The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-10
PORT DEVELOPMENT
- ). g. MORRnW


The logical conclusions to draw from
the facts adduced in. the previous ar
ticles on the subject Of port develop
ment are that careful consideration
must. be given as to the location o.
| publicly owner piers.
1t is an evident fact, that publicly or
more strictly speaking municipality
owned piers must be constructed with
view as to their present and ultimate
/ utilitarian value.
It has been the history Of practically
every port which has entered into mu- /,
nicipal dock construction, that the
| revenues derived from such municipal
wharyes have not been sufficient to
carry all overhead charges, such as up
keep, interest and sinking fund
This should be considered a minor
matter however, for the greater the
iutilitarian value Of the municipal
wharf, the more facilities provided
for all manner Of water carriers, both
Icoastwise and ocean going. the greater
the benefit to the whole community
from the increased shipping attracted
TO the port because of the establish
ment Of a municipal dock
II is fallacy to assume that a munich
pal pier can be made profitable for any
one class of water carrier and esne
cially so il the pier Is. constructed Ton
only the small type of craft plying 10
nearby ports,
The only benefits from the construc-
ton Of a municipal pier for small
craft would be in providing better
berthing space than is enjoyed By
such vessels at present. nor would IL
in any measure help in the adjust
ment of terminal charges or terminal
rules and regulations It would not
increase the business Of the port nor
the business Of the small coastwisc
craft, and therefore would utterly fail
to serve any useful purpose not al
ready provided
on the other hand. if the municipal
pier is designed so as to attract the
larger type Of ocean going vessels. the
effect viii Immediately be apparent in
the matter Of adjustment Of terminal
rules and rates prevailing at the part.
and attract TO the port steamship lines
which do not care to be bound down :
by arbitrary terminal regulations by
reason Of not being able to secure a
leased berth area.
What has Pensacola TO offer pros
pective steamship lines other than rail
road marine terminals2 Nothing al
present. Then it is logical to assume
that the municipal dock to be provided
must be Of character to OFFER the fol-
lowing attractive features:
I. Opportunity 10 lease TO ocean-go-
ing steamship lines berth and storage
space.
2. To provide adequate trackage on
piers to handle cargo.
3. Provision for adequate covered
storage on pier.
4. Sufficient area back Of the pier 10
permit Of classification yards and sup
Elementary warehouses, all served by
rail.
5. Contact with all railroads enter
ing the city.
6. Elimination Of all opportunity for
any one railroad to control interchange
Of freight movement from and ~
piers. BY such elimination the munic-
ipa1 dock authorities can regulate ter
minal charges.
These are few salient points to be
considered IL we are to develop our
port. The people of the port, as has
been repeatedly pointed oua. - these
articles, must take the initiative in
port development. Such Initiative viii
be rejected in the increased activities
Of other agencies dependent upon the
port for business.