Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-28
DIXIE GOES AHEAD southern Ports Are Out For Trade
: BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

could get the arilroads give them rates, ship lines
would soon be established and that II the snip llnes
would only come in railroads would have TO make
the rates. Their problem is now to get the movement
started at either end or the other
The way Charleston going at the proposition is
typical and interesting. Charleston as every one
knows is very Quaint and very historical 1t is also
very busy and very ambitious THESE contrasting
qualities jostle against each other In every phase Oh
the city's life Take the chamber Of commerce for
example walls decorated with the pictures OF
all it's presidents clear back to the colonial ones with
long curly hair and frilled collars a foot wide But
its executive Office is occupied by man. who, at the
slightest interrogative will give you a COM
plee review of the traffic situation in Amer
affecting Charleston, and conclude with fore
cast of the city's that makes want to go
out and buy real estate at once. This chamber Oh
commerce alive. It's president is something OF a
national figure mbued with the historical con-
seriousness that Charleston was once the second port
America and also with a present determination
that going 20 be of the most important ones
again.
Charleston looks forward the day when it will
not ship cotton grain and beef the hoof; but
cloth -four and meats. And the profit upon these
manufacturing operations will remain in and about
Charleston and will be the wealth and the fame
thereof.
The city also looks to more immediate future
when it set a Of the goods that being
manufactured in the southern Allegheny region All
of swift mountain streams being harnessed.
Tennessee and Georgia and Alabama becoming
manufacturing country using hydro-eectric power.
The natural outlet for these industries the
southern ports. Charleston is determined that said
goods shall have every finding
ural outlet This is the the city is going about it
First committee of Charlestonians toured the
manufacturing sections of the middle west and asked
the manufacturers whether they would snip by
of Charleston if the rates such As to make it
profitable The committee garnered stack of resolu
tions foot high passed by manufacturers assoca-
tions, assuring Charleston that would set
soon as the rates right.
There seemed to be trouble in that quarter. So
the business Of Charleston raised fund of
$4,000 and hired traffic expert who proceeded to give
his whole attention to ways and means of inducing
railroads to make rates. At present is working
through the interstate commerce commission. If this
does the rates. Charestonans have another
card their sleeve. They have incorporated a Nor
folk Charleston Steamship company and large
of money subscribed put into operation. If
the railroads refuse 20 make the rates from the
low those to Norfolk, they will put ships
in the sea, and make rail-andwater Charles
ton via Norfolk which will the railroads 10
lower their rates in order to compete.
Having in this way made possible for the west
ern manufacturer ship Charleston at reasonable
rate and having already secured his promise that
will do So the Charestonans will make representa-
the steamboat people, showing that the time
ripe for the establishment of regular lines There
is also movement well under way to build
boats for the Cuban trade with Charleston capital
of which very much in the future. of course but
Charleston is approaching the aggressive
and her plan certainly to be both complete
and workable
Meantime the other ports of the south not idle.
From Savannah is operating line ships
owned by Savannah capital and trading directly
Great Britain. Savannah is a great cotton naval
stores port, and rests her reputation upon handling
these commodities. Nevertheless this lire has also
carried large quantities of goods doubtless
other manufactures will follow.
In reaching out for more trade. the southern
ports are but claiming their much larger part
in the shipping of the nation rightfully theirs
they are fully alive to their opportunity