The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-17
ATLANTIC PORTS SHOW FEAR
Bureau Bulletin Stirs the Whole
Northern Seaboard.
New England Cities Discussing
Means 10 Head on COmpeti-
tiOn In the south.

From the New Orleans Tines Democrat
The significance Of the recent bulletin
issued by the Bureau OF Statistics. show
ing the steady gains in foreign trade Of
the Gulf ports over those Of the Atlantic,
has not been lost upon business men in
the latter cities In New York, Philadel-
phia, and Boston the need Of ampler IA
cfities for shipping had been recognized
and pointed out before. but the warnings
have had little effect. The government
statistics Of imports and exports are now
being used as the basis Of fresh appeals
for port Improvements.
At a meeting recently held IN Boston
the principal speaker urged the city 70
develop its own land along the front. and
dilated upon the facilities that might be
provided in Dorchester Bay. where. he
declared. there is sufficient territory TO
take care Of all the import and export
trade OF the entire United States" TAX
Ing imports and exports together, he de-
clared, Boston had lost more than either
OF its three great rivals on the Atlantic
seaboard. It was announced that assist
ance to the movement for development OF
the citys shipping facilities would IN
doubtedly be given by the Boston Cham
Der Of Commerce.
In New York the effort Is making 70
organize a general committee from all the
business exchanges 10 press the fight for
adequate port facilities. Mr.. Welding
Ring. president Of the New York Produce
Exchange, IN an interview published the
other day. sharply criticised the business
interests for their inaction. calling atten-
ton TO the fact that other Atlantic, Gulf,
and Canadian cities are offering large
Inducements in the way OF cheap port
charges. and are making preparations TO
extend their facilities" He declared that
New York must have more piers, larger
piers. and cheaper piers. and complained
of the steady increase OF wharfage, light
erage. and other charges.
Philadelphia is quite as keenly alive 10
the necessity for harbor development and
| Improvement, and Mayor Reyburn, of
that city. is working for an appropriation
OF S25,OC0.0 900 for dredging and building
docks along the Delaware. Baltimore
/ contemplates even larger expenditure for
| port betterments. The manifest concern
OF these Atlantic ports over the slow in
/ crease Of their foreign trade, as compared
with that 6f the Gulf group. must be
gratifying in a sense 10 the Southern
! ports, but their disposition 20 defend
their trade by improvement Of their ship
/ ping facilities constitutes a warning that
ought not TO be disregarded. With It's
/ splendid system Of publicly owned
wharves and Public Belt Line. New Or
/ leans enjoys peculiar advantages in the
trade battle But il should be evident,
from the complaints OF the New Workers.
\ that the guardians Of our trade and our
/ harbor must be everlastlngly vigilant
/ against abuses and excessive charges OF
1 whatever description, upon the commerce
/ handled over our wharves, lest their IN
( hindered growth Offset the advantages
! conceded TO US. We have already learned.
/ of our own experience, the cost OF these
excuses, and they will prove costlier
/ than ever If rival ports eliminate their
| own abuses and remedy their lacks and
4 shortcomings, as the business men OF
/ New York. Philadelphia, Boston. and
! Baltimore now talk of doing.