Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-04

Is now difficult, If not impossible. 10 ar
bttrarily draw 4 line beyond which ter
ritory can be said 10 be tributary to
one port and not tributary To another
Railroads have been projected running
from rival seaports into territory at
one time considered as naturally trib-
utary TO New York. ana those rival
ports have reached further and further
into that territory we once called our
own"
ENTERpRlzE or SOUTHERN
PORTS.
OF the apathy of New York ana the
enterprise OF the Southern ports in
hustlinS for trade, an enterprise that
IS we'll in evidence at the port OF Nor
folk. the report says:
Members of the commission, in yis-
Ting other Atlantic seaports, inspecting
their terminal facilities. and discussing
with their leading merchants and Off
cials in each port their plans and pur-
poses for further increasing the com
merce of the port, were impressed with
the spirit OF civic pride ana OF keen.
though friendly. competition exhibited
ut each of the ports i'll which COMPETE
ton all interests seemed to be untediy
alive to the possibilities or endeavor
The spirit thus displayed is in mark
cd contrast to the impassivcness exist
Ing at New York, inexpIicable upon
any theory consistent With vigor of en-
terprise. That New York is Indifferent
is Il matter of comment III other sea-
ports. where achievement follows upon
achievement while New York sleeps:
and In the Western cities as we'll.
where The exporters. discouraged in
their appeals to New York, have taken
advantage Of the Inducements offered
by her enterprising rivals.
ADVANTAGEOUS FREIGHT RATES.
In reference 10 the advantage 10 shin
pers of lower freight rates 10 Norfolk
ana other Southern ports, the report
says: "These differences in rates from
the initiatory point i'll the West amount
TO three cents per hundred pounds i'll
favor of Baltimore, Norfolk and New
port News. and two cents per hundred
pounds IN favor of Philadelphia, eX-
ccpt that on grain. The difierential
was reduced about 4 year ago to one
and one-half cents per hundred pounds
in favor OF Baltimore. Norfolk and
Newport News, and one cent per hum
drod pounds i'll favor OF Philadelphia, u
THE differentials affect ali traf-
lie which originates ut Chicago and ut
any OF these interior points from the
Mississippi river to Pittsburg, ana from
The Ohio river to the Great Lakes. and
all traffic which passes through the ter
ritory upon its way to the Atlantic sea-
board"
NEW YORK, PORT CHARGES .effeseeli rs. y
In regard TO New Yorl<'s port charges
the report says: Complaints are wide
spread that certain port charges in
New York are excessive. The report
then claims low the peculiar local CON
ditions at New York continue to make
the port charges there high, but sug-
sests no remedy.
THE oNIo CENT ARBITRARY.
OF this charge. which is unknown at
me Southern ports, the report says:
This is term applied to charge i'm
poscu upon grain at railroad elevators
at the port OF New York 1t is one OF
the port charges severely and justly
criticised by experts OF grain" Contin-
uing, the report says: prior TO 1892
the charge for the floating elevator
service could be saved on ali grain at
the elevator. The railroad companies
finally imposed a charge OF one cent
per bushel upon all grain received by
a vessel at the elevator, IN addition to
the regular elevator charge, an amount
that made 1t prohibitory for vessels to
receive grain ut the railroad elevator"
The report says that this imposition
has had he intended effect OF driving
away from New York full cargo vas-
sells that now secure their carsoes att
Southern ports.
This result seems to have been a
two-fold blow for New York. as the re-
port says; "Siilce the Imposition OF the
charge New York has practically.
not only lost the advantage OF the
OCEAN gates found TO exist by the Ar
bitratlon Commission. but evidence res
Gently taken before this commission
tends to prove that she is NOW mt q dis
advantage in ocean rates.
Tho report also touches further on ell
evator and llghterage charges and OF
New YorAs facilities, says, No one
thing has receired mora adSSi'ss and