J

FOREIGN TRADE ZONES
TERMINAL FACILITIES

To secure the full advantages of free zones, they must afford the
most economical facilities for loading, unloading, handling, storing,
and for reshipment by water, rail, and highway. The free zones in
European ports usually offer better facilities than the customs zone.
At some of our ports many of the terminal facilities were designed
many years ago and are not suitable to the needs of the modern ocean
steamship. To be economical a terminal must fit the traffic which
is to use it. It must take into consideration the needs of the ships
as well as the needs of the cargo, and it must provide the most efficient
 articulation of land and water routes. The establishment of
free ports would give an opportunity to construct new facilities
adapted to the needs of modern shipping.
In connection with the investigations of proposed river and harbor
improvements, Congress has indicated its desire that the question
of terminal development be given full consideration. The act of
March 4, 1913, required that all reports on such improvements
should contain information upon the following:
The existence and establishment of both private and public terminal and transfer
 facilities contiguous to the navigable water proposed to be improved, and, if
water terminals have been constructed, the general location, description, and
ase made of the same, with an opinion as to their adequacy and efficiency,
whether private or public. If no public terminals have been constructed, or if
they are inadequate in number, there shall be included in the report an opinion
in general terms as to the necessity, number and appropriate location of the same,
and also the necessary relations of such proposed terminals to the development
of commerce.
The act of July 18, 1928, contained further legislation on this
subject, as follows:
Sec. 7. That hereafter the Chief Engineers, United States Army, shall indicate
in his annual reports the character of the terminal and transfer facilities existing
on every harbor or waterway under maintenance or improvement by the United
States, and state whether they are considered adequate for existing commerce.
He shall also submit one or more special reports on this subject, as soon as possible,
including, among other things, the following:
(a) A brief description of such water terminals, including location and the
suitability of such terminals to the existing traffic conditions, and whether such
terminals are publicly or privately owned, and the terms and conditions under
which they may be subjected to public use.
(b) Whether such water terminals are connected by a belt or spur line of railroad
 with all the railroads serving the same territory or municipality, and whether
such connecting railroad is owned by the public and the conditions upon which
the same may be used, and also whether there is an interchange of traffic between
the water carriers and the railroad or railroads as to such traffic which is carried
partly by rail and partly by water to its destination, and also whether improved
and adequate highways have been constructed connecting such water terminal
with the other lines of highways.