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March, 1926 of the port facilities are owned and controlled by the Philippine govern- ment and were constructed by or under the supervision of the bureau of public works. These latter consist of three piers (Nos. 3, 5 and 7) and one wharf having a combined berthing capacity of nine, large vessels. Each of the piers are equipped with interior over- head electric travelling cranes, heavy lift cranes, electric floor tractors, trucks, trailers and the usual hand equipment. The Philippine _ government piers and wharf are under the direct admin- istrative control of the Manila harbor board, a body created by the Philip- pine legislature, the members of which are appointed by the governor-general and serve without compensation. The board maintains a paid administrative and office personnel. The board is in- vested by law with the duties of gen- eral supervision and regulation of and control over the receiving, handling, custody and delivery of all cargoes and merchandise passing over the piers and wharf, and of the establish- ing of fixed rates of charge for the service. The board is authorized to contract with a private entity for the performance of the labor of receiving, handling, custody and delivery of mer- chandise, said entity to operate the port facilities under the direct super- vision and control of the board. The port facilities are now being operated under a limited contract of the board with the Manila Terminal Co., this company has attained remarkable suc- cess during the past three years and has rendered entire satisfaction to the board, operators of vessels, shippers and all concerned. Under this system of operation, a remarkable record has been made at the port of Manila for rapid despatch of vessels, careful han- INTERIOR VIEW OF PIER NO. 7, SHOWING THE SYSTEM MARINE REVIEW HN AJA 29 “4 S. S. FRANCONIA ROUND-THE-WORLD TOURIST VESSEL AT PIER NO. 7, MANILA, P. I—NOTE ELECTRIC GANTRY CRANES AND PASSENGERS’ GANGWAY CON-- NECTING UPPER DECK OF SHIP TO BALCONY OF PASSENGERS’ PAS- SAGEWAY ON THE PIER dling and prompt delivery of mer- chandise, economy to vessels and ship- pers, freedom from labor troubles and guarantees against losses from theft. Cargo Handled Quickly As particular interest may be pre- supposed by the readers of MARINE REVIEW in the port’s newest ocean terminal, pier No. 7, description of its construction and equipment will be given in detail. This pier is now near- ing completion. The shore half (except the pier head) was completed, equipped and commissioned in July, 1924. Contin- vation of the construction work has not interfered with the berthing of vessels or handling of cargoes thereat. This pier is constructed of reinforced con- crete throughout. It is 240 feet wide and will be, when completed, 1400 feet long and will accommodate four of the largest vessels on the Pacific. Some idea of the heavy constructional work involved may be gained from the following. The pier is supported by about 2700 reinforced concrete piles, each 24 inches square and from 80 to 150 feet long (including pile caps). The original piles were cast from 80 to 110 feet in length, the latter being the maximum length con- venient for handling and_ driving. About one third of the piles driven at the sea end had to be lengthened by extension pile caps of from 20 to 40 feet in length. The 110-foot piles were first driven to bearing to support a load of 110 tons, after which, the pile (Continued on Page 48) OF ELECTRIC HOISTING CRANES OF WHICH THERE ARE FORTY-EIGHT