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“CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ALABAMA STATE DOCKS FOR 75 YEARS OF SERVICE TO SOCIETY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1349 on June 25, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ALABAMA STATE DOCKS FOR 75 YEARS OF SERVICE TO
SOCIETY
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HON. JO BONNER
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the Alabama State Docks on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its official dedication. The dedication took place on June 25, 1928, with several dignitaries attending, including Governor Bibb Graves, U.S. Congressman John McDuffie, U.S. Senator Hugo Black and the Assistant Chief of the United States Department of Transportation. Since that time, the port city of Mobile has enjoyed a lengthy history as an integral part of the State and National economy.
In 1519, just a short 27 years following Christopher Columbus's discovery of the New World, Spanish explorer Admiral Alvarez de Pineda sailed into what is now called Mobile Bay. The present-day city of Mobile was founded in 1702 by French explorers Jean Baptiste Le Moyne and Sieur de Bienville. The port of Mobile, which lies at the mouth of the Mobile River and the head of Mobile Bay, began contributing to the economy of the region by becoming one of the leading exporters of cotton. Since the early part of the 17th century, the port city has flourished to become Alabama's third largest city and among the national leaders in international trade.
The current 45 foot deep navigational channel, which is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, serves the port well in connecting Mobile to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mobile River, which is formed by the confluence of the Black Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers, functions as the gateway for the Tennessee/Tombigbee Waterway. The obvious economic possibilities and the lack of central organizational operation spurred the Alabama Legislature to submit a constitutional amendment to develop Alabama's Seaport with state financial assistance. The amendment was passed in 1922 and the State Docks Commission was formed to build, operate and maintain the facilities of the State Docks. With just $10 million to spend, the Commission chose retired Major General William L. Sibert to engineer and construct one of the finest seaports on the Gulf Coast. Construction was not yet completed when the new Docks received their first cargo ship in May of 1927.
The port, which ranked 14th in total tonnage in 1999, is ahead of other ports such as Tampa, Seattle, Charleston, and Savannah. Mobile also ranks first nationally in wood pulp and Gulf coast forest products exports. The State Docks has made an overwhelming impact on the State economy by generating approximately $3 billion in revenues statewide each year. With the ability to service many different products, the port continues to position itself among the leaders in international trade. And as a self-supporting enterprise agency of the executive branch of State government, the facilities prove that they can compete and operate to the benefit of not only the people of Alabama but also the Nation.
I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the Alabama State Docks for 75 years of excellence and leadership in the shipping industry. The residents of Alabama and the American people have all benefited greatly from the Docks, existence and its important role in today's economy.
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