The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-01
LESSONS IN PORT EQUIPMENT.

LESSONS IN PORT EQUIPMENT.
The Gulf now is faced with oppor-
tunities. The greater part of the
United States is whole hearted pre-
pared to do business through our
southern ports. But steamships and
rail lines, just freight rates and the
advantages Of a fair and impartial
shipping law win not prove sufficient
to establish and maintain our share Of
the worlds ocean traffic unless our
port facilities are improved. The South
lacks adequate facilities for the bust
ness IL is demanding. The capacity or
our facilities is taxed at times under
the present growth. The only way to
expand Is to prepare for expansion.
We have shown in a previous number
OF Gulf Ports Magazine that assist
ance from the railroads cannot be ex-
pected, and that terminal improve
naents must be made by state, munis
cipal or private undertaking. says the
Gulf Ports Magazine
This is not said with any intent to
disparage present facilities. For han
ding cotton, sulphur, grain, oil and
much of the miscellaneous business
of these ports the equipment is I'M
surpassed. Even with inadequate ia
ciIities for handling heavy parcel
freight the southern ports have been
able to give satisfaction to shippers.
But this is no question of the past,
nor yet of the present. 1t is ques-
ton OF the future. The South, so far
as it's ocean trade is con-
cerned. cannot grow and prosper
unless its port accommodations are en-
larged and improved. Large commo-
dious wharves AMI warehouses ana
plenty of modern freight-handling
mechanical equipment must be obtain
ed Ecsore the great fruits of our eff
forts to obtain recognition are real
lied. If we are to build. let US build
well. And we must build.
The South has two rivals. One is
New York and the North Atlantic.
The other is the Pacific Coast. From
them we may draw lessons. The les
son from New York is to teach us
what not to do. That port is longest
ed and overburdened with freight be-
cause 1t lacks good freight-handling
facilities It's terminals are made
quate. It's piers are out of date. Yet
it is proceeding to spend millions of
dollars in the construction of twelve
piers at Staten Island, varying in
width from 1875 to 1870 feet. They will
cost a million apiece and are not to be
provided with modern freight handling
ecu. pment, partly because there will :
be no room for such equipment. Other !
ports of the North atlantic are bet |!
ter equipped, Philadelphia, among
others.
1t is a different picture on the Pa
cific coast. Every port of the Pacific
is building for, the future, notably
Seattle In addition to the thorough /
" modern and ample water front /
for which that port al
ready is noted Seattle now has open
ed Pier B. 1850 feet~long and 367 feet
wide. with an area of 946,S6 square
feet. 1t is supplemental to the four I
year. old Pier A which is 1880 feet and !
- feet wide. AS strictly ocean piers
they are the largest in the world. The
two will accommodate twenty 10000
ton ships at one time 1t may be a :
long time before Seattle grows to the
piers but Seattle is doing other things
than pier building, and the twenty
10 ,000-ton ships may be very early
The port is ready for the
future.
Should the Gulf initiate Seattle?
The Gulf certainly should take care
of it's future, and the Gulf certainly
must not initiate New York. Condi-
lions here are not the same as on the
west coast. We already are better
equipped than any other group of
ports in. the world for handling our
special varieties of merchandise. But
we are to grow. We are to compete
With the west in oriental trade. We
are to compe.e With the world in the
..,de with Latin America. That COM
petition means TIE increased handling
of coffee, sugar, rubber. oils. nuts, silks
and other commodities which demand
special facilities. 1t means increased
handling of steel and iron manufac-
lures, automobiles, locomotives, baled
goods of various sorts, merchandise
which demands space and the best OF
appliances. if it is to con-
,titute part of the normal business of
BUR ports When we build, let us
ouild well, and build for the future.
: I. a u Z. Z. Il Il e q q g {: % q