The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-22
FEAR MOBILES PROPOSAL
 TO TAX UP-RIVER FREIGHT WILL BE A BIG HANDICAP
Movement Said to Be Under Way to Test Port Commission Bill Which Took Away From City the Control of Port and Wharves

adequate and convenient facilities for loading and unloading freight at the ter minal point on the river.
 'I take it for granted that every one is favorable to the construction of a per- manent high grade highway to the river. This matter is certainly very important, and l hope that it will not be seriously delayed. While there has been a slight movement of freight up the river to Br- mingham under the present conditions, we cannot hope for much until the proper facilities are provided.
 KEEP ON USING RIVER
 Now that the best thought of this dis trict is being directed to a solution of the river traffic problem, l think it would be most unfortunate if anything should be thrown in the way, such as the pro- posed tax at Mobile In connection with this river question, I consider that if will be essential that the shippers of this dis trict continue to patronize the river when the service is once started. We cannot get the real benefits if we quit the strear, just as soon as the railroads cut their, charges on one or two items. We ,ol1st stick to water transporta tion. once if is really available until we are certai, We have won the fight once and for all time to give Birmingham low freight rates"
 FREIGHT AT TUSCALOOSA
 c. R. Carter of Tuscaloosa. vice nres- ident of the Tuscaloosa Railway and Utilities company, who was in Bir- mingham on business last night. slated that considerable freight was now nov ing up the river from Mobile to Tus- caloosa. On account of the lack of Wharfage facilities at Tuscaloosa the trelght has to be unloaded on the banks of the stream at RiyervieW seevral miles above Tuscaloosa, where the Tuscaloosa Railway company takes 1t and moves it to the consignee.
 In discussing the river situation from Tuscaloosa's standpoint MT. Carter said: Tn spite of the lack of organi- zation and facilities for the convenient handling of shipments of freight up the river from M obile a considera ble amount of freight is coming to Tusca- loosa by water The John Quill on one trip this week brought 10 carloads. which was handled by our company from Riverview to Tuscaloosa. How ever, l fear that if any tax is levied on this freight at the docks at Mo- bile, it will be sufficient to keep it from coming. An organized effort should be made to see that nothing is done, especially at this time, which would interfere with the traffic on the stream, just as it is beginning to be developed
 JUDGE DISCUSSES BILL
 Regarding the port commission bill, which was passed by the legislature, taking control of the port from the hands of the city government of Mo bile, Thomas J. Judge state senator, said last night: "This bill was passed by the legislature to prevent certain alleged abuses which were said to have hampered traffic at Mobile in the past.
 %This commission, which has been named by the governor, has very broad powers and can regulate all mat ters regarding shipping and the charges made by pilots and at the docks. The legislature considered this a most i'm portant measure on account of the complaint that traffic on the Warrior river had been interfered with in the past by the alleged exorbitant charges made at Mobile. It is certainly better to have the port under control of 8 commission such as the law contem- plated rather than leave it to the city government of Mobile, under whose control the trouble in the past arose.