It is hard to argue with a man like Edward Achorn, whose newspaper buys ink by the barrel, so I will be brief in rebutting his fanciful and deluded belief that the Providence waterfront north of Thurbers Avenue is a “working port” (“R.I. port policy a festival of folly,” Commentary, July 29).

1. This one-mile strip has only two marine-related businesses. All other sites are either vacant or underutilized by marginal, non-water-dependent activities in violation of the limitations imposed by the present W-3 zone.

2. The W-3 zone, created in 1994, has not attracted a single new business or one new job. Providence has nothing but scrap metal to export, and there are no docks south of Promet for imports. This shoreline is dotted with rotting pilings dating back to the 1938 hurricane.

3. The two vociferous marine-related businesses on this wilting waterfront — Sprague Energy and Promet Shipyard — talk about job creation, but their real motive in opposing rezoning for diverse uses is that they would then be liable for cleaning up their toxic sites. My property must be cleaned by Cargill Energy, whose tank farm contaminated this stretch of waterfront.

4. Mr. Achorn concludes his typical cynical diatribe by stating that “there are plenty of other places than working ports to . . . hold waterfront festivals and carnivals.” By the same logic one could state that there are other places to site oil and salt storage terminals, auto-salvage yards, sooty asphalt plants, strip and porn clubs, and hazardous-waste-disposal facilities than in a highly visible area adjacent to the Southside neighborhood, the state’s major hospital complex, and the expanding downtown.

5. Mr. Achorn writes that Rhode Island, through its ports, “should be maximizing its potential to reap the benefits of booming international trade.” If he knew his history of Providence (which I have written books about), he would know that Providence, even in its heyday, could attract only one international shipping firm to the waterfront north of Thurbers Avenue. The Fabre Line of Marseilles, France, brought immigrants rather than cargo, and ceased visits in 1934.

6. I grew up in South Providence. My neighbors and I were blocked from the actual waterfront by tank farms and industrial businesses that have long since ceased to function. These businesses have left vacant lots and low-end, nonconforming uses in their wake. The redevelopment of those sites in accordance with the city’s new comprehensive plan will create jobs and tax revenue for Providence and give its people access to their waterfront.

7. My wife, Gail, and I are proud to have made our site available to the people via concerts, carnivals, ferries, tour boats, an art gallery, a function center, artists’ studios, and a fishing pier open to all. A sign at the entrance to Dock Conley reads as follows: “Private Property; Public Welcome. Pat and Gail Conley, Owners.”

Our development is open to the people. Mr. Achorn’s mind is closed to the realistic prospects for change that our project offers.

PATRICK T. CONLEY

Providence

Editor’s note: According to Austin Becker of URI’s Coastal Resource Center, there is some international trade being conducted out of the Port of Providence. Commodities imported include salt from the Bahamas; coal from Venezuela, Colombia and Indonesia; cement from Turkey; aggregate from China and India. (Chemicals, asphalt and petroleum arrive from U.S. ports.) Commodities exported include scrap metal to South Korea and Turkey, and used cars to West Africa.