Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-21
JOSEPH r. hASSkARL
On Needs Of the Port Of Philadelphia

On Needs Of the Port OF Phlade'ph'a
THE early completion Of the thirty i've
J. foot channel in the Delaware and enough
ireboats to insure safe navigation during thc
winter are two imperative needs If Philadci-
phia wishes to take her rightful position as
a prominent port, in the opinion of Joseph
+. Hasskarl. former director Of wharv'S
docks and ferries, and at present member
of the harbor and navigation committee o,
the Chamber of Commerce.
The state should make more liberal appro'
priatiops for the port OF Jhilsdelpha. ac'
rording to Mr.. HaSskarl, since this city IS
really the port Of the entire commonwealth
and means very much 10 the welfare OF the
state as whole. Tic present conditions
existing in the POI compared with its ur
gent needs are outlined BY Mr.. liasskarl in
the following way:
philadelphia is al present the second
largest port in America rs measured DF
number OF vessels. tonnage aud value of car
goes handled. Owing TO her geographical
location, Philadelphia should be the greatest
freight distribution point on the Atlanti'
seaboard. The fact. that ,lhiladelphia Is
ninety miles nearer to Chicago and the MIDI
nearer to Liverpool than Baltimore (summer
route. east boundl are natural advantages
that will eventually assert themselves,
AT the present time there IL in the Dela
ware river a clear thirty one foot channel
lmean low water to the sea. distance Of
100 miles. As the range Of the tide is On
feet. it gives 3fi. feet at high water The
thirty five foot project OF the Delaware river
is now approximately 20 per cent completed.
When this has been finished Philadelphia
will have clear channel thirty five feet deep
nt mean low water from 500 10 1000 feet
wide in the straight reaches and from 1000
to 100 feet wide in the bends of the river.
"Philadclphia has frontage of twenty
miles on the Delaware river and deep water
frontage on both banks Of the lower Schuyl-
kill river Of fourteen miles. making total
of thirty. four miles OF deep water frontage
within the city limits.
I73 Piers on Delaware Front
The city during the last ten years "a
pendcd approximately $4,000. 900 on har-
Dor improvements, and there are ar present
ample funds available to continue that line
of progress, Thcr" are now III; piers along
the Delaware river front within the city
limits. ranging III size up TO 1900 feet long
by $50 feet wide Of which number thirty.
one belong TO the city. There are also large
sections OF bulkhcad on the Schuylkil river
affOrdng docking space for many large .'es-
sells. Philadelphia has 4wO large grain ele
vators with q combined storage capacity Of
3, 200 900 bushels.
''There are also number Of ore handln ng
piers here, one Of which has q capacity for
handling 800 tons Of ore per hour.
"An Philadelphia piers are or can be con
npcted with the Belt Line Railway which
enables shippers 10 use the three trunk rail
ways entering the city or equal terms. As
A result there is practically no lighterage OF
freight here as compared with New York
Boston Baltimore and most other seaports
along the Atlantic coast, which results in q
1reat saving Of time and money in the
handling OF vessels and csrgoeS.
There are also many freight yards con
yeniently located or closely 90 -ordinated with
our port facilities thus Obviating congestion
and delays in handling imports and exports.
The annual average foreign and CoaStwiSc
commerce Of the port of Philadelphia for the
last ten years has been approximately 26,
900 900 tons, at an average value of 81 800,
900 900. OF this amount the foreign com
mcrce has amounted 10 5000, 900 tons ut n
value Of $500. 900, 900, The customs re.
CENTS during this period have averaged an
pro1imatcly ST. 900, 900 annually.
Advantages in Canals
The Delaware and Raritan and tho
chesapeake and Delaware canals also give
Philadelphia unusual advantages FOR shin
monts by water to Now York and the South
'On November l, 1913, there were sixteen
yhipyards with 1917 Shipbuihing WAYS on the
Delaware river or its tributaries within
thirty five miles OF Philadelphia.
"Phladelphia's close proximity to The
great coal. iron, petroleum. and cement fields
~ Pennsylvania also that she il nearer the
areat cotton fields Of the South than any
| Iher large manufacturing city, coupled with
| Ke fact that il Is almost In the center of
| IN best labor market in this country, give
| philadelphia advantages possessed Nv no
.Ile civ In this country, and Delbnus IA tl,h