sam houston ii - portarchive.com 36 winter, 1958 number 1 page19 to 38.pdfby ted sumerlin "this...

SAM HOUSTON IINEW INSPECTION BOAT WILL BE

COMPLETED SOON

DOCKSIDE "superintendents," ~hohave been watching the construction

of the Sam Houston H, the Port ofHouston’s new inspection boat, reportthat everything is progressing on sched-ule and it will be ready for use thissummer.

The Sam Houston [1 will be outfittedin a manner comparable with a finehotel because it will have the assignmentof carrying many thousands of visitorsfrom all parts of the world on cruisesdown the Houston Ship Channel.

By TED SUMERLIN

"This boat will be the ’show windo~’to the port," said Jerry Turner, generalmanager of the Port of Houston. "Theonly way people can reallv see our portis from the water, so we want to makethem comfortable while they are ourguests."

Designed by L. B. Christenson Engi-neers, Inc.. tl~e Sam Houston II is 95feet overall and it has a 24-foot beam.From the outside it will look like manyother boats. But inside that hull of steelit will look like a luxurious lounge

with the extra added attraction that itwill have large plate glass windowswhich will give an interesting panoramicview of the Houston Ship Channel.

This new boat replaces the Sam Hous-ton, the Port’s old inspection boat, whichwas retired about a year ago when aserious case of dry rot was discovered inthe hull. Since then, private boats andother port work boats have been pressedinto service to fill the gap . . . and quitea gap it was, too, because the Sam Hous-ton frequently made two and three trips

Recent views showing the progress being made on construction of the Sam Houston II.

/

HOUSTON PORT BOOK, SPRING, 1958 19

t

This StackO[ Expert Towing

Texas Harbors andDeep Sea

Is Your Assurance

INTRACOASTAI. Towing & Transportation Corp.Cable: P E T A N K 1302 TEXAS AVE. ¯ HOUSTON 2, TEXAS Phone CApitol 7-2297

TEXAS TRANSPORT & TERMINAL CO., INC.(ESTABLISHED 1 895)

Cable Address; Cotton Exchange Building

TERMINAL HOUSTON STE/LMSHIP AfiENTS HOUSTON, TEXAS

__AGENTS FOR__

HOLLAND-AMERICA LINE GRANCOLOMBIANA

TO (Flora Mercante Grancolomblana, S.A.)

HAVRE/DUNKIRK ¯ ANTWERP/GHENT TO

ROTTERDAM/AMSTERDAM ¯ LONDON COLOMBIA ¯ ECUADOR ¯ PERUBREMEN/HAMBURG GUATEMALA ¯ HONDURAS

VENEZUELAN LINEJC.A. Venezolana de Navegacion)

TO

LA GUAIRA, PUERTO CABELLO, MARACAIBO,GUANTA AND OTHER VENEZUELAN PORTS

SHINNIHON LINE

TO

YOKOHAMA ¯ KOBE ¯ OSAKA

CREOLE LINEJNavlgazione Alta Italia)

TO

GENOA, NAPLES, VENICE, TRIESTE ANDOTHER ITALIAN, MEDITERRANEAN AND

NORTH AFRICAN PORTS

ARGENTINE STATE LINE(Flora Mercante del Estado~Republica

Argentina)

TO

BUENOS AIRES

OFFICES:New York, N.Y. Charleston, S. C.Philadelphia, Pa. Savannah, Ga.Baltimore, Md. New Orleans, La.

Chicago, III.

OFFICES:Galveston, Texas Corpus Christi, TexasHouston, Texas Brownsville, TexasDallas, Texas Memphis, Tenn.

St. Louis, Mo.

20 HOUSTON PORT BOOK, SPRING, 1958

per day. In addition to distinguishedvisitors, the Sam Houston also takeslocal clubs and other groups as often asthe schedule permits.

The bright and shining Sam HoustonII has two 525 horsepower FairbanksMorse opposed piston engines with 2-1reduction. Tanks will contain 4,000 gal-lons of fuel, making possible a 740-milecruising range at a speed of 14 miles perhour.

For the convenience of the passengers,the boat will be air conditioned. It willalso have a public address system, aship-to-shore telephone and electricallyoperated toilets.

There will be two lounges on the maindeck. The largest is 33 by 15 feet. Theforward lounge is 15 by 16 feet, plus acomplete snack bar that is equipped withan ice maker, a refrigerator and hotplates.

The interior was created by Mrs.Frances Duff, one of Texas’ foremostdesigners. Her firm is building the in-terior piece by piece, including the finemahogany paneling on the walls.

In the center of the main lounge willbe a Y-shaped sofa, 13 feet long withseats on both sides. The picture windowportholes will make it a pleasure to viewthe mushrooming industrial expansionof the Houston Ship Channel area. Therewill be 15 big, overstuffed revolvingchairs on brass pedestal bases set nearthe windows.

At the forward bulkhead there will bea serving console. Overhead will be spot-lights recessed in the ceiling that willhighlight a photomural on the wall backof the console.

As passengers go into the forwardlounge their eyes will be caught by astriking compass rose inlaid in the floor.A U-shaped sofa 30 feet long will takeup three walls. On the fourth wall willbe the butterfly-shaped snack bar. Agrid ceiling over the bar will concealfluorescent lights.

All of the upholstery will be in nauga-hyde over rubber foam cushions. Basiccolors selected have been cocoa brownand emerald green. The floors will becovered with ember copper rubber tile.

Plans call for the Sam Houston II togo into service early in July. It’s sureto be a happy crew that takes over this"work" boat.

Mrs. Frances Duff, interior decorator, and L. B. Christenson, designer of the Sam Houston II, are dis-cussing plans for the new inspection boat.

Above: The Main Lounge. Below: Forward Lounge and Snack Bar.

HOUSTON PORT BOOK, SPRING, 1958 2/

STRACHANSHIPPING COMPANY

Steamship Agents and Stevedo,es

OFFICES

Savannah, Georgia

Jacksonville, Florida

Pensacola, Florida

Mobile, Alabama

New Orleans, Louisiana

New York, New York

Chicago, Illinois

St. Louis, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Atlanta, Georgia~

Memphis, Tennessee

Cincinnati, Ohio

Dallas, Texas

Galveston, Texas

Houston, Texas

DREDGINGFILLING, LAND RECLAMATION, CANALS, PORT WORKSRIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS DEEP WATERWAYS AND SHIP CHANNELS

We are especially equipped to execute all kinds of dredging, reclamation andport works in Southern waters.

Correspondence invited from corporate and private interests everywhere.

ATLANTIC,NEW YORK: 15 Park Row

Contractors to the Federal Government

GULF AND PACIFIC CO.HOUSTON, TEXAS: Citizens State Bank Building


BLACK GOLD vs.

Sinclair Refinery May Be BuiltOver Buried Treasure

FORTUNE in gold may be reposingbeneath Sinclair’s refinery in Pasa-

dena. but Plant Manager J. D. Seifersays no prospecting is allowed.

Legend has it that Mexican GeneralSanta Anna, who camped on part of theland during his march to defeat at theBattle of San Jacinto 10 miles away,buried his golden treasure just beforethe order of battle was handed to histroops.

If the treasure is still there, as thestory goes. Sinclair ha:~ two kinds ofgold--liquid and solid.

It was in the spring of 1918 that 700acres of land were bought for construc-tion of Sinclair’s giant refinery. When

it first went into operation, it had--bypresent-day standards--limited refiningand shipping facilities. Only Gulf Coastcrudes were processed for lubricatingoils.

In 1922, however, the first of manymajor expansion programs was begun.In that year, equipment was installed forproduction of a complete line of gas-olines and other light oil products.

Today, the local refinery is the largestin the company’s network of seven units

& pipefitters dream of Heaven might look likethis section of the Sinclair Oil Company’s refinery.This picture was taken from the top of one ofthe refining units, looking toward the HoustonShip Channel.

operating in strategic marketing areasthroughout the nation. It has three docksoccupying 1,550 feet of Ship Channelfrontage for handling petroleum andpetroleum products as well as case goodsand pipeline supplies.

A look at Sinclair’s growth ill thisarea is a tribute to a receptive, industry-minded community.

By the end of 1938, increased demandfor lubricating oils made necessary an-other major expansion l)rogram.

Dewaxing and solvent treating facili-ties were added between 1938 and 1912which contributed ~ast quantities ofaviation and heavv duty lubricating oilsto the armed services during World War

HOUSTON PORT BOOK, SPRING, 195823

~e~come [o . . .

SANJACINTO

INNSAN JACINTO MEMORIAL

A visit to Houston without ovisit to San Jocinto Battlegroundsis a visit incomplete, and a visitto the Battlegrounds without din-ner at Son Jacinto Inn is only halfa visit.

The guest register at San JacintoInn, since !9t8, best speaks for itspopularity,

The Inn is a pleasant half-hour’sdrive from Main Street; go out theGulf Freeway to the Pasadena Cut-off; follow the cutoff to the LaPorte Road; turn right and followHighway Marker 225 to the SanJacinto directional marker. The SanJacinto Monument, like San JacintoInn is closed on Mondays.

famous in the Nation for its SEA FOOD and CHICKEN DINNERS

Located at the historical San Jacinto Battlegrounds, where the San Jacinto Monument,tallest in America, is one sight you will not want to miss . . . thirly minutes from Houston.

The Dinners that Made San Jaeinto Inn Famous

WINTER DINNER SUMMER DINNERCelery Celery

Shrimp Cocktail Shrimp CocktailOysters on the Half Shell Iced Crabs Baked Crabs

Oyster Brochette Tenderloin of Trout or RedfishTenderloin of Trout or RedfishFried Chicken Potatoes Fried Chicken Potatoes

Hot Biscuits and Jam Hot Biscuits and PreservesDrinks Dessert Drinks Dessert

Specially Equipped to Serve Banquets to ang number up to 600

Owned and under the same management for 40 years

NOTE:--~We are closed Mondays except for Special Parties.Open 6:00 P. M. Tuesday through Saturday.Open 1:00 P. M. to 8 P, M. Sunday.

Please make your Reservations Early .... Phone GReenwood 9-2828


|I|l

A Sinclair tanker, the M. V. Albert W. Watts,takes on a cargo of petroleum products refinedat the big plant located on the banks of theHouston Ship Channel.

II. Soon after the United States enteredthe war. plans were made and speedilycarried out for construction of large cat-alytic cracking and alkylation units forproduction of aviation gasoline. Aftercompletion of these, a second catalyticcracking uni! was buih for productionof butylenes, materials used in the manu-facture of swlthetie rubber.

By the end of the war refining ca-pacity had increased to 90,000 barrels

a day, and packaging and shipping fa-cilities fell short of requirements. "Foremedy this. a greatly enlarged andmodernized packaging plant was com-

pleted in 1948. The materials handling

method incorporated into this plant eventoday is considered as one of the most

modern in industry.


[n 1952, the local refinery began thelargest expansion program in its history.

A fluid catalytic cracking unit including

a carbon monoxide boiler, the first com-

mercial unit of its type, was added, two

new crude units were built, and steam

generating and water treating facilities

were enlarged.

There followed a short period of rela-

tive inactivity in major construction

projects. Only two units for production

of lubricating oil additives and elemen.

tal sulphur were added. With refining

capacity running at about 125,000 bar-rels a day, in 195’1, a continuous lubri-

cating oil acid treating unit was com-pleted, followed by a continuons addi-

tive manufacturing uni!.

The early spring of 1956 marked thestart of a new Catalytic Reforming unitusing Sinclair’s own catalyst. The proc-ess has been effective in the productionof high octane gasolines demanded bytoday’s high compressing automobileengines. In 1957, a unit for the refiningof household heating oils and dieselfuels was completed.

The history of Sinclalr’s plant hasbeen one of growth, and therefore hasbeen effective in building the commu-nity. Its history is typical of Americanbusiness.

Sinclair through the years has afford-ed employment to many individuals. The

space of time has permitted the com-

pany’s employment rosters to include

fathers, sons and grandsons.

25

TODAY ANDBy DR. W. PAUL MOELLER

Celanese Corporation of AmericaECAUSE OF RECENT ADVANCES in chemistry, scien-tists today are faced with the theoretical possibility of

creating new plastics and fibers designed to meet the increas-ing need for new materials having specified properties. Onlytime and additional research will be reqnired to make thisstartling new possibility become a reality in everyday appli-cations.

The basic secrets have been unlocked in a scientific break-through by various European and American scientists that, inits field, is quite as significant as the discovery of penicillinwas in the field of antibiotic chemistry. It is certainly themost important advance in plastics since nylon was first syn-thesized before World War 1I.

The made-to-order plastics of the future will bear no moreresemblance to the plastics of today than does stainless steelto pig iron. They can be produced to give heat resistance,strength and rigidity of an order not formerly attainable inplastics. They will be used in areas which metals, ceramics,wood and glass have traditionally dominated.

To illustrate the extent of the field that has been openedup. some scientists do not even rule out the eventual possibilityof developing a plastic material strong and inexpensive enoughto be used for paving highways. But to the American home-owner and housewife, the discovery of new knowledge aboutplastics has a much more immediate importance. This yearthey will find many commonplace but important items forsale in retail stores that have been made from the first of thisentirely new kind of plastic, variously identified as linear,rigid, or high-density polyethylene.

This new plastic will have a variety of trade names, one of

TOMORROW

Fortiflex, Celanese Corporation of America’s new rigid polyethylene, isproduced at this new plant on the Houston Ship Channel. Here derivativesof natural gas are converted into plastic material having a controlledmolecular structure.

which is Fortiflex, a product of Celanese Corporation ofAmerica. The list of new items will include kitchen bowls thatcombine many of the best properties of glass, metal and plas-tics, for they will not break or dent, are rigid and inexpensive,and can be washed in boiling water without distortion; gar-bage cans that will not rust or make a clatter when dropped;football helmets with great impact resistance; toys such astrains and airplanes that are virtually indestructible; babybottles that can be sterilized and will not break when droppedon the floor. A complete list of these items would cover anentire page and include home, automotive, farm, industrialand military products.

The scientific achievement that makes these new productsfor home and industry possible is the recent discovery, comingon the heels of other significant chemical developments of thepast fifty years, that certain molecules called monomers--thebasic building blocks of synthetic plastics--can be made tolink together in an orderly, controlled and predictable mannerto form giant molecules known to chemists as ordered poly-mers.

¯ CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

Mixing bowls made of an ordered polymer are rigid and have a glossysurface. They will not break or dent and can be washed in boiling waterwith no distortion.


Skilled manpower.., newest techniques cut time-cost schedules

SPEED... ECONOMY...RELIABILITY in8 completely modern, self-containedshipyards

SERVING THE OIL INDUSTRY

New Construction ¯ Repairs

OFFSHORE DRILLING RIGS ̄ pLATFORMSTANKERS ¯ LIQUID CARGO CARRIERSBARGES ̄ TUGBOATS ¯ wORKBOATS

All Types of Metal Fabrication

CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIROF ALL TYPES OF WATERWAY CRAFT

TODD s..pYARDS CORPO,AT.ONGreen’s Bayou, Houston 15, Tel. GLendale 3-7261

NEW YORK ¯ BROOKLYN ¯ HOBOKEN ¯ NEW ORLEANS ¯ GALVESTON ¯ LOS ANGELESSAN FRANCISCO ¯ SEATTLE

Your Vessel will be met at the Bar

and Piloted to the Port of Houston by

HOUSTON PILOTS5619 FANNIN STREET

~k~ HOUSTON 4, TEXAS


STANDARD DREDGING CORPORATIONDREDGING AND LAND RECLAMATION

HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS

PIPE LINE TRENCHES

AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION >~

320 Cotton Exchange Building

GALVESTON, TEXAS

Shell Oil Company supplies ships in the portof Houston with three of the finestmarine fuels available. Delivered by barge,SHELL MARINE FUEL OIL andSHELL MARINE and LIGHT MARINEDIESEL FUELS are made at Shell’sHouston Refinery. Developed by Shellresearch and backed by years of provenperformance, these superior fuels areavailable by calling or writing ~

iI

SHELL OIL COMPANY ,~,,~i~ ~:m,’L-~ ~ ~’HOUSTON, TEXAS ~!~

Box 2099 Capitol 2-1181~,~,,~,’~ ~,%~


FOREIGN

TRADE AND

U

EACH MORNING nearly five millionAmericans go to work at jobs that

depend on overseas trade. Each weekthe paychecks of these millions go to pur-chase food, clothing, household goodsand the hundred-and-one other necessi-ties of life made by other millions ofAmericans. So in a way, far more thanfi~e million people owe their livelihoodto world trade.

But just tile five million figure byitself represents more jobs than the totalnumber provided bv the U. S. automo-bile industry plus such other giants astile steel industry, chemicals and textiles.

These are just some of the startlingfacts brought out in a study of UnitedStates overseas trade conducted by theU. S. Council of the Inlernational (~ham-ber of Commerce. The study also shedsnew light on how world trade affectssuch specific groups as farmers, indus-trial workers and transportation workers-and how greatly America’s present

prosperity depends on maintaining ahealthy, thri~ ing ox erseas commerce.

Suppose America’s export lrade stop-ped dead Iomorrow morning at nine.What would happen?

According to the Council’s study,more than two million non-agriculturalworkers would be out of jobs- peoplemaking and selling automobiles, farmequipment, refrigerators, sewing ma-chines, trucks, textile machinery, air-craft, construction equipment, to men-tion only a few. The list could be ex-panded ahnost indefinitely because near-lv every American industry that pro-duces anything capable of being movedsells some of its wares overseas.

IF EXPORTS should stop tomorrow, thenation’s farmers would be hit evenharder than their contemporaries in thefactories. The agricultural products of40 million acres of land- one acre outof every ten under cultivation--wouldbe left without markets. Farmers’ in-comes would drop by a whopping 8:1billion, and almost a million farm work-ers would join the ranks of the un-employed.

And suppose the [-. S. stopped buyingproducts from other countries. Whatthen? Well, nearly a million workerswho process the materials and foods webuy from abroad could be out of jobs.So could some half million more work-

ers in the transportation and distribu-tion trades who take these goods to mar-ket. And this list, too, could be expandedby hundreds of thousands of other work-ers in related fields.

What it all boils down to is this. Ac-cording to the facts disclosed by theU. S. Council’s study, no other nationon earth comes even close to having thedollars-and-cents stake in internationaltrade that America has. And this evenincludes Great Britain, where the firstlaw of economic life is the realistic ad-monition, "Export or die."

FOREIGN TRADE always is a two-x~avstreet. The five million American jobsdepend not only on the purchase of U. S.goods abroad but very importantly onthe dollars made available to foreigncountries by their selling their goods~o us.

If we buy enough of their products.we know that the dollars will return tous because most countries would like tobuy more from us than they do no~xand they are presently buying about $18billion worth of goods alone annuallv.

How another nation’s ability to earn¯ CONTINUED ON PAGE 35


4 5 6

EXAMPLES:

H-4n ~ Coordinates H and 4, north side channel

H-4s -- Coordinates H and 4, south side channel

Ada Oil Co ......................... O-17sAmerican Can Co .................... H-lOnAmerican Chain & Cable Co., Inc ....... K-11sArkansas Fuel Oil Carp ............... O-17sArmour Fertilizer Works ............... K-14sAtlantic Gulf & Pacific Co ............ H-43nBaash-Ross Tool Co .................. H-10nBaker Oil Tools, Inc .................. K-I1sBayou Barge Terminal & Whse. Inc ..... J-29nBest Fertilizer Co .................... O-16sBethlehem Steel Co ................... 1-12nBig Three Welding Equipt. Co., Inc ..... 1-11nBludworth Shipyards, Inc ............. N-15sBrown & Root, Inc .................... H-8nBrown & Root Marine Operators, Inc...K-29nBuffalo Whse. Co. (M & M Bldg.) ....... H-4nButler Chemical Company ............ O-21nByer’s Barge Terminal ................ 1-27nCelanese Corporation of America ...... N-42sChampion Paper & Fibre Co ........... O-24sChannel Shipyard ................... H-43nChicago Bridge & Iron Co ............. H-11nChipman Chemical Co., Inc ............ P-23sCity Wharves (Fannin St.) .............. H-4sCoastal Oil & Transp. Co.

(leased to Humble Oil) ....... O-?lnColorado Fuel & Iron Co ........... M-|lsCoffield Warehouse Co ................ I-9nColumbia Lessors, Inc .............. H-6sCommercial Barge Lines (Brady Isl.).. O-16sCommercial Iron Works ............... K-1 lsConsolidated Chemical Industries, Inc..O-16sContinental Can Co., Inc .............. K-11sContinental Grain Co. (elevator) ....... O-17sContinental Oil Co ................... N-18nContinental Supply Co ................ J-lOsConverted Rice ................... H-11nCrown Central Petr. Carp¯ (refinery) .... O-25sCulbertson, Syd E., Co., Inc ........... K-11sDeere, John, Plow Co .............. K-11sDiamond Alkali Co. (Deer Park) ....... N-39sDiamond Alkali Co. (Greens Bayou)... 1-30nDickson Gun Plant (Hughes Gun Co.). M-18n

Dixie Chemical Co ..................... I-9sDrumex, Inc ...................... M-22nDu Pont, E. I., de Nemoars & Co ....... S-49sEastern States Petr. Co. (Plant 1) ...... O-16sEastern States Petr. Co. (PlaM 2) ...... O-19sEddy Refining Company .............. O-15sEthyl Corporation ................... L-3OsFederal Steel Products Carp ........... H-6sFire Boat Station (Manchester) ........ O-17sFlint, Howard, Ink Co ................ H-1OnFolger, J. A., & Co .................. K-11sFord Motor Co ..................... I-ilnGaylord Container Carp .............. K-11sGen. American Tank Strge. Terminals..N-22nGen. American Tank Strge. Terminals. N-2SsGeneral Tire & Rubber Co ............. J-51nGeneral Warehouse Co ................. H-4sGoodyear Synthetic Rubber Carp ....... Q-!8sGrand Prize Brewing Co ............... L-10sGulf Atl. Whse. Co. (Clinton plant) .... O-20nGulf Atl. Whse. Co. (Long Reach Docks) L-1SsGulf Atl. Whse. Co. (Terminal Plant).. N-15sGulf Chemical Co ................. O-21nGulf Oil Carp ....................... M-22nGulf Supply Co., Inc ........... H-11nHamilton Supply Co ............... N-21nHaden, W. D., Co. (Marine Dept. Shop) O-15sHaden, W. D., Co. (shipyard) ......... P-19sHarrisburg Math. Co. (ship repairs)... O-15sHartwell Iron Works, Inc .............. H-5sHess Terminal Corporation ........... L-26nHorton & Horton .................. H-SnHorton & Horton (Material & Shipyard) M-26sHouston Barge Terminal ............... J-10sHouston Blow Pipe & Sheet Metal Wks. 0-15sHouston Central Whse. & Cold Strge. Co. I-7sHouston Compressed Steel Co .......... 1-27nHouston Export Crating & Constr. Co. K-14sHouston Lighting & Power Co .......... H-SsHouston Lighting & Power Co ......... O-23sHouston Lighting & Power Co ........ N-45sHouston Marine Service ............ O-1SsHouston Marine Ways, Inc ............ O-16sHouston Packing Co ................ I-Ts

).T.R &.

Houston Paper Stock Co .............. H-6nHouston Shell & Concrete Co .......... H-6sHouston Term. Whse. & Cold Strge. Co..H-4nHughes Tool Co .................... L-lOsHumble Oil & Refining Co. (storage). J-15nHumble Oil & Rfg. Co. (storage) ....... K-13sHumble Oil & Rfg. Co. (refinery) ..... M-52nHumble Oil & Rfg. Co. (wharves) ...... N-51nHumble Oil & Rfg. Co ............... V-54sIdeal Cement Co. (Gulf Division) ...... N-19nIndex Chemical Company ............. J-29nInternational Harvester Co ............. J-9sJackson, Byron, Co .............. K-11sEarle M. Jorgensen Co .............. H-lOnLa Porte Yacht Basin, Inc ............. V-54sLayne & Bowler Co .................. G-13nLee Construction Co .................. L-14sLiquilux Gas Services~ Inc ............. P-17sL. K. Pump Valve Co ................. "J-9sLone Star Cement Carp ............... O-17sLubrizol Corp., The ............... P-38sMagnolia Petroleum Co. (leased

to Eastern States) ................. O-17sManchester Terminal Corp. (wharves)... P-20sMarco Chemical Co .................. K-14sMaritime Oil Co. (Drumming Plant) .... O-17sMayo Shell Carp .................... O-20nMerchants and Mfgrs. Bidg ........... H-4nMerichem Co., inc ................. H-28nMid-Continent Supply Co .............. K-11sMontgomery Ward & Co ............ H-6nMorris Sewall & Co., Inc ......... H-6nMurray Rubber Co .............. I-9sMyers-Spalti Mfg. Co ............. H-6sNational Biscuit Co ................... N-4sNational Petro-Chemicals Carp ........ L-42sNational Steel Products Co ............ I-lOnNational Supply Co ................ K-11sNay. Dist. Manchester Wharves ..... O-17sNay. Dist. Public Grain Elevator ..... K-~SnNay. Dist. Public Wharves J-14n and K-14sNav. Dist. Railroad (Elevator Yard) .. K-15nNav. Dist. Railroad (Manchester Yard)P-18sNav. Dist. Railroad (North Yard) ..... H-|3n

~,= o i 2"~" ~ " I I

Nav. Dist. Railroad (PcNewlin, J. L. Roy, Inc.Nyotex Chemicals, Inc.Oil & Chem. Products,Olin Mathieson ChemicPacific Molasses Co., LtParker Bros. & Co., InParker Bros. & Co., IncParker Bros. & Co., In~Patrick Shipside WarelFeden Iron & Steel Co.Peterson Const. Co., InPhillips Chemical Co. IPlatzer Shipyard .....Port City Compress WaPort Houston Iron Wks~Port Houston iron WksPritchard Rice MillingReed Roller Bit Co ....Republic Steel Carp ....Republic Supply Co ....Rheem ManufacturingRiesner, B. A., & SonRohm & Haas Co ....Sampson Machinery &San Jacinto BattlegroufSan Jacinto Chemical CSan Jacinto Ordnance |Sheffield Division, ArmShell Builder Co ......Shell Chemical Corp..Shell Oil Co. (refinery]Ship Channel Compr. V

(Sprunt Docks) Sinclair Refining Co. IFetro-Tex Chemical ColSmith, A. O., Corp. (FSmith, A. O., Corp. ofSmith, Wm. A., ConstrSouthern Barge TermirSouthern Compress &Southern Pacific RR CoSouthern Warehouse CI

4I u

SCALE IN MILES


I 32 33 j34 35 36

DEER PARK

i Yard) O-26s.... J-29n

¯ 1-28nex. Div.) N-22n) .... L-27s

.... K-14s.... J-lOs

¯ O-15s~irs) . 1-28n

.... K-14s..... H-4n.... J-12s

Terminal) L-29s..... J-30n

P Co ...... 1-15n)ui[ding) L-32nrepairs} K-13s.... H-7n

K-]lsJ-10sI-T0n

H-lOn¯ H-10n

.... N-39sCo ..... K-15n

Lonument J-42s..... H-32nArmy) H-32n,I Corp. J-27n

J-10sP-36sP-35s

..... M-15sy).. P-21s

.... Q-18sWorks) . 1-26n

.... J-27n..... 1-12n

G-27nuse Co. J-13n

rfO-19n.... H-6n

5 6"~I

Southwestern Sugar & Molasses Co.. O-17sStandard Asbestos Mfg. &

Insulating Co ............ H-11nStandard Concrete Products Carp ...... J-14nStandard Oil of Texas ............. V-S3sSunshine Biscuits, Inc ............ H-SnTennessee Coal & Iron Div. (U.S. Steer) N-19nTenn-Tex Alloy & Chem. Corp ......... 1-28nTexas Butadiene & Chemical Company A-40nTexas Co., The (storage terminal) .... N-23nTexas Packing Co ................... H-44Todd Shipyards Carp. (Houston Div.) . K-30nTrinity Portland Cement Co ........... I-7sUnited Gas Carp ................. J-9sUnited Rubber & Chemical Company .~ L-52nU. S. Army Engineers {boat basin) ..... V-56sU, S. Army Engineers Field Office . O-15sU. S. Customs Appraisers Stores ...... K-14sU. S. Gypsum Co ................. O-2011Warren Petr. Corp. (WarrenGasTerminal) L-26nWestern Electric Ca., Inc .............. J-911Westinghouse Electric Corp .......... H-I |e,Young, John Co., Inc ................. H.-4s

SPENGER HIGHWA~

LA

6% g’ DE£PLA PORTE

9’ DEEPSAN,EON

HOUSTON

GOLDEN ACRES

VISTA ELLINGTON

3ALVESTON RD. D H~ 75~NOA WEBSTER

HOUSTON

[]HOUSTON AIR PORT

KE~AH .c"

(tNSON

STATUTE MILESLA

!w


BIG Foreign Department

serving you through a world-widenetwork of banking connections

Foreign Exchange

Money Transfers

Commercial Lettersof Credit

Foreign Collections

Export and ImportFinancing

Up-to-date CreditInformation

MAIN AT McKINNEY

"X

MARINEPRODUCTS

at Texas Ports

¯ Bunker fuels*¯ Essomarine Deep Draft lubricants¯ HumbleLube HD

(High speed diesel engine oil)¯ Marine paints and solvents

*Readily available at shipside at Houston, Baytown,Galveston and Harbor Island.


PLASTICSToday and Tomorrow

¯ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

Prior to discoveries made a scant four years ago, scientistswere able to link monomers together only in arrangementsgoverned by chance. The resulting molecules were of giantsize, but they possessed an irregular molecular structure. Inordered polymers, many more monomers are packed togetherinto the same space in a regular, linear, closely knit manner.It is this ability to control molecular structure that holds thepromise of new made-to-order plastics in the future.

Ordered polymers themselves are not new. Rubber, wood,wool and many other natural products are precisely tailoredin nature according to a set design. Chemistry’s new achieve-ment is its ability to do in laboratories what nature does in itsown mysterious way.

Everybody is familiar with polyethylene, the plastic thatduring recent years has been widely used for squeeze bottles,toys and housewares. Polyethylene is a polymer made fromethylene, which is derived from natural gas. Its molecularstructure--until now--has been created by chance. It is anamazingly useful and versatile product, as witnessed by itsrapid growth.

While the new ordered polymers coming on the market,such as Fortiflex, are also polyethylene, they must be consid-ered an entirely new plastic, the forerunner of many new onesto come. By virtue of its ordered molecular structure, the newpolyethylene can be boiled in water, has a glossy surface andassumes a higher order of toughness and rigidity.

Scientists now are looking beyond today’s new polyethyleneand are investigating the possibilities of producing orderedpolymers made of other natural gas derivatives as a first stepthat will have further interesting properties for use by man-kind for military use if necessary or for assisting mankind infurther lightening its burdens. And beyond that lies the vasttask of controlling the molecular structure of other polymerswith results that at this time can only be hinted at but whichsurely in the next decade will result in a great supply of ne~plastics and fibers.

The

Propeller

Club¯ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

States, and the expansion of American world trade and com-merce flowing in and out of port cities on all coasts of ourcountry.

The Propeller Club of Houston has in its active membershipmany prominent Houston civic and business leaders as wellas representatives from the many oil, chemical, manufacturingand machinery companies which have located on the HoustonShip Channel during the past 25 years. Practically every busi-ness which is directly interested in the import and export busi-ness of the Port of Houston is represented in the membershipof the Propeller Club.

Annually, in connection with the celebration of NationalMaritime Day, the Propeller Club of Houston conducts asight-seeing cruise down the Houston Ship Channel for a rep-resentative group of Houston high school students and theirteachers who have participated in the essay contest and whohave studied shipping and world trade during the year.

Each year the Propeller Club brings to Houston a nationalfigure to speak at the annual dinner-dance of the club onNational Maritime Day, May 22, and to direct the attentionof Houstonians on the importance of world trade to our com-munity and the importance of our U. S. flag merchant marineto the national defense and economic welfare of the UnitedStates.

As a continuing project the Propeller Club of Houston hasfor the past three years sponsored a luncheon for the Consularrepresentatives of the exhibiting countries at Houston’s Inter-national Trade and Travel Fair on the opening day of thefair each year.

Composed of private citizens of the community from allwalks of life interested in the American Merchant Marine, thePropeller Club of Houston is active in all community projectsand programs which relate to the development of our portand the expansion of our foreign trade.

ON MARS, USE THE GLIZDOPTES--But on the Canal

USE COYLE LINESFor Economical Transportation

Oldest operator on Gulf waters, with 93 years ofknow-how in providing savings, safety, service viawater transportation. Canal’s largest fleet of drycargo barges. On the Canal and tributary water-ways between Carrabelle, Fla., and Brownsville,Texas, including the Warrior-Tombigbee system,you’ll do better with Coyle.

Copies of other space ads free on request.Member: American Waterways Operators, Inc.


Foreign Trade-¯ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

dollars gets translated into business andjobs for Americans can best be seen bytaking the concrete example of one coun-try-and no country serves this purposebetter than Venezuela.

The example of our South Americanneighbor is documented by a study re-cently conducted by an independent eco-

nomic research organization for theCreole Petroleum Corporation, one ofthe world’s largest oil producers. Thestudy shows that the automobiles, re-frigerators, tractors, phonographs andthousands of other products bought an-nually by Venezuelans come from noless than 1,500 different U. S. compa-nies, operating in some 750 differentU. S. communities in 45 out of the 48states.

AS FOR JOBS, it was estimated that in

to the four corners of the earthThe position of The NationalBank of Commerce at the Port ofHouston, its experience andreputation in international bank-ing, and its world-wide networkof foreign correspondents canmean faster collections andremittances for you when shippingthrough the Port of Houston.An officer of our International Banking Department will beglad to visit with you and explain how our services cansave you both time and money.

Capital and Surplus $25,000,000

International Banking DepartmentGeorge W. Ebanks, vice president THE NATIONAL BANK OFand manager

M. G. Kerns, assist, nt cashier COMMERCEand assistant manager

Cable address: NABACOM. Codes: OF HOUSTONBentley’s and Peters0n’s 3rdTWX (Telex): HO 148 GULlt BUILDING ¯ MAIN AT RUSK - NOUSTON

Telephone: CApitol 8-5161Bank Wire: DHCO

MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

1954 our trade with Venezuela was pro-viding jobs for 170,000 U. S. workers.That was four years ago. Since then thevolume of trade between the two coun-tries has continued to grow at such arate that it is now estimated that 250,-000 U. S. workers owe their employmentto our trade with Venezuela.

The study goes into detail by listingthe kinds of goods bought from the U. S.Last year, to be specific, Venezuela wasa customer for more than $190 millionworth of U. S. machinery; $116 millionworth of U. S. made vehicles; $93 mil-lion worth of American metals; and $44million worth of chemicals and relatedproducts.

But beyond the cold facts and figuresdisclosed by this and the U. S. Council’sreport lies a basic lesson in modern in-ternational economics: the more we buyfrom other countries, the better ableother countries are to buy from us.

Here’s how this basic principle hasworked in the case of Venezuela--andhow our trade with this single countrycame to be a matter of personal concernto a quarter of a million Americans:

About 20 years ago, Venezuela begana rapid expansion of her vast oil re-sources, helped along the way by U. S.and other foreign oil companies. Mostof this oil was sold abroad, and the in-come re-invested within Venezuela ineconomic expansion and diversificationprograms, and in programs aimed at im-proving the standard of living of theVenezuelan people.

BOTH PROGRAMS worked. And as a re-sult, Venezuela was able to use--and,more important, could afford to paycash for--more and more goods fromabroad, principally from the UnitedStates. What this has meant to us indollars can be seen in the statistics dis-closed by the Creole study. Venezuelanexports to us have made possible herimports /rom us--imports which todaytotal more than a billion dollars worthof American goods and services an-nually.

With a population of only six millionpeople, Venezuela is the best customerin South America for U. S. goods andservices. U. S. farmers and manufactur-ers sold to Venezuela $108 worth ofgoods in 1956 for every man, womanand child in that country. On a percapita basis, that makes Venezuela ourbest customer in the world with the soleexception of Canada.

Take the example of Venezuela, mul-tiply it by all the other countries withwhich America does business, and thelesson is clear: our prosperity and se-curity-as a nation and as individuals--depends on the maintenance of healthyU. S. trade relations with the rest of theworld.


SHIP OPERATORS BUY HERE

By O. C. WEBSTERL’RCHASING AGENTS of Gulf steamshipoperators annually spend millions of

dollars on their vessels on stores, sup-plies and spare parts, which are readilyavailable for immediate delivery fromstocks carried on hand in the many finesupply houses catering to the marinebusiness in this area.

By buying direct from the source ofsupply and by carrying large stocks onhand, these suppliers are able to quoteon requirements at highly competitiveprices, in fact, comparable with any sec-tion of the United States, including theNew York market. From sail needles toanchors, no section of this country car-ries in stock so many of the require-ments of ocean going vessels as doesHouston. We are indeed blessed in hav-ing marine minded and adequatelystocked supply houses, experienced inlhe trade, competitive in price and cater-ing to you on a 24-hour basis.

In Houston you will find availablespare parts for your vessels which youhave been unable to locate in other ports

It Pays To

ADVERTISEIn

P. O. BOX 1283

HOUSTON 1, TEXAS

CF~


of the country. Marine paints, manilaand wire rope, packing, lubricating oils,etc., all of the brand specified and con-tracted by you--are in stock here wait-ing for your commands. The largeststock of tools in the enitre country isfound on the shelves of your favoritesupplier at the right list prices and dis-counts, as well as mill supplies and otherrequirements of your vessels.

Dry stores, meats, butter, cheese andeggs, as well as all subsistence suppliesare found in stock and ready for deliv-ery in the many supply houses cateringto your Steward Department require-ments. Regardless of your requirementsand specifications, same can be suppliedby our many Houston firms at pricesunsurpassed anywhere in the country,and, of course, a United States Depart-ment of Agriculture Inspector is alwaysavailable to inspect your supplies, assur-ing you of the quality required.

In many ports it is necessary to hirea launch to make deliveries to vessels,adding to the expense of storing vessels.Here, all deliveries are made dockside.where large trucks have easy access and

J. R. MICHELS, Jr.OCEAN FREIGHT BROKER

AND FORWARDING AGENTFEDERAL MARITIME BOARD FREIGHTFORWARDER REGISTRATION NO. 624

HOME OFFICE: HOUSTON, TEXASP. O. Box 647, CApitol 5-1671

rwx HO 385

BROWNSVILLE, TEXASP. O. Box 647, Lincoln 2-5683TWX BROWNSVILLE, TEX 098

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXASP. O. Box 1217, Tulip 4-677]

TWX CC 028

NEW ORLEANS, LA.P. O. Box 408, JAckson 2-8391

TWX NO. 377

DALLAS, TEXASP. O. Box 1534, Riverside 8-4609

TWX DL 322

GALVESTON, TEXASP. O. Box 724, SOuthfield 3-4694

TWX GL 7040

PORT ARTHUR, TEXASP. O. Box 325

BEAUMONT, TEXASP. O. Box 1712, TErminal 2-3425

TWX BO 8004

TWX in each office has unatlendeel service

supplies can be delivered and storedwith the least possible delay.

Labor used in supplying vessels inthis area is experienced in loading suchcommodities, and, as an example, a 60or 75 day storing can easily be handledwith a four hour period, as compared tosix to eight hours for the same storingin many other ports. This, naturally, re-duces the total cost of taking on suppliesat the Port of Houston.

HOUSTONPLANT

now our

LARGESTIn 1957 our total constructionprogram involved an expendi-ture of 35 million dollars fornew buildings and equipment.The largest part was spent atthe Houston plant where newunits were completed for theproduction of acetylene, am-monia and methanol--three of

our important raw materials--and also new units for produc-tion of acrylic monomers. Theseparticular Houston projects in-volved an expenditure of 50 mil-lion dollars over the three years,1956-58.

/CHEMICALS ~ FOR INDUSTRY

ROHM ~ HAASCOMPANY

WASHINGTON SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA S, PA.Ifep~s~tati,~ in i,rincil~l jo~i~ ~ntri~

35

TELEPHONE CApitol 3-4549 Cable Address "JIMCO"

J. M. COOK COMPANYSTEAMSHIP AGENTS

Serving AllWest Gulf Ports

TANKER MANAGERSPetroleum Transportation

of All Kinds

1220 TEXAS AVENUE * HOUSTON 2, TEXAS

SOUTHERN BARGE TERMINAL

SOUTHERN BONDED WAREHOUSE COMPANY

Barge Stevedoring

Terminal13161 Market Street Road

At Greens Bayou

BARGE--TRUCK---RAIL, Field WarehousingPool Barge Distribution

P. O. Box 9673

Houston 15, Texas

¯ Pipe Storage

TelephonesGLendale 3-3504CApitol 2-6471


THE PORT AUTHORITY

Created by the Texas Legislature, un-der the provisions of the State Constitu-tion and Acts providing for the develop-ment of ports in municipalities with aminimum population of 100,000, theHarris County Houston Ship ChannelNavigation District is a governmentagency of the State of Texas.

Under the provisions of this legisla-tion, authority is granted such naviga-tion districts to acquire, construct, main-tain and operate wharves, warehouses,grain elevators, belt railroads, bunker-ing facilities and other installations in-cident to or necessary to the operationor development of the ports and water-ways within the district.

Fullest powers consistent with theConstitution of Texas are granted forthe regulation of ~vharfage and othercharges and for operating the port fa-cilities. The port authority can, uponapproval by the qualified voters of thedistrict and as provided by the creatingAct, issue bonds for the purpose of pur-chasing property, constructing facilitiesor otherwise improving and developingthe port.

A board of five Navigation and CanalCommissioners manages, governs andcontrols the Navigation District. Twoof the Comissioners are selected by theCommissioners’ Court of Harris Coun-ty, two are selected by the Council ofthe City of Houston, and the Chairmanis appointed by both the City Counciland County Commissioners’ Court meet-ing in joint session.

With their terms expiring on alternateyears, the Navigation and Canal Com-missioners serve for a period of twoyears. The Port Commissioners, as they


are generally known, have jurisdictionand control over the use of the HoustonShip Channel from its beginning inGalveston Bay to the Houston TurningBasin, fifty miles inland from the Gulfof Mexico, and over all streams tribu-tary to the channel in Harris County.

The Commission may legally exercisethe right of eminent domain in connec-tion with property acquisition for thedevelopment and operation of the port.Both the Navigation District and theCorps of Engineers, U. S. Army, whichis charged with channel improvementand maintenance, must approve all re-quests for construction along the shipchannel.

The Navigation District’s GeneralManager is appointed by the Port Com-mission to supervise all the work and ac-tivities of the District. In addition, heserves as Director of the Port and Sec-retary of the Port Terminal RailroadAssociation.

POLICY AND PROGRAMA broad policy has been adopted by

the Port Commission of cooperationwith privately owned terminals in pro-moting commerce through the port as awhole and with other private interests inencouraging industries to locate on ornear the channel.

The District operates according to apublished tariff, the terms of which ap-ply equally to all; the tariff is general-ly concurred in by the private terminalslocated within the District.

The Commission also serves as theNavigation, Canal and Pilot Commis-sion, appoints the Houston Pilots, andfixes the rules and regulations underwhich they operate.

World-wide attention has been fo-cused upon the Port of Houston with theincreasing volume of cargoes moving

through this relatively young deep-seaterminus during postwar years.

A long-range program of moderniza-tion and expansion of terminal facilities,plus deepening and widening of theHouston Ship Channel, has been under-taken to accommodate the greater vol-ume of commercial traffic.

The second phase of a five- to 10-yearprogram of widening and deepening thechannel to a minimum depth of 36 feetis now in progress. In order to enablePort of Houston, leading global oil port,to accommodate giant new super-tankersnow operating and under construction,the Port Commission has recently offi-cially requested authorization by Con-gress of further deepening to 40 feetfrom Bolivar Roads to Sims Bayou.

Representing local interests, the Navi-gation District cooperates with the fed-eral government in maintaining and im-proving the Houston Ship Channel. Itprovides, at no expense to the UnitedStates, all necessary and required spoilgrounds, and dredge pipeline and chan-nel right-of-way easements.

Earnings from operation of the Navi-gation District are continually plowedback into further improvement of thechannel and publicly owned port facil-ities. In addition to its wharves anddocks, the Navigation District owns a3.5 million bushel grain elevator.

The District also owns an excellentsystem of interconnecting railroadtracks, rights-of-way, and engine andtool houses. Operated jointly by the sixtrunk-line railroads serving Houston,this switching agency, the all-diesel PortTerminal Railroad Association, providesswitching services, at low cost to all rail-roads, for port and industrial facilitieson the channel.

37

PORT OF HOUSTONPUBLIC WHARVESCovered Open R.R.

Wharf Length Berthing Area Area Car Wharf ShedFeet Capacity Sq. Ft. Sq. Ft. Storage

No. I ......................... 826.45 2 Vessels 59,298 56,776 32 Wood Concrete

No. 2 ........................... 521.33 1 Vessel 58,000 19,487 44 Concrete Steel

No. 3 ........................ 801.80 2 Vessels 36,523 52,295 52 Concrete Steel

No. 4 ...................... 779.42 2 Vessels 66,840 32,324 39 Concrete Concrete and Steel

No. 8 ........................... 624.00 1 Vessel .... 93,600 36 Concrete None

No. 9 ......................... 500.00 I Vessel 75,500 45,317 60 Concrete Steel

No. 10 .......................... 600.00 1 Vessel 72,709 39,300 59 Concrete Steel

No. 11 ....................... 530.00 1 Vessel 66,638 28,260 60 Concrete Concrete

No. 12, two story ................ 530.00 1 Vessel 97,276 26,640 50 Concrete Concrete and SteelNo. 13, two storyt ............... 460.00 1 Vessel 80,927 25,530 43 Concrete Concrete and Steel

No. 14" ....................... 480.00 1 Vessel 51,191 23 Concrete Nonc

No. 15" ......................... 480.00 1 Vessel 66,638 14,800 45 Concrete Concrete

No. 16 ........................ 598.50 1 Vessel 123,686 34 Concrete None

No. 17 ........................... 600.00 1 Vessel 120,000 54 Concrete None

Warehouse Distribution ........... 198,736 56 None Concrete

Manchester No. 1 (Coal Dock) ... 253.50 l Vessel 21,800 20 Wood None

Manchester No. 2 (Cake Dock) ... 500.75 1 Vessel 87,520 15,300 30 Concrete Steel

Manchester No. 3 ................ 500.00 1 Vessel 20,470 Wood None

Cotton Shed ..................... 269,813 62 None Wood

TOTALS ...................... 9,585.75 20 Vessels 1,236,418 786,776 799

t Equipped with 45,264 cubic feet refrigerated space.* Also can serve as a grain berth.

GUY D. GRAVES A. J. SUBERBIELLE

General Stevedores, Inc.

HOUSTON BARGE TERMINALStevedoring and Distribution of

Barge Cargoes

5401 NAVIGATION ¯ WA-3-6678 " HOUSTON, TEXAS


sam houston ii - portarchive.com 36 winter, 1958 number 1 page19 to 38.pdfby ted sumerlin "this...

Documents