The New York herald., 1922-07-23
international Conference to
Talk Over Improvements
Is Favored.
SEEKS FREE PORT DATA
New Yorker Looks Ahead to
Allow for Expected Growth
of Commerce.

B. F. Cresson, Jr., chief engineer
Of the Port of New York Authority,
will sail to-day on the Adriatic on a
vacation trip to Europe. in the course
Of which he will confer with the gov
erning bodies of several Of the larger
ports on the other side of the Atlantic
and study the developments already
made. with the idea Of learning as
much as possible Of the operation Of
free ports, new freight handling ma
chinery. methods of protecting the
coast against erosion by the sea and
similar matters.
It is the opinion Of Mr.. Cresson that
there is general interest throughout
the world in the plans being made for
the development of the Port Of New
York. Better ports. he says. mean
better trade, better trade means better
feeling. and better feeling peace and
prosperity. All countries are recog-
nizing the need for upbuilding their
ports to the fullest efficiency.
See Big Boom to Trade.
In the course Of an interview he
said:
Proper and coordinated development
OF the ports Of the world means impetus
to international trade and the strength
ening OF all our foreign relationships. a
big stride forward in the movement for
international peace and good will.
The great ports Of the world are be-
coming more and more cognizant of the
desirability and necessity of upbuilding
their facilities. AS In the case of New
York, where work toward coordination
and extension Of port facilities has been
inaugurated, various ports are entering
upon new eras of development along
modern and scientific lines based on
generally accepted principles of port
planning.
But have we gone far enough? / do
not think that these plans will be COM
plete and worked out to the greatest
advantage unless they call for coopera-
tion with all other ports in order that, so
far as possible. taking into consideration
every physical factor, similar terminal
methods will be applied.
ut would be a splendid contribution
in behalf of international trade IL a
sound policy Of cooperation were laid
down by mutual agreement among the
administrative authorities and the engi-
neerlng forces OF the great ports on all
the seven seas.
study to Find Best Plans.
"It Is true that to a considerable ex-
art rfr 1,ay od xvt q vi
to adopting generally for one port the
best methods that are in effect In other
ports. Certainly great Improvement
plans have not been started without the
most careful study. not only of the indi-
vidual factors which have to be taken
into consideration in regard to a par
ticular port. but also how the accepted
and proved efficient methods Of another
port might be applied.
And yet, even with this great ad-
vance in port planning during the last
few years, there has been no definite
step leading toward an international
conference of port planners with the
idea of working out a scheme for uni
versal coordination and STANDARDIZED
tiion, so far as practicable, in the in
terest Of the world trade. There are
naturally jealousies among ports in
their competition for trade. but this
should not be the slightest obstacle
toward carrying out this program
"rhe coming conference of the Ameri-
can Association of Port Authorities In
Toronto in September, sincerely trust.
will pave the way for the consideration
of plans Adaptable for both sides of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, based on
studies of the relationship between
ports. The adoption of such plans Will
mean quicker turn-around for ships, les
sening Of the costs of doing business
and an eventual lowering of prices to
consumers in all countries--with It all
a quicker Interchange of thought and
opinion between the peoples of all coun-
tries. tending toward the growth OF
better understanding and mutual
regard.
Our Interest in Europe.
New York is greatly interested In
the steps taken recently and the plans
in progress for the bettermspt Of Euro
pean ports.
IT plan to visit Liverpool. Manches-
ter, Glasgow. London, Southampton.
Copenhagen, Stockhim and possibly
Hamburg. Bremen, Rotterdam and
Havre
II shall be particularly interested In
observing the management OF the port
OF London under the Port Of London Au-
thority. The Port of London Authority
was created after an investigation OF
port conditions and its operation has
been of the greatest service to the
worlds commerce We In New York
have been through an investigation along
similar lines and the Port OF New York
/ Authority has been created. though with
far less powers than delegated to the
| Fort OF London Authority.
There IL deep interest In America
relative to the success OF the new free
ports In Copenhagen and Stockholm.
There has been much agitation for the
establishment Of free port district In
New York.
All watching New York.
'The eyes of the world are now upon
New York, with It's plans for reorgani-
zation and extension OF its facilities un-
cor the new Port Authority. The pro-