Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-18
GEORGE F. SPROUlE
Developinu the Port

TUST where the port of Philadelphia
O stands and the tremendous efforts be-
ing made to keep abreast of the mari
time business that comes here rs de-
scribed by George f. Sproule, director
of the Department of Wharves, LOCKS
and Ferries. -,
Just Mt present. the world over,
he said, "thc shipping business seems 10
be in a 1rccarious state, and no one
nppcars to know what will happen next:
There seems to be an ovcrabundance OIL
tonnage generally.
"a friend of mine Just from Eng
land tells me the river Tyne. in nortn-
eastern England. is crowded with shlps
tied up and that only the smaller types
seem to have plenty OF business. a a
tremendous slump in freight rates is
also expected in England.
"Thc business of the port of Phila-
delpha has. however. assumed tre-
mendous volume. The state pilots. VINO
are employed only by foreign vesselS and
vessels engaged in foreign trade. piioted
in the last month. in and out. 900 ships.
This is n very large number indeed: lot
tbc nilots in normal times considered
300 ships in and out in a month TO De
tremendous number and the Dlggest
sort Of business for the port.
"Drspitc this great increase in busi
moss tho existing facilities of the port
have not been ovcrtaxcd. Yet in an
ticination of the fast growth of business
thot is still ahead the Department oi
Wharves. Docks and Ferries IS gong
ahead and planning TO meet the new
conditions as they arise.
Preparing for Future
"Just 10 show what is being done to
take care Of present business and future
emergencies: Alongside the Market
| street ferries to the north are some oi
the most antiquated piers along the
entire waterfront OF Philadeiphla
These piers are old. old-fashioned ana
utterly inadequate.
''Through the interest in waterfront
development shown by Mayor Moore we
got through Council an ordinance con ,
dcmning and taking over Piers 1; anu
3. North Wharvcs. Piers l and = are
owned by the GHrard e9ate ana iler :,
BY tho Clyde estate. These are 10 p'
demolished and the sites improved
Then we will tear down the present
municipal pier at the foot OF Arcu
street also Pier No. 3, now owned pS
| the ! nlted FRUIT 'o'
"Along this entire stretch from Mar
ket street to Cherry street we VIII con
struct three modern double -decked piers
with enough width and length to accom-
modatc the largest ships coming mere mere
This development will cost So'ooo'ooo
Tho new piers will be of the most mod
orn icsipp and compare favorably, botl
from n nractical standpoint and from al
artistic point Of view, with anythlni
in thot line we have built along .th'
Delaware river.
"Then this department also will teal
ort Chestnut street pier and build a new
nior thcrc, This will be large modern
njor csnccially adapted TO river steam
boot traffic. The upper deck will b'
constructed for use as Offices for tht
recruitment of Wharves, Docks and
Ferries The total cost OF this ne"
pier will be 5000
Applications for Space
cat present the department has under
construction three municipal piers, one
a. tbo loot of Kenilworth street, to be
comrletcd the last of this year. and two
othcrs near Wolf street. each 200 feet
in length and 300 feet in width. These
niso should have been completed by the
ond of the year, but failure to Obtain
material and labor troubles have held
up this work.
eve have applications on file from
shinping lines for these, piers, wher
romp,etcd in fact, we have three ol
fomr such applications for each pier.
AT present also ! have letter from
tho Middle West Flour Mills Co, o.
Columbus, O., telling of their desire t.