Port of Stockton ,Formally Dedicated

Dedication of the Port of Stockton, which recently completed its 88-mile, $6,000,000 deep water ,channel to the Pacific, took place in that city April 5. The dedication ceremonies were attended by more than 1000 railroad, steamship, lumber and other business executives from all over the state. Throughout the day thousands of visitors inspected the new harbor, where the McCormick Steamship Company's intercoastal freighter West Cape was loading cargo for Atlantic ports which included 2@,00O feet of California Pine lumber from Northern California and Southern Oregon. The West Cape was the first intercoastal steamer to visit Stockton, and the largest vessel that has reached the port.

The formal dedication took place at the Port inauguration banquet held in the Civic Memorial Auditorium, under the auspices of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce. Hubert H. Briggs, chairman of the Marine Committee was general chairman, and E. L. Wilhoit, past president of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce was toastmaster. The program was broadcast over the Pacific Coast network of the Columbia-Don Lee broadcasting system.

Con J.'Franke, mayor of Stockton, welcomed the large gathering.

The mayor's talk was followed by greetings from Governor James Rolph, Jr., and J. C. Strittmatter, freight traffic manager of the McCormick Steamship Company.

Peter B. Kyne, internationally known California author and creator of Cappy Ricks and other sea characters, gave a short address in which he stated that for many years he has been associated with ships and lumber, and that therefore the subject lies very 'close to his heart. He expressed himself as being thrilled with the great undertaking just completed.

A. J. "Gus" Russell, manager of the Santa Fe Lumber Company, San Francisco, gave an address on "\Mhat the Port of Stockton Means to the Lumber Industry." This address appears in full on another page.

Other speakers were Henry A. Palmer, editor of the Traffic World, Chicago, and A. A. Stagg, dean of football coaches, now with the College of the Pacific, Stockton.

Portland Mill Has Fire

Five firemen were injured in a fire that destroyed the greater part- of the lumber stock, and entirely destroyed the shed stock of the Jones Lumber Company, Portland, Ore., March27. Equipment for handling lumber shipments was burned, but only slight damage was done to the sawmill, planing mill, office and dry kilns. The mill will be shut down for an indefinite period.