The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-11

York harbor. Philadelphia and the
Chesapeake Bay ports"
MIR. Tillman declared In his resolu-
ton that lin view of the early compile
ton OF the Isthmian canal and OF it's
Importance to the United States Navy
and the national defense generally to
tho development OF an American mcr-
chant marine. and to the development
OF trade with Central and South Ameri-
can countries, the establishment OF ade-
quatc coal supplying facilities south OF
Cape Hatterls Is deemed Imperative
and the only available harbor having
sufficient depth for the modern battle
ships and larger merchant vessels. as
we'll M extensive writer frontage for
the proper handling of coal. is located
at Charleston, s. G."
Depends Upon Facilities.
Arguing that the efficiency Of the
American fleet and the usefulness of
Charleston as Il coal distributing centre
depended upon facilities of producers
Tor reaching that port, Senator Tillinan
declared:
The Southern Railway Is dominated
by hnanciers who are not financially
interested In the coal mines of the ter
ritory traveraed by the Southern Rail
way, but who are Interested In coal
properties elsewhere, and due to the
power and influence OF these men. IL is
believed that the Southern Railway is
not allowed TO move coal through the
port OF Charleston, which coal might
become competitive to their larger in
terests elsewhere.
"As concrete example OF the flag
rant abuse OF power. the Southern
Railway, having had for ten years it's
the great developed coal fields of Nir-
ginia, Tennessee and Kentucky, and
reaching developed mines with a pres
ent annual capacity Of from 100000
TO l5.0oo,000 tons of coal, which has
no other outlet to tIdewater, has moved
no coal for outlet at that port, and
has made no provision for docks. not
"ithstandinS that il controls its own
riparian privileges at Charleston
IT Is believed that efforts are now
being made By individuals acting for
the so-calicd coal trust to acquire the
rights for coal docks and terminal
facilities in Charleston, SO as TO mon
opolizc the terminal facilities there in
the Same way that the big interests
now dominate New York harbor. Phil
adc!phia. Baltimore and the ports on
the Chesapeake Bay.
III Is believed that the so called coal
trust Is using other railroads ,.ating TO
the coal fields In s,@|-ar manner.
not only to destroy private property,
but in many instances wholly against
the interest of the railroad <lus used,
and tyrannicaily unjust to the country
In which these railroads are located
and from which they receive their
revenue and protection.
1t is believed that these railroads
all being dominated By the same innu
ence. maintain secret rate-makine
pody or men in defiance Of the law
VINO farm out the territory and make
freight tariffs In such manner as 10 he
Tree from every element OF compcti-
tion. and who have practically de-
stroyed the usefulness OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission Insofar as
IL anects the average shipper and tho
SINAI! shippers on account of the great
expense ana the extraordinary delay
prouGht ABOUT by the tactics OF the
railroad. whose agents resort m cvory
method known to political trickery."