Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-20
MEIGS ARRAIGNS
TRADERS FOR NOT
SUPPORTING PORT
Hopes of Making 1t One Of
Greatest in Vain if Ship
ping Goes Elsewhere
ADVANTAGES ARE KNOWN
Chamber of Commerce Will
Work for Cooperation of
City and State

exporting thef koooh thtouhu t"o'
home" port. II they are not all hopes
of making THE one OF the greatest ports
M the world will be vain. and all OF the
vast improvements under way and con-
templated win be for naught according
60 Director Meigs, Of the Department OF
wharves. Docks and Ferries.
Director Meigs expressed these senti-
ments IN a letter he sent today 10 Ed
ward +. Mcsweeney. chairman OF the
Port Directors Of Boston, in answer TO
the iatters request for the greatest I'M
mediate problem confronting the port
authorities OF this city.
Mr.. Meigs also sounded a clarion call
for the various trades TO begin an active
campaign to obtain freight to be shipped
through Philadelphia More freight, he
contcnded means more ships and better
and faster service. He severely arraigned
business men who verbally sounded the
praises OF the port and city and then
shipped out OF New York.
The letter was submitted to the Cham
Der OF Commerce for It's approval, and n.
u. Kelley, speaking for the Executive
Committee OF that body. said that unjust
railroad discrimination and fear OF big
corporations restrained new lines and
drove other lines out He pledged the
support Of the Chamber OF Commerce TO
aid in any movement that would assist
the port
MUST PUT FAITH IN PORT
After showing the physical needs OF
the ports and praisng the support given
the authorities In the improvements, d.
rector Melgs wrotei
"The one greatest problem before us,
however, is 70 make our own citizens,
both OF the City Of Philadelphia and the
State OF Pennsylvania. realize these ad-
~ ~ than fn
their faith in the port and transact their
maritime business through II. There is
n constantly and automatically growing
maritime commerce coming to our shores
which Is bound to continue TO Increase
enormously every year-except during
such periods of unparalleled commercial
disturbance as we are now passing
through-the administrative agents OF
which freight movement must find physi-
cal accommodations for handling the
same, On the principle OF the old saw.
that nothing succeeds like success most
Of this growth in the marine freight
movement gravitRtes automatically to
New York. instead of to other Atlantis
coast ports where-consdered with ref
erence to its origin or its destination in
the back country-it might more properly
belong.
TERMINAL COSTS LESS HERE.
much of this freight is subject to con-
siderably larger terminal costs In New
York than Il would be here, but this af-
fects mainly the transportation COM
panies rather than the shippers, as the
combined ocean and rail freight rates are
the same to most European por.e either
through this city or through New York.
The service from New York is now 20 in
contestably better In respect TO both
speed Of passage OF steamers. and fire.
quency OF sailings. for which reason very
large percentage OF our own merchants
prefer 10 ship exclusively through that
city. As a typical example, one OF tho
largest department stores in Philadelphia,
and one OF the greatest manufacturing
plants in the city, the heads OF both of
which are Philadelphians by birth, train
ing, and business connections full OF local
patriotism and verbal enthusiasm, neither
OF them handle many pounds of their
enormous import and export business
Through their own home port; New York
In too convenient
THE New York habit Is very strong
IN the minds Of both shippers and trans
fortation companies. and Its prestige as
the worlds greatest seaport IL such that
tremendous Quantities OF freight are
routed via New York for no better reason
than' mat New York occurs first in mind
when ocean shipments are under con-
alteration. II seems reasonable to believs
that the ocean TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES
would not needlessly subject themselves
10 the large operating, expenses Incidental
TO the maintenance OF New York ter
minals over those that they might estab- |
hsh at Philadelphia, provided they could
obtain the same amount OF freight here |
that is offered In New York.
THIS IS LOGICAL PORT.
Philadelphia is the logical ocean outlet !
for a a "a I'D. 4 A
Territory. and II the goods produced or
consumed In this territory were handled
over Philadelphia's wharves ita forelRn |
commerce would be doubled our most
immediate problem Is to persuade pro- |
oucers ana consumers In this territory TO |
u personally that their goods are shlpped
through II. II is not TO be expected that !
any appeal TO their feelings Of local |
patriotism In this connection would havS
any effect II the giving way to such a |
sentiment would affect their pocketbooks.
SSoIpolAtions are proverhially soulless; In |
business matters the individual 10 Equally
20 and II would be too much 10 aak of |
them 70 actually risk the sacrifice OF c,,s- /
toners and dividends by pAtroniKina moor |
steamship service for the benaht of the |
mere ppbuilding OF the port but Phila- |
eeiphihs steamship service is not poor
ana under proper urging these shippers
should be willing to agree to book al |
ordinary freight, for which extreme er-
pedltion OF movement, such az can only |
Do had through express-ship service. n |
not primary desideratum. by their hoine
port
BY a vigorous campaign through phil
1dflphia's newly reorganiEed Chamber OF
commerce ana other commercial organi-
raucns, II is hoped 10 be able 10 make a
personal appeal for port support 10 every
nanufacturer and large or small shipper
IN fennsyivania and adjacent States Who
can be reached. This should result m
the prompt Increase OF freight offerea 10
hueb which now have servics throuEh
this port, and. naturally. when thls IN
crease 4 large enough. will be followed
by the placing OF more ships In service IN
thc present established lines ana the inf
tintioD of new lines as soon as the erowth
of business woulc make competition
profitable.
ION EVE OF EXPANSION.
Il nrmly believe that II modlcum Of
Commercial intelligence b devoted Ia A
consclentlous campaign Of this KIND phil
aQclphia 10 on the eve OF a tremendous
expanFion OF its maritime commercs. And
this j. our moet pressing problem. 10
nvkken IA the Individual citizen his re-
sponsIbiiity In the upbuilding Of the port
n reply 10 MT Melks' request that the
Chamber Of Commerce should be forerua-
nefs IA the rsmpaiep ~ snsse ted ~ ..
Kelly said
u heartily approve OF what yon have
rpid e Mr.. Edward Me6Weehey. chairnan
80. - -.