Evening star., 1921-09-10
ADVOCATES WHARF STORAGE.
Business Man Says Cost of Wood to
Public Is Thereby Reduced.

AVtVc VI star.
IN your issue of September $, re-
SArding the use of the wharf prop
critics, the Commissioners of the Dis
trict are reported as denying that
it is their purpose to prevent the
use of the District wharves az
waterway freight terminals" but
they explain they are seeking to
r-eVHnt the use OF the wharveS for
ene storage OF wood or any other
city
II is pertinent TO ask why the Com
mlssioners should seek to change the
long established policy of wharf
Ssorage Fer more than fifty years
receipt and storage of wood and
other bulky commodities The rea-
sons assigned by the Commissioners
70 the Dove Company were that the
Stcrase OF wood was unsightly and
,r, was desirable to improve the
commissioners that it is desira HE To
improve the river front by the erec-
tion OF new wharves. but we are nm
aole 70 appreciate the force Of their
Sohtention that wharves should not
pe used for storage purposes-name-
~. 1or wood or any other commodity
Al would seem that the use of
WHarVes Tor such purposes ought NOT
70 require any defense, but FOR the
penent OF our citizens and to place
70 expose the fallacy of the noSitinn
taken by the Commissioners. We
I,erein state some of the reasons uhy
t1e long established policy of Ieas,
ins Wnarves Tor the storage of wood
a9.;. eoai and other bulky COM
iHuaItIes should not be discontinued
IT must be apparent that IN ths Torn.
HiisSiohers do not object to the land
iHs OF wood. coal, lumber and othar
commodities upon the wharyes. that
tney 90 not regard such commerce as
oelng unsightly. because everv on
realizes that when a sbinlosd ~
WOOD. coal or lumber is landed il re-
qulfeS some days to haul the sana
away 1t therefore resolves itself into
.ns question of the length of time
wTnnxou1!les would remain on the
Wharf- To reload and haul wood coal
OF lumber would add very greatly to
the cost to the consumer. This iS an
important matter, especially at n time
Wnen the public is groaning under
high prices.
lore large revenue is procured Tor
tne District If the wharyes are used
ior ire purposes we think they should
be used for a famine in coal or wood
IS not likely to occur. as was the case
not many years ago Coal can he
brought by river transportation at
much less cost, but the benefit per-
1shes If merchants are put to the add
ca expense of Immediately hauling it
10 yard or other storage point.
some years ago the wharves in West
washington. now taken over by the
war Department, were used for the
storage of coal and lumber The
commissioners can assign no inst r, A :
son why the wharves should not be
continued to be used as they have
tnT
to prevent the use for storage is to
beg the question, il in the same
breath they admit that they NAV In
future be used for the landing of
these commodities with sufficient time
granted for their removal
When this company received notice
TO vacate its wharf no mention was
made by the Commissioners that in
future the wharves might be used
for the landing of wood. The position
of the Engineer Commi ssioner, at
that time. was that wood was nm
slightly; well. in a sense that NAV
be true. but it must be conceded that
wood. coal and lumber are essential
to the public.
One thing more. In the past the
city has used large space on the
wharves for the storage of Sand
gravel. bricks and other things, IT.
would certainly be a distinct loss tn
the District to haul this sand, as re-
ceived. to other storage places and
later 10 the point of consumption
Why not use the wharves for these
commendable purposes and save the
taxpayers that much expense? our
President is bent upon retrenchment
in national expense. Would it not he
well to apply this principle to local
affairs?
There is involved in this case a very
important element which we hardly
think the Commissioners have, consid.
cred Wood has to be sawed and split
and the running of mill would be of
less annoyance located on wharf
than it would be in the populated sec
ton of the city. 1t is both practical
and economical to receive wood nv
water. saw and split it on a wharf
and deliver as required. Change this
and you add to it's cost
We wish, in conclusion, to saw that
we entertain only the best feelings
for our Commissioners. but we no not
think their business judgment tran
Scends the views OF the Board of Trade
or other civic organizations or busi-
ness men in general. We submitted
this case to a large number of busI-
ness men and all expressed the opin-
ion that our contention for the con-
tinuance of the use of the wharves
is well founded. We trust the Conn
missioners will see fit to take our
view of this matter.
j. MAURY DOVE Jr