Special tour cars provided by southern Railway were a popular way to see the State Docks |
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A successful partnership was honored recently in Mobile, Alabama, as the Alabama State Docks proudly celebrated forty years of service to the Port of Mobile on June 25, 1968.
Special tour cars provided by southern Railway were a popular way to see the State Docks |
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The 40th Anniversary celebration began officially with a ceremony held on the south lawn of the International Trade Center-modern symbol of the Port of Mobile's link to the marketplaces of the world.
State Docks Director, Houston H. Feaster delivered the speech that had been prepared by Alabama's Governor Albert P. Brewer who was absent due to illness. Governor Brewer had termed the occasion "a new, modern turning point in the progress of the Port of Mobile as a principal element in the progress of Alabama."
A modern day visit is made by the nuclear ship Savannah.
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Many of the docks' facilities were open to the public during the day. Visitors could enjoy a color movie explaining the docks' operations, a yacht parade of the harbor or the frequent aircraft flyovers.
Southern Railway a very important rail link to the Port furnished three open-air sightseeing cars for use during the celebration. They were used in a special train that made hourly trips through the State Docks area with a guide using a public address system to describe points of interest.
Even while the docks were being constructed, river packets like THE CITY OF MOBILE were handling large amounts of cotton through the port.
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At a 40th Anniversary luncheon, Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, Chief of Naval Operations and a native Alabamian, was the guest speaker. Admiral Moorer summarized the mood" of the day when he said, "I am impressed and delighted with the tone of your celebration, which is not centered merely on the Port of Mobile's romantic past or busy present, but is aimed at the future."
Aiming for the future has been the trademark of the Alabama State Docks ever since their dedication in 1928. Growth has been rapid even since TIES' extensive story on the Port of Mobile appeared in August, 1900, That story noted that there were 31 deep-water berths in the port, now there are 34. "
The Port of Mobile looked like this isn 1926 as construction of the Alabama State Docks was begun
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New containerization facilities, 11 bulk liquid plant, new warehouses and a 3,000-acre industrial development park are some of the many recent improvements. In 1960, capital investment in the docks was estimated at $75 million. Now, it is well over $100 million.
The port's fast-rising success was attested to when it received the Presidential "E" Award for notable contributions to world trade. The coveted award was given to the Port of Mobile in 1967 when 22 million tons of import and export cargo moved through the port.
The modern Port of Mobile, ranked among the top ten ports in the nation in 1967.
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The Port of Mobile now ranks tenth in overall tonnage among United States ports. But the way things are happening in and around the Alabama State Docks area no one in Mobile will be surprised if they move up a few notches by the time their golden anniversary rolls around. In fact, that's a goal toward which efforts are being directed.