The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-09-28
GAN OF THE GUILE PORTS.

In a timely article, though based
entirely on the development of the
west and southwest, the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat Sunday discussed the
recent report of the bureau of sta
tistics. department of commerce and
labor. anent our export trade and the
relative proportions falling TO the
share Of the various ports. "a
1t says in part:
with the gulf ports alone show
ing an increase of exports this year
over last, exports from the south 70
north through the lake ports shoS
only the inconsiderable decrease OF
per cent. while expectations from
the Atlantic ports, which in 1908
amounted to $1,156. 600 .000 fell 20
1917 600 900 in 1907 sl
This decrease in totals at Atlantic
ports is due to temporary causes
The results since 1900 show that Il
will be followed by increasing totals
with those of any fve-year period far
above that of the five-year period
preceding It, 1t is not true, or likely
to be true, that New York and other
Atlantic coast cities are in danger of
losing on the totals of their business
because the north and south move
ment is setting in thus clearly and
strongly beyond all the presidents Of
the past. In millions of dollars
their totals will continue to show
great gains in any period of 1--WE
years, due to the development in the
west which is forcing the north and
south movement. But at the same
I time their percentage of the totals
will be cut down as that of the gulf
and lakes ports increases. We have
this shown on existing facts and facts
of the last ten years in the Septem.
Der report OF the bureau of statistics
emphasizing the facts as of far
reaching significance, without ex-
planning them
THE gain of the gulf and northern
border ports, it says, in the share
which they respectively handle OF
the export trade of the United States
has been a marked characteristic OF
the outward commercial flow during
the last decade. The exports of the
Atlantic ports amounted in 1899 ia
1871 600 900 value, and in 1909 to
s977 900, 900. an increase of but IL
per cent. while the total exports were
Increasing S5 per cent. From the
gulf ports the expectations were. in
1899 $4,000, 200, and in 1908
$4,000. 600. an increase of Ill pei
icent. while the general expectations
were. as above indicated. increasing
50 per cent Exports through The
northern border and lake ports grew
from $50. 0eo,90O in 1899 to SIZE,
/ 900, 900 in 1909 a gain of over 10(
per cent? those through the Mexican
border ports. grew from 5000. 900
to $27'0OO.00O. an increase of 7C
per cent, and those through the Pa
cific ports from s56.00O.0OO to $40,
Zoo, 900. an increase Of "a per cent
''No doubt this has more history
already made and soon to be made
summed in It than in any equal mum
Der of words which have come from
Washington since this movement be
gan to show itself as one Of change
; for the whole continent.
THAT there can be nothing sec
tional in such an evolution is shown
, by an increase of rs per cent since
June so, 1890. in the export business
Atlantic ports build up. with its in
creases depending largely on business
from the west. But at the same time
the export business of gulf ports in
creased $50 per cent. the north and
south business at lake ports 434 pei
cent. and business moving south
west into Mexico 575 per cent"
All this must reflect on the pro
ject for the improvement of the Mis-
slssippi diver system. The develop
ment of railroad building south IL
preparation for the opening of the
Panama canal shows the necessity
for the government making haste In
developing all year round navigation
of the Ohio. Cumberland and Tennes'
see rivers, which reach fifteen states
in the richest agricultural, mineral
] and fuel sections Of the union.