The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-06
M|LNER RETURNS
FROMCONVENT|ON
PORT ENGINEERS
Meeting in Toronto Attended
by Port Authorities From
All Over the
World

H. X. Miner, president of the Mil
ner Land company has Just returned
to the city from an extended trip in
Canada where he attended the annual
convention of the American Associa-
ton of Port Authorities. The meet
ing was held jointly with the Euro
pean Harbour and Dock association
and the Pacific Coast association of
Port Authorities, which took place
in Toronto. and lasted for four days,
convention was attended by many
leading engineers and port authori-
ties from over the world.
Mr.. Miner represented the Ala
bama State Harbor Commission, of
which he is president.
Tie object of the convention was
the exchange of experience and in
formation on every phase of port de-
velopment and management. In
speaking of his visit Mr.. Miner
said:
THE meeting, which was one of
the most successful that has been
held by the different associations
and which was also attended by
some of the worlds greatest authori-
ties on port work and development
left an indelible impression on me
that every state owned and public
ly owned port terminal has been
very successful and has paid for it's
construction many times over. and
not only have they tended to the
better progress of their communities
and tributaries but living conditions
have been immensely improved and
distribution of commodities has
been made cheaper and greater
which in turn encourages importing
and exporting more than anything
else.
For instance, in a review OF the
development of the port of San Fran
cisco which was brought up before
the members attending the conven-
ton, showed that the physical prop
critics of the association which rs
entirely publicly owned, has an es-
timated value we'll over the fifty
million dollar mark. The port since
it's construction has been of no cost
whatever to the people of that coun-
try. Rather 1T has been a decided
factor in the upbuildng of the COM
munity and for the greater develop
ment OF exporting and importing all
classes of commodities. Last year
the net earnings of the port were
over 100000,
Another instance has been cited in
the New orleans pert body. Within
the past few years the tariff on ex-
porting and importing has been re-
duced practically so per cent since
the development of the state owned
port commission.
Knew About Mobile.
"One thing that was quite a sur
prise was the fact that practically
every man in the convention knew all
about the workings of the proposed
Mobile port aid amendment. and
much interest was manifested in the
future development of what is COM
monty acknowledged viii be one>Sof
the south's finest ports
Matters of vital Importance fer the
future welfare and development of
the various ports of the world ware
brought before the convention for
discussion. The meeting was de-
clared a success in every respect
Among those prominent in attendance
and their subjects and readings were
DR.. Brysson Cunningham of London,
director and chief engineer of the
Port of London and also director of
many other English world ports, who
delivered an illustrated paper on the
ueVelpoment or the Port OF jIondOn,
and exhibited lantern slides showing
all of the London docks, their ware
houses, all kinds of machinery for
handling cargoes and their railroad
yards and terminals. Frederick W.
Cowie of Montreal read paper on
The Port and Its Relation to Pro-
duction." Captain F. It. Chambers,
civil engineer in the United States
navy, spoke on Free Ports"
Mr.. Miller spoke of The Port of
Mobile and It's Development"
The members were the guests OF
the city of Toronto and every cour-
tesy was extended them by the city o.
ficials.