim of the owners; or docks
owned by the city, and at your SER
vice?'
These were the words of Gerard
Harris at the city hall last night, when
he spoke to a number of business men
of Pensacola, on the establishment of
trade with South American countries
Mr.. Harris, who is trade commits
sioner of the United States depart
ment Of commerce, came to Pensacola
at the invitation of the Chamber of
Commerce, to promote interest in the
movement to foster trade between this
port and South America. Mr.. Harris
spoke briefly of trade conditions in
Latin America, concentrating the
greater part of his attention on the
organization of a company.
Such companies said Mr.. Harris,
are being formed under the direction
of the department of commerce, and
having come into being through the
naad that the south faces of cap,pa-
tition with northern companies heav-
lily capitalized. Mr.. Harris said that
the department of commerce, recog-
nizing the fact that most southern
manufacturers We're men of compar-
atively small means, contrasted
with the capitalists of the north, and
wishing to induce southern merchants
and manufacturers to use southern
ports had devised the plan of corpor-
ations of from $25O,0O0 to $500, 900 cap
ital stock formed OF manufacturers
or businesses combined for mutual
benefit.
For instance, man who has cane
mill, and wants to export sugar and
has no means to do so, can join such a
company to the extent of perhaps So
600; another man who has a flour mill,
man who has a rice mill, or a man
WHO WdHlS " export SN1HG IenSdCOtd
made product, may invest in this cor
poration to possibly a like amount.
The company would open offices here.
put a man at its head thoroughly IA
miliar with the export business, and
the shipments would be made through
this company, all details taken off the
hands of the manufacturer, who would
get his cash for his shipment as soon
as sold.
The plan is being introduced all
over the south, and according to Mr.
Harris, is meeting with favor. Birm-
ingham and Mobile both have tenta-
tive organizations.
Mr.. Harris spent five years in South
America, and is thoroughly familiar
with trade conditions there. He called
attention to the fact that while the
monetary system of the Old World is
shattered the credit of South America
is better today than in all it's history.
He also quoted instances to prove that
already England, Belgium, France and
even Germany are going out after that
trade He expressed his belief that the
trade of South America is the great
opportunity of this country, and he
urged upon the business men present
to make every effort to have a part
in the establishment of American
trade routes with the countries south
of us.
Mr.. Harris does not claim to be an
orator but he brought out a number
of good points, which were well worth
the consideration of those present, and
which, if acted upon, could hardly fail
TO aid in port development.
In his reference to the comparative
mo. 1-Continued on Page Two.)