The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-06-07
PHILADELPHIA COMING PORT
PHILADELPHIA, June 6.

About two months ago the Penn
sylvania Railroad let a contract for
100000 for the erection, at its coal
shipping terminal, Greenwich Point,
in the Philadelphia Harbor, of i'm
proved apparatus for the economic
transfer of coal from its own cars to
the vessels that carry the product to
other coastwise and foreign ports.
Briefly described, this improvement
consists of high trestle work run
ming out to the end of the piers, and
giant mechanism by which the coal
cars are lifted into the air and their
contents dumped in bulk into the
hold of the shin. The empty car is
then set down on another track and
carried by gravity to a siding.
No statement was made by the
company at the time as to its pur-
pose in making this expenditure. But
work has been begun and within a
short time this coal terminal will be
equipped as are the great coal ship
ing stations on the lakes. Here
tofore the Pennsylvania Railroad has
diverted most of its coal shipments
to Perth Amboy, and the general
tendency of shippers and carriers has
been in favor of New York, not only
in coal but in most other commodi-
ties, whether export or import. The
inevitable result has been a con-
centration of business at New York
harbor that has severely taxed its ca
pacity. Some other port must there
fore be looked to for further COM
mercial expansion and this move by
the Pennsylvania Railroad to equip
its terminal in the Philadelphia har-
Dor to handle largely increased ship
no mo nv mt a
velopments indicating a growing ten
dency of water-borne commerce to-
ward Philadelphia.
One of the reasons that New York
has been the chief beneficiary of this
country's rapid commercial develop
ment in the last two decades has
been that the great corporate inter-
eStS centered there have spent with
lavish hand, sharing the burdens
of the city and State in making it the
great port 1t is today. And New
York is preparing to spend more mil
lions to retain that increased COM
merce now tending toward Philadel-
phia and Boston, the use of either of
which ports depends largely upon the
source or destination of shipments.
The people of this Commonwealth
are beginning to realize, however,
that within the last few years Penn
sylvania has permitted millions of
dollars to go out Of this State as a
permanent and non-interest-bearing
investment in the Port of New York,
and that Pennsylvania has been one
of the heaviest contributors to the
success of her most formidable COM
mercial competitors.
This State, with its 70,000,000
tons annual production of anthracite
coal; with its more than a hundred
million tons production of bitumin-
Gus coal; with its other great miner
al and agricultural wealth, It's lead
ing steel industries and diversified
manufactures, is well equipped to
supply world markets with Pennsyl-
vania products. At Philadelphia this
State possesses a seaport of it's own.
Many steamship lines, suffering
! from the congestion of New York
! harbor, are unable now to find dock
! ing accommodations along any part
of Manhattan Island, and are openly
! voicing their dissatisfaction. Some
OF them have already diverted many
of their vessels to Philadelphia.
More are ready to follow the exam
pie. At this time-one of the most
important periods in the history of
| this country's commercial growth,
and with every condition and circum-
stance turning in favor of Philadel-
phia-it would be a dangerous and
short-slghted policy to overlook any
opportunity, now or in the future, to
develop that port and regain for
Pennsylvania that commercial pres
tige which has heretofore gone as a
voluntary and a costly contribution
! to the Port of New York,