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52 the reconstruction of old wharves and provided for the construction of trans- it sheds. Marginal roadways were also paved or repaved. With the im- provement of existing facilities and the development of new ones, the business of the port expanded and grew, calling constantly for yet other facilities. In 1914 it became apparent to the board that in addition to the wharves there was urgently needed in this Vessels loading cotton at public wharves, port a large and conveniently located cotton warehouse. The existing cot- ton warehouses were of poor con- struction. They were located in many instances at a distance from the river and they were inadequately equipped. The insurance rates were high and the services were unsatisfactory. To finance the building of the cotton warehouse, the board issued in 1914 bonds to the amount of $3,000,000. Actual construction commenced Jan. 27, 1915. The plans for the ware- houses were enlarged and improved as construction progressed. To take MARINE REVIEW New Orleans care of these enlargements and im- provements, additional bonds were is- sued from time to time. The board’s capital investment at the cotton ware- house, exclusive of real estate, as of July 31, 1926, amounted to $5,- 811,767.09. The board’s cotton ware- house as it stands today, having a capacity of 420,000 bales of high den- sity cotton, is the largest shipside cotton warehouse in the world. It is built entirely of reinforced con- crete and steel; is equipped with three Webb high density presses and me- chanical devices for handling cotton. January, 1927 in transit shed of public wharves of the New Orleans dock board Coffee The entire plant is equipped with sprinklers and enjoys an extremely low insurance rate. The cotton ware- house tariff is low and the services rendered are constantly winning high praise from the cotton trade. Erect New Grain Elevator In 1915 the grain interests of New Orleans and elsewhere, not entirely satisfied with the existing facilities for handling export grain in the port urged the dock board to provide bet- ter facilities for the storage and han- dling of export grain. The board always striving to make New Or- leans the best equipped and most ef- ficiently operated port available to shippers, issued in 1915 bonds to the amount of $1,250,000 with which to construct the grain elevator. Con- struction commenced Oct. 9, 1915. From the start the board’s elevator proved to be a great success. The limit of its capacity was soon reached and in a short time it was enlarged. ‘The board’s capital investment at the elevator, exclusive of real estate, as NEW ORLEANS WATERFRONT—-VESSELS AT DOCK BOARD’S WHARVES ON RIVER