The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-08
WANTS port TO
Be COAL BASE
Mclaughlin Urges Citizens to
Get Benefits of the Ports
Natural Advantages

EiWoou McLaughiln, president or
the Gulf Ports Terminal Railways Co, !,
in an interview with The Journal yes
terday pointed out the opportunity
Which the port of Pensacola has for
becoming a greater coaling base and
urged that the citizens of Pensacola
get busy in order that they may Oh
tain the benefits of the ports superior
Mr.. Mclaughlin said:
About two weeks ago attention Of
your readers was called to some ac-
tivities of the Inhabitants of Mobile.
Their efforts to get government aid
for terminal coal bins have been sue
cessful. Through the support of Sem
ator Underwood a provision was writ
ten into the general waterways bill
whereby coaling terminal is to be To-
Gated at Mobile and an appropriation
Of 100000 from the United States
treasury made for erecting the coal
bins. A committe of citizens has un-
dertaken the work of raising 10000
in addition, to pay for the site forl
the bins. This $45o,000 it is expected
will be further increased next Novem-
ber when an amendment will be voted
on making state aid lawful. That the
sum of all these items of appropria-
tions, and more, is needed for Mobile
harbor is evident.
But examine the situation at PEN |
sacola; no perennial annual outlay isl
needed to keep open a 34-mile chan !,
mel; the short inlet channel less than |
three quarters of a mile long, always
has 80 feet of water. The coal han
ding machinery of the L. & n. and G.,
o. A
bins are needed. The superior natural
advantages of this port for taking on
export and bunker coal are unques-
tionable. Proximity of the path of
vessels sailing east and west on north
shore of gulf waters and certainty of
always finding the necessary 80 feet
of water, and machinery for the rapid
handling of coal, are items of advan-
tage no other port on the north shore
can offer.
AT present only one Disadvantage
of any Importance exists, the long rail
haul of 258 and 800 miles respectively
on L. & N. and G., F. & A. from the
mines to the ships side. At the pres
ent day the impossibility of getting
cars is limiting coal commerce and re-
port. An absolute certain correction
for this defect will consist in shorten
ing the rail haul to So miles. Compile
tion of the Gulf Ports Terminal rail-
way line to the east shore of Mobile
bay where connection viii be made
with the Warrior division of inland
waterways will provide an infalliblel
care for the defect.
''This inland waterway is now equip
ped and operated by the war depart
ment; such an arrangement secures
the permanence of water transporta- /
ton from Birmingham to the point of ,
connection with the railway on the east
shore of Mobile bay. When suitably .
equipped the railway will have ca |
pacity area, within the city limits, for ]
storage tracks for 1900 cars. Less than j
ten minutes will take a car from the
storage to tracks and place it on the
handling machinery of either o. thel
other two railroads. With the only
difficulty of any importance removed,
who shall say Pensacola viii not bel
entitled to substantially the same rates
from Birmingham as will be fixed for
Mobile
The citizens of this place have paid :
their share Of the $16,oo0.o0o expended
in improving Warrior river. AT Pen :
sacola and Warrington the United I
States has already an investment of /
more than $25,o0o.0 900. At what other {
port nthe gulf have they invested I
as much Ia
Does any one doubt which Fort win (
be preferred by east and west bound l
vessels sailing along the north shore q
Of the gulf-that one with 80 feet OF G
water and only miles out of the ves- I
sells path, the other with the uncer-
tainty of always finding more than 20
feet of water and necessitating a "a
mile side trip
Senator Underwood is a broad
Eauge statement, II your petition for :
help Il laid before him he viii read
w understand that to get your just
No. 3contsnued On Page 2. T.