Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-04
BUSINESS MOVING SOUTHWARK
The Advance OF Southern Ports Alarms
New York Business Circles.
The Business Of the Ports South of New York is Steadily
Growing and That Of the Metropolis Falling Away
Norfolk Shares in the Increased Prosperity

On several occasions the Nirginian-
Pilot has noted the fact or the increas-
ing business of the ports of the South
and their growing Importance. ana the
relative decline of the supremacy of
New York in the foreign trade.
This loss to New York, and gain to
Norfolk, baltimore. Newport News ana
other Southern ports, has become so
great, and continues SO steadily and
increasingly, that New York has be,
come seriously alarmed. and has taken
up the matter and given it the very
closest Investigation.
For more than a YEAR the matter has,
been under investigation by the New
York Commerce Commission appointed
Ill pursuance OF y special act of Tie New
York Legislature In 1898.
BY this act authority was conferred
upon the commission ITO examine into
the commerce of New York. th,. rnusn
of It's decline. ana the means fn,. its
revival and To rcnoNt "a summary OF
us conclusions. together with copies OF
an testimony taken by the commission
with recommendation at such le:;is,a-
ton as' II may deem adviaaDle, together
with such bill az bills rs 1t may deem
necessary 10 carry into effect its re-
concentrations"
by this act the commission was ia
report To the Governor. ana II was
Siothed with power Ia subpoena wit
hesSes ana In compel the production of
books and papers.
This commission has just concluded
It's labors and made it's very full and
New York, and ii VIII be. read with
great interest in the business circles
OIL the Atlantic Coast and All the vast
country tributary thereto.
LOSING HER GRIP.
From page Of the report, we quote
as follows: NO analysis Of statistics
VIII permit an escape from II full real
Ration that New York hnei lost in her
export tradc--not only lost, but is los
ing The table in evidence in the ac-
complaining record, Exhibit 10 of july
III, 1872, giving the percentage OF ex-
ports from sin atlantic ports OF the
United states. of wheat, corn and flour
shows steady decline from the mort
OF New York from 11.9 per cent. for
1870 10 29.I per cent. for isg9 10 Mag
3lSt of the latter year The loss an
pears greater when Montreal. Calves
ton anu New Orleans are included in
the calculation"
TESTIMONY or WESTERN SHIP
PI:RS
Tile commission had before [ a mum.
Der of the leading grain shippers of
Chicago, Duluth ana minneapolis. and
in regard To their testimony. which is
given verbatim at some length. the re-
port says: Although il is impossible TO
slN nj ft,..a ..,xs .I..., 49,.
forced upon MS by the statistics. the
testimony OF the leading exporters; of
the West is even more impressive
Exporters of Hour ana exporters of
grain in Chicago. in Minneapolis and in
Duluth, the magnitude of whose on
erations have familiarized their names
In all the great markets for cur pro
ducts, testified from the evidence OF
their own transactions. The experience
OF each accorded With the experience
of ALL with scarcely Il variation. Each
and all had. in former years, exported
largely by way of New York, but were
using New York less and less year By
year. Some had already ceased entire
~, or. were rapidly approaching that
end"
IMPORTANCE OF RAILWAYS.
II there is one interest that, above all
others tends 10 create a great city, il
is its transportation facilities and the
ease and economy with which the pro-
ducts Of vast areas and distant points
can be quickly concentrated at n given
point.
This includes transportation facilities
both by rail and water. and its un-
equaled transportation facilities are one
great factor that contribute to Nor
folks great steady and increasing adj
vance as n receiving and distributing
center.
OF railroad development, and its i'm
portance. the report says: 1.-THE de-
yelopment OF railroad transportation
both in mileage constructed into every
part of the country and also in ccon-
omy OF operatioh has greatly enlarged