The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14
SUGAR REFINERY
 MAY BE OBTAINED
Sibert Asks That $1O,O00,- 900 Be Made Ready
 For Use
BIG LAND OWNERS
 ACCEPT VALUATION
L. & N. Railroad Exchanges River Front Property For
 Other Land
Special Leased Wire To Age.Herald)

Especial Leased Wire To Age.Herald)
 MOBILE, Ala, Dec. 14.-Establish- ment of industries in close proximity to the state-owned docks on Mobile river and their operation for the benefit of export and import business looms up as a significant aspect of the present port development program, General William l.. Sibert, chief engineer and chairman of the docks commission, told members of the Rotary club at luncheon this week. Land which the state has bought between One and Three mile creek and the river and Southern tracks. he said, wiR be leased to indus tries for long period of years, and these plants will be utilized to increase tonnage at the port of Mobile.
 The engineer referred to the large prices which other ports are now paylng for land necessary to expand ana ne indicated the state commission had tnls in mind when it was determined to purchase the large acreage between the two creeks, holding it in the name ot the state and leasing all that is not necessary for porte development to h. dustries.
 Sugar Refinery Sought
 Dozens of industries, which would increase port business, are in the mind of the chairman and engineer. Nego tiations are being carried on for sugar refinery to be located on docks land and with efficient machinery for exre ditiously and economically handling th' product. Another important plant which General Sibert realizes will ell nance the value of the port IS a large warehouse for the handling of goods oi the manufacturer and jobber, using Il as a distributing center for the sur rounding territory. The lack Of such Q warehouse, he said, does much to damage the port of Mobile. The gen eral said this port is topographically and geographically situated as an i'm, portant point of distribution.
 Limitations placed on the state by legislation should be removed he said sG as to permit the construction ot com plete dock units with the $1O,0OO,OOO authorized by the constitutional amend ment, If an extra session of the legis- lature is held, strings, which are tied to the $10,O00OO0 should be removed he said, and this would permit the com pletion of docks to handle all the com merce which would come through the port.
  General Sibert stressed the idea that the commission plans port which can handle tonnage cheaper than any other port.
 A modern, fire-proof cotton ware house will be built, he said, as well as facilities for the handling ot timber
 l.. & N. Swaps" Land
 General Sibert said that when he last appeared as a speaker at the club the commission had not decided whether docks would be built on Mobile river between the two creeks, or at Chicka saw. Agreement of John T. Cochran and William Hunter to accept the val uation for property which was flxed by the state appraisers, was a potent factor in the decision to build on the river near the city, he said, paying tribute also to the Louisville and Nash vile railroad for it's cooperation in ail matters relating to the port develop ment work. He referred to the trans fer of 100 acres of river front property by the railroad for 67 acres of back property owned by the state, and said it is proposed to erect shops for the railroad on the latter property. Much of the downtown congestion on rail roads would be eliminated, he said should the Louisville and Nashville move it's shops to the docks property.
 The generals assertion that the en abling act of the legislature permits the commission to promote" the de velopment of a port was taken as ar indication that the state plans tc branch out and carry on program other than actual building of docks, tc make business for the port.