Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-12-10
Colonel Bird Tells Local
Business Men of the
Requirements
HAS LUNCH ON RIVER
Government Want Proof
of Need Before Max
ing More Depth

>oAOhSi - DJiN' "SoiobohI ~
ed States engineer for the Jackson
vile district, told local business men
and shippers yesterday that whether
or not deeper channel is established
and maintained on the St. Johns riv-
er depends very largely on the river
ports that will be benefited thereby.
The government, he said, will not
spend money to deepen channels to
ports that have no facilities for TAX
ing care of commerce that utilizes
the channels.
Colonel Bird arrived here Friday
evening, and yesterday at noon,
was taken for ride over the river
front, where it is proposed to build
municipal docks. The trip was made
on the Noah Tilghman launch Eto-
wah, on which luncheon was served.
Those making the trip were&J. w.
Hart, w. P. Merriam, C. C. Hudson,
Clarence Kennerly, L. A. Smith, F. E.
Wagner, B. C. Pearce, Arthur Cor
coran, H. o. Hamm, H. M. de Mont
mollin, L. W. Warren, J. E. Johnson,
E. R. Conway, H. A. Mckenzie, Nor
ris Cochrane and Goode Guerry.
The purpose of Colonel Birds visit
was to make preliminary survey of
the st. Johns river from Jackson
vile to Sanford, following recommen-
dations in the rivers and harbors bill
for twenty-foot channel. Follow
ing the passage of the bill in congress
the next step is survey by the en-
department and recon-
as to the needs and advis-
ability of making the project a part
of appropriation bills. 1t is this
survey which Colonel Bird is making.
Colonel Bird explained yesterday
that, although congress might have
passed a rivers and harbors bill pro-
viding for twenty-foot channel |
from Jacksonville to Sanford, that |
his by no means meant that the prof.
ect would ever actually be carried
)ut. The ultimate of such a plan, he
said, would be the recommendation
md approval of the engineering
'orces of the government, and that |
)efore such recommendation could |
'e made it was necessary to make a
complete investigation. This investi-
cation, he explained was to ascer-
ain the amount of business the spe-
ial project would serve, the increase
would mean in traffic and the saw
ng to the public at large. The gov
he said, proceeds on the
anne business theory that any pri-
ate enterprise does, that it will not
Xpend money unless there is in sight
ollar value.
1T would be foolish indeed" Colo
el Bird said, "for the government to
rovide twenty-foot channel from
jacksonville to Sanford and throw It'll
pen to the marine world when none
f the cities along the course had
ocks at which ships could land and .
ischarge their cargoes. | under
tand that Palatka is very much in :
nat predicament-where it has great
)nnage awaiting distribution here,
ut has no facilities for handling it."
Colonel Bird suggested the line of
formation the government desires,
formation that is not based on
sionary calculations, but actual
Icts-with reasonable specula- :,
on as to the future development of !.
lsiness which such a project would
rive. This information should be !.
'fered, he said, on the basis of ton
lge which would be served by the
'oject, with a reasonable assurance
at such tonnage would increase at
ratio that will insure constantly /,
owing need of the project. y
A hearing will be held in Palatka
January, Colonel Bird said, at
lich time the government will ask
r evidence as to the need of the '
of twenty-foot channel y =
tween Jacksonville and Sanford, "
d at that time Palatka, DeLand, :.
.nford and other points are expect .
to furnish the answer. Inn
If Palatka is unable to assure the ts
gineers that the establishment of d,