THE CUBA REVIEW 



23 



CONSTRUCTING REINFORCED CONCRETE PIERS 



THE FIRST PIER ALMOST READY THREE OTHERS PLANNED 



The Port of Havana Ducks Company, owners of the Scovel Concession granted by 

 the government of Cuba, are at present constructing the first of four large reinforced 

 concrete piers in the harbor of Havana. These piers are designed to furnish adequate 

 facihties for the loading and unloading of ocean freight and its economical handling 

 and distribution, as well as to facilitate the work of the custom house, which will have 

 its offices on the pier. Storage and bonded warehouse service with absolute protection 

 against fire will also be available for such merchants as may prefer to store their 

 goods on the piers rather than to take it to warehouses of their own and redistribute 

 from there at an additional expense for handling and cartage and added danger of 

 loss from breakage. Each pier will be 160 feet in width, and will carry a two-story shed of 

 absolutely fire-proof (reinforced concrete) construction. Along the water front at the 

 shore end of the pier will be a reinforced concrete building of four stories, which 

 will contain the oftices of the custom house, the Port of Havana Docks Company and 

 much storage space, which will be rented to consignees for their shipments. Between 

 each pier and the adjacent one is a sHp of 260 feet in width, which will allow ample 

 space for two ocean-going ships to- He with lighter outside of them, and .still leave a 

 lane for traffic between. The arrangement of openings in the pier sheds is such that 

 a steamer can work all her hatches and ports at the same time. All freight will be 

 delivered on the main floor of the piers, then it will be sorted and despatched from 

 the custom house. After despatch, the owner may send his team for it at once or may 

 leave it in storage in the space allotted for that business. For reshipment to interior 

 points, railway facilities are provided on the second floor of the pier sheds, and elevators 

 will raise the freight to this level, from where it will be handled directly into the cars. 



The actual work of construction is in the hands of MacArthur, Perks and Company, 

 Ltd., contractors, and they are pushing the work with all possible speed. The photograph 

 herewith No. 1 shows the first" pier in its present condition. In the background is the 

 floating derrick, which places and drives the concrete piles. Close to the derrick may 

 be seen the heads of the piles already driven, and inside of these may be seen in 

 succession capping of the piles, the first, or main floor, partly completed, the erection 

 of steel columns and the falsework for the second floor under way. Photograph No. 2 



Illustration No. 1, taken in January. A view of the concrete piers in Havana Harbor now being, 

 built by the Port of Havana Docks Company. See details on this page. 



