The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-03
SOME FACTS ABOUT
PORT DEVELOPMENT
Functions of United States Govern
mental Agencies in Adjudicating
Questions and Policies.

sioner, is preparing a series of informa-
tive articles on port development anC
kindred topics, the first Of which ap.
pears in The Journal this morning.
Mr.. Morrow, who was for years con-
nected with the Mississippi Valley
Waterways association, is one Of the
best informed men in this country or
the various ports of the country an6
their facilities His first contribution
j to the series which he is preparing, al
the request Of the industrial commits
sion of the Chamber OF Commerce
I follows:
1T will be my privilege to give some
facts which will tend to show the con-
| dttions which surround the develop
ment of the port of Pensacola.
The first article will deal primarily
with the functions of United States
governmental agencies In adjudicating
the questions and policies of port de-
lvelopment.
1T is not generally understood that
the United States government. through
the shipping board and the interstate
commerce commission, are media
through which the working out of our
the municipality may call upon such
agencies at any time it feels disposed
to do so, in arriving at definite con-
illusions as to the availability, desira-
bility and character of publicly owned
dock facilities.
Again, it may not be generally
known that the continuance or extern
sion of government channel improve
ment in Pensacola might be jeopar-
died if the city fails to construct an
adequate terminal
This is strikingly illustrated when
we read the following paragraph, taken
from the rivers and harbors act Of
March 2, 1919, which law is still ope-
rative and is a declared policy of con-
gress in reference to harbor develop
ment:
The paragraph reads as follows:
Tt is hereby declared to be the poll
icy of the congress that water terTni-
nails are essential to all cities and
towns located upon harbors or naviga-
bic waterways, and that at least one
public terminal should exist, construct
ed, owned and regulated by the mu-
icipahty, or other public agency Of the
state, and open to the use of all on
equal terms, and with the view of
carrying out this policy to the fullest
extent, the secretary of war is hereby
vested with the discretion to withhold,
unless the public interests would seri-
ously suffer by delay, moneys appro-
priated in this act for new projects
adopted herein, or for the further i'm
provement of existing projects, if, in
his opinion. no water terminals exist
adequate for the traffic and open to
all on equal terms, or unless satisfac-
tory assurances are received that local
or other interests will provide such
adequate terminal or terminals. The
secretary of war, through the chief of
engineers, shall give full publicity, as
far as may be practicable, to this pro-
vision
$50 much for that, but it is fact
that the secretary of war has the
power, should he care to exercise it, to |
restrict and prevent further appro-
priations unless satisfactory assur- |
ances are received that local or other
interests viii provide such adequate /
or terminals
In the municipalities endeavor to
provide harbor facilities, the United |
States government offers and enjoins |
upon the shipping board, in collabora- |
ton with the secretary of war, to in
vestigate the adequacy of port termi- /
nails in the country.
Section s of the merchant marine !
act of 1920 contains the following pro-
vision:
That it shall be the duty of the
BOARD, in cooperation with the seere-
AIRY of war, with the object of pro-
noting, encouraging and developing
ports and transportation facilities in
connection with water commerce over
which it has jurisdiction, to investi-
gate territorial regions and zones
to such ports, taking into
the economies of trans
by rail, water and highway
Ind the natural direction Of the flow
# commerce.; to investigate the causes
# the congestion of commerce at ports,
md the remedies applicable thereto;
o investigate the subject Of water
criminals. including the necessary
locks, warehouses, apparatus, equip
nent and appliances in connection
herewith, with a view to devising and
the types most appropriate
"a
expeditions and economical transfer or
Of passengers or property
carriers by water and car
iers by rail; to advise with communi-
les regarding the appropriate location
nd plan of construction OF wharyes,
iers and water terminals; to investi-
ate the practicability and advantages
f harbor, river and port improvements
n connection with foreign and coast
wise trade; and to investigate any
Their matter that may tend TO pro-
note and encourage the use by vessels
f ports adequate to care for freight
,hich would naturally pass through
UGH ports: provided, that if after such !
1vestigation the board shall be of the
pinion that rates, charges, rules or
equations of common carriers by 7
all is necessary to promote the OBJ
apTS nf this Sacffry, hoard =