The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-21

recreation after hours for the EN-
ployes, Of which there were about
sixty In the main plant In this slack
season. The bulk of the grain comes
down from rs far north as Kansas.
After all perhaps an elevator IS not
SC complicated, for, as the foreman
said, 1t was mostly bins, belts, legs
and spouts. The writer acknowledges
Indebtedness to MI. Carl Giessow,
executive general agent OF the Board,
Superintendent Sears and Foreman
Cerise for the opportunity to inspect
this wonderful plant and for the re-
ceipt Of needful data.
Public Cotton Warehouse
The Public Cotton Warehouse, built
at q cost Of over $6,0o0,0o0 and offer
ing 80 acres of covered warehouse
space, just adjoining the grain eleva-
tor grounds, is the largest cotton
warehouse In the United States. Stor-
age capacity is in excess of 400, 600
high density bales, with concrete fire
walls dividing each section, and there
are gigantic congresses that reduce
the original bales to less than half
their former size for shipping. Like
the elevator all machinery is cleo
trically operated. AS many as 5000
negotiable single bail warehouse re-
ceipts are issued daily in the busy
season.
Coal Triple
The Public Coal and Bulk Commod-
ity Handling Plant also adjoins the
elevator property and has a storage
capacity of $4,000 tons. It's hourly
loading rate into vessels Is 400 tons.
While primarily designed for coal,
much ore, sulphur, sand, gravel and
stone are handled.
Wharf
The Dock Department during the
year ending August 81, 1880, reports
more than $4,000 vessels arriving at
the Port Of New Orleans. The ba-
mana conveyorS unloaded 20,287, 203
lunches Of bananas and 29,048 of
plantain from. 729 vessels. 81 ship
loads Of coffee brought the equivalent
Of every third cup Of coffee drunk in
the United States. That terminal
alone, newly completed, cost 92,000,-
10000. There Is also q vegetable ur1-
loading plant. BESIDES the original
facilities there have been constructed
by the Board seven miles of modern
wharves and six miles Of steel transit
sheds. These facilities are open on
equal terms to all and are reached by
the services Of ten trunk railroad
lines which enter the port and have
access principally through the New
Orleans Public. Belt Line Railroad, q
municipal body which operates in
close cooperation with the Port Com
mission. The present port limits un-
der the jurisdiction of the Board In
clude a river frontage of Ala miles
and an industrial canal frontage Of
il miles. leading to Lake Pontchar-
train. On this canal Is a lock to al
low for a approximately Is foot drop
from the river to the lake. Sites are
leased for factory or other industrial
purposes. A great fire-tug, The
Deluge, protects the dock properties
of the commission. There Is also
leased from the United States Gov
eminent of three Army Supply
Base buildings and from sub-leaseS q
comfortable margin Is obtained, and
also has an option or the other bases
when available.
Insurance Department
The Insurance Department of the
Dock Board has accumulated a fund
Of $1,274,916.21 and last years profits
exceeded $1OO, 10000 The Workmen's
Compensation fund is approximately
$988, 02096.
Financial Totals
The total gain as result Of the oper-
alton of utilities for 1929 amounted to
$87, as 10 and for 1890 to $s6, 1927.
Total assets Of the Board without
reference to the lands occupied are
SIS, 624,313.17. Its surplus is $780,
025.32 !.
What Other Ports Are Doing
Public ownership and operation of
docks Is not new under the sun. In
various forms the custom exists in
many of the worlds largest ports in
England, Germany and France.
Deputy Head Tibbitts of the Mar
Inc and Fisheries Department Of the
Dominion or Canada said:
my observation in an experience
| Of over q decade as an officer OF the
| Canadian government supervising
the affairs Of its Harbor Commission
has convinced me beyond question
that public ownership and operation
| Of port areas and facilities Is the
most successful assurance Of their
proper development in the public in
terest and I look on the conservation