234 THE IMPORTANCE OF PORT FACILITIES IN THE 



Mr. Benjamin Thompson (Communicated) : — The paper by Rear Admiral Rousseau 

 on "The Importance of Port Facilities in the Development of a Merchant Marine and Com- 

 merce" is a valuable contribution to the literature on the subject. The admiral has honored 

 me, as president of the American Association of Port Authorities, by suggesting that I sub- 

 mit some discussion thereof. Appreciating the courtesy extended, and the opportimity thus 

 placed before me, I will take up a little of your time in discussing certain features. 



As the admiral says, "Our port facilities, like 'Topsy,' just growed." The same may be 

 said about the several types of administration, and it seems to me that until the people 

 living and having business at the several ports are led into an intelligent discussion of 

 what must be done at the terminals to make them successful in every sense of the word, and 

 how this shall be done, it will be futile to anticipate, with any degree of certainty, such de- 

 velopment and such commercial success at them as it is within the bounds of reason to 

 realize under the best conditions. 



It seems to me that the business and administration of a port should be conducted the 

 same as any other business involving the use of as much capital, at least in the application 

 of elementary business principles. Would investors of money in the stocks and bonds of 

 large mercantile, manufacturing, or transportation organizations not hesitate a long time 

 before investing, provided they ever invested, if they knew that the management was to be 

 changed continually every year or two, or three, and new men be placed in control whom 

 previously they had never heard of, in all possibility? Is there any reason whatever why 

 the business of a port and its facilities should not be conducted as carefully as of any 

 other business ? 



It seems to me that the Congress by the enactment of the River and Harbor Act ap- 

 proved March 2, 1919, and the passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, has made a 

 very important beginning of what it is hoped will eventually result in port administration 

 throughout the country being placed upon a strict business and accountable footing. The 

 work being done by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, under the Chief of 

 Engineers of the U. S. Army, will supply information that will be available very soon, such 

 as the majority of the ports of the country could not otherwise have at hand, on account of 

 the expense attendant. 



With that information available, will it not be possible to formulate conclusions as to 

 some general form of port organization and administration that will be calculated to pro- 

 vide for satisfactory results ? That done, can a way not be found to impress upon the busi- 

 ness men of the several ports, and through them upon the majority of the people, the vital 

 importance of having each port conform thereto? Then, and not till then, perhaps, will the 

 several houses be put in order. This all will require leadership and systematic organization. 

 Have the American people ever failed to find good leaders or determine upon a satisfactory 

 organization to accomplish anything they thought should be accomplished? They will not 

 fail in this most important matter if the issue is placed fairly and clearly before them. So 

 far as it can possibly be done, there should be an absolute separation of port administration 

 from what is commonly known as "politics." 



Business opportunities will not wait. On that account, if for no other, it is vitally 

 essential to the success of any port that exporters and importers should be in close touch 

 with those who administer port affairs. In no other way can the latter so satisfactorily 

 aid the former in securing prompt attention to their needs in shipping, thereby doing all 

 that can be done to increase the importance of the local port. It all requires mutual effort 



