The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-12


care for the freight which would nat
urally pass through such ports; Pro-
vided. That II after such investigation
the board shall be Of the opinion that
rates, charges. rules. or regulations of
common carriers by rail subject to the
jurisdiction OF the interstate Com
merce Commission are detrimental to
the declared object of this section, or
that new rates, charges, rules, or reg
ulations, new or additional port term
inal facilities or affirmative action on
the part of such common carriers By
rail is necessary to promote the OBJ
jeets Of this section the board may
submit its findings to the Interstate
Commerce Commission for such action
as such commission may consider
proper under existing law
1t appearing from the records on file
at-W Washington that all other Gulf
cities have constructed and are con-
structing municipal harbor terminal
facilities and that Pensacola has not
done 50, is undoubtedly one Of the
primary reasons why we have had but
little encouragement or assistance
from governmental agencies in the
direction Of adjusting terminal charges
and one very good reason why Pensa-
cola was eliminated as a shipping
board port and the operation of ship
ping board vessels plying in this har-
Dor turned over to Mobile operators.
Personally, I have no interest In
any of the sites offered, only insofar
as they are affected by the foregoing
conditions.
The Pafafox Street Site.
With reference to the Palafox street
site, I conclude after careful investi-
cation, that this site Is utterly i'm
practical, uneconomic and will in large
measure defeat the very purpose for
which the municipal dock is to be
built
re am correct in my surmise OF
the facts the city would buy the Pala-
fox site as it stands for 1920. 900, with
certain lease privileges granted to
present owners for a period of two
years, giving to the city the east side
of this wharf only.
This in itself is an argument against
this site as the operations of the wharf
world be limited to a small area.
The available water depth for berth
ing vessels is between II and 20 feet,
necess'tating Of course d large amount
of dredging to provide q % foot depth
at wharf and a dredging for consid-
cradle dis lance to reach the channel
leading to the T.. G. N. wharves.
Then. again, the matter Of rail con-
nection must be considered, and It is
q question of whether the dock has
built at present would carry the rails
necessary to provide shipside delivery
70 Il. r.
warehouse facilities, the pier should be
SO constructed as to carry not less
than 500 pounds to the square foot
which is the c7rrving load now pro-
vided by the railroad wharves Of the
city.
Even if the pier was able to carry
such load, the question Of securing rail
connection with the existing railroads
is a most vital one. AT least $500 feet
of track must be built from Main
street to the bulshead lire in addi-
ton to the pier tracks. These tracks,
we assume. would run up Palafox
street If but one track was provided
for which Of course would besentireIy
inadequate for the handling Of freight.
Additional tracks would necessisate.
probably. the entire street width of
Pa1afov street. practically closing it to
all vehicle traffic or lead to the ac-
quirinr Of property on either the east
or west side of Pa1afox street for the
purpose Of securing bulkhead switch
ing and storage yards. so absolutely
necessary. If we are to make a NUM-
cipal dock Of unitarian value and
thereby anywhere near d self sustain
inc venture.
Further more this ste does not
hermit of expansion, If 1t is found nee
essaryy.
Again. II. as some pronose. that this
site will also provide q recreation pier, !
the real object for which the dock is
70 be b1ilt will he defeated. Combina-
tons OF this character are impractical
ard cannot be made to serve two dis
tinct purposes as intended. without
detracting from one or the other uses
to which the pier is put. Moreover
with all the natural and man made
recreation points in and about the
city 1t does not seem economic to use
this or any other municipal dock site
for recration purposes.
The selection Of this site also les
sons materially the use Of labor to be
enploved one thing which mnst be
as vitai factor. Outright
purchase of this uroperty VIII reduce
the dernand for labor, a condition that
should not maintain at this time. n
To summarize the Pa1afox wharf,
we find the following:
Cost Of prnne~fv sef1 to be 1920, 100000
Dredging (ffgnred on basis
Of city, Bars site dredg-
ing .........a.......... $4,000
Figured on same
basis) ................ $4,000
Holding shed Figured on
above basis ... 16,51s.00
Total s8O3. sos. 90
Plus putting wharf in condition for
heavy traffic.
Plus cost Of acquiring additional
pronerty for trackage. II
Plus probable damage abutting