The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-25
MOBILE MAN NOW SINGS
 PRAISES OF HIS TOWN

when he has put an idea, policy or a condition in a single face or figure. It is the concrete idea that tells.
 And so a $5,0O0.000 increase simply stated Is more impressive, more effec- tive than the most polished and round- ed period of an eloquent speaker.
 The idea Of prosperity goes home to the receptive mind and 1t is clinched there by the further statement the in- crease was 25 per cent of the total port business for the year of 1903.
 The Mobile man will speak of the big crowds on the streets, the large volume of wholesale and retail business. the immense building operations, the the extensive street improvements. the additional piers and wharves put in along the river front-they are all con- vincing evidence of the Gulf City's growth. And they are evidences more over, that no visitor. no matter how in different he may be. can ignore or overlook, but the clinching proof Is in the $5,0O0,000 statement.
 Major W. F. Tebbetts, the Collector of the port of Mobile, has a distinct industrial endeavor offers most for Mobiles expansion. He believes that Mobiles port business should be in creased and increased again. His ides Mobile through the expansion of the citys port business. He submits the proposition that Mobile Is essentially port town and that efforts to widen the business of the port will bring in more returns than efforts put forth to bring additional factories.
 Above all else,' said Major Teb- betts, Mobile Is as port town and ness is important. It cannot compete with Birmingham as a manufacturInR R center, because Birmingham has ra VI material at her doors and her railroad FantIfffau uN hoe Va anything, at a disadvantage with Mont gomery for the same reasons in a sim liar contest. But Montgomery and Birmingham are not upon the bay or articles for foreign export, If their sec tions grow agricultural products for foreign export their natural outlet is through the States only seaport-Mo- bile. And being the States only sea port and with a rapidly growing ex- port and import business Mobile will remain a superior city to Montgomery or Birmingham. reiterate that the in the expansion of her port business. .''
 The proposition has adherents, and it has some opposition from people who believe in the old conservative idea that 1t is the factory above all else which makes for the prosperity of 0 city. But there is weight in the argu- ments which the collector of the port brings to bear in support of his propo- sition.
 And if 1t be true that the commer- cial salvation of Mobile Is in its port then should Mobile rejoice for the city Is attaining salvation at the rate of nve million dollars a year.
 The fiscal year for the customs ser vice ends June 30. For the year which ended the last June 30. the total imports and exports amounted to .the great total of $2i.l38.1l2. For the previous year the total was something 0Ver $lS,OO000O. the Increase being a httIe less than five million dollars. these' figures show that if Mobile 10 grow through her port business, that her port business is the steam gauge or her prosperity, then indeed Is Moolle doing quite we'll At present thlrteer different steamship lines are operating vessels that come into and out or Mobile Bay. Mobile is a popu- lar place Tor sea going men. They love 10 come here. In the first nlaos Collector Tebbetts says, the port charges in Mobile are probably oheaner than tEe charges of any other port in the United States. The climate. inc environment and the social life of inc town Is liked by the captains of inc vessels which bring and carry Mobiles business over the sea Many Of them have their homes here.
 The vessels of Mobiles thirteen steamship lines do business with the following eoantriSs; Cuba. EnEland,