The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-19
Great
Department
Stores

Norfolk is less than from Charleston and
other southern ports, but the rail rate
brings the Norfolk transatlantic rate to
a higher figure than from Charleston
Savannah, Brunswick or Wilmington AT
present much larger vessels are used from
Norfolk than from other ports and while
30 cents per hundred gives the larger
steamers fair profit, smaller steamers
from other ports re9uie at least 30 cents
per hundred pounds.
I'm view of these facts 1t can be readily
seen that steamship owners, operating
vessels from the port of Charleston would
use vessels larger than those now in on
Grafton from Norfolk, they could then get
good profit carrying cotton at the same
ocean rate as now prevails from Nor
folk. Under the present system Of rates.
steamers carrying cotton from the port
of Charleston at the same ocean rate as
from Norfolk would create new rate con-
dtiOns: that Is, either the railroads would
Increase their rate to Charleston to tho
same Norfolk and the distance being
800 or 400 miles less, It would be greatly
to the bentfi Of tho railroads to have as
much cotton as possible go via Charles
ton, as they would receive the same rate
for a less distance. On the other hand
should it not be possible by their system
Of making rates for the railroads to in
crease the rate to Charleston, then the
lower ocean rate from Charleston would
result in the saving to the exporter of
cotton of cents per hundred pounds on
similar shipments through Wilmington
Savannah or Brunswick, and they would
naturally send the greater part Of their
exports through the port OF Charleston.
1.-THE rates on cotton by large steamers
from New York to European ports range
rom 10 cents to 20 cents per hundred
pounds It would therefore be very
profitable business for vessels Of the same
size to get 30 cents per hundred pounds
for full cargoes of cotton from the port
of Charleston, and thus at tho same time
save money to the cotton producer. [
have Not given you these facts in regard
to Charleston with a view OF making
comparisons between our competitive
ports In the SOUTH and | do not intend 10
go further and give you figures In regard
TO the availability of this port II is q
simple, plain southern business proposi-
tion.
Consolidate Upon Given Port.
AT the outset of such an undertaking,
az | have said before. it is our business
and our duty as southern states to consol-
idate for a time. at least, upon a given
pert. Charleston, for the reasons | have
indicated, is that port, and am sure that
all Of you realize it, 1t is not time for
petty jealouses as between the ports Of
time for us to stand together and work
together for the common good Of the
south, Of the manufacturing in the south.
and above all for the good and for the
prosperity Of the cotton grower of the
south. I wish In this connection to call
your attention TO the fact that Germany,
to which our lie is running. is the second
largest importing country of American
cotton in the world. l wish also to call
your attention to the fact that most desir-
able immigrants for the south come from
Germany and adjacent countries. In the
matter of expectation of manufactured
products, It is noteworthy that Germany
stands second In Europe Germany also
sends to us great quantities of goods Of
! a class we use but do not manufacture.
"It is also noteworthy that s29,Si4075
OF our $50, 94i 033 OF our manufactured pro-
duct IL sent to China. Thus It is seen
that OF all OF the countries of the world
China takes the great bulk of manufact-
ured product from the cotton mills Of
Amerlca-now 40 largely represented In
the southland 1t II vital for you to re-
member that this product Is now shipped
on high rates across the American conti-
nent and thence by water across tho
Pacific. OF the total amount of raw cot
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