Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-03
SCHWAB'S OFFER
SPURS PORT AIDS
Steel Mans Proposal Meets
With Quick Response
Here
OTHERS TO JOIN MOVE
Committee Will Seek to Have
Railroads Adjust Rates to
Meet Requirements

other corporation heads will follow
the lead of Charles NJ. Schwab in his
proposed use Of this port as shipping
center for the products turned out by
the Bethlehem Steel Corporation.
This was the opinion expressed this
afternoon by Howard Coonley, vice
president of the Emergency Fleet Cor.
poration.
The time is ripe for the develop.
ment of Philadelphia as great port
he said. There is somuch congestion
in and around New York harbor that
firms are looking elsewhere for more
suitable f.'riltiies. This is Philadel'
phia's chance"
| Mr.. Schwab's offer to divert the big
ore shipping trade Of the Bethlehem
| Steel Corporation to this port. proVid.
! ing reasonable loading charges could
be obtained from the railroads. led to
immediate activity by Philadelphia's
port developmnt committee.
Director Webster, of WharVes
Docks and Ferries. chairman Of the
| port "boomers," said this afternoon an
| Investigation would be made of Mr.
Schwab's asserting that high loading
and unloading charges prevailed at
this port.
Mr.. Coonley's Views
Mr.. Coonley, in commenting on the
port situation. said:
"Of course the plan for greater port
here must embody Mr. Schwab's ideas
of development along the lines of better
! facilities. or 1t will probably fail. There
must be big Improvement in the sys-
tenn of antiauated shipping that now
prevails here"
fipf1
| that Hog Island be turned into a com
prehensive loading and unloading CEN
| ter, in line with the general plan OF
development. It's piers, and ways, with
their complement of hundreds Of cranes
and the unusual facilities for railroad
transportation, make 1t an ideal place for
such a purpose, he asserted.
Webster Promises Action
Director Webster made it plain that
II Mr.. Schwabs assertions of excessive
;, loading charges We're well-founded, hi:
committee would Immediately take some
action to learn if there was discrimina'
ton on the part of the railroads
"Mr Schwab has developed a new as
pect in the port situation" he said
I'VE have the best ore loading and un
loading facilities of any port right hert
in Philadelphia. The charges shoulc
be lower here than at other ports"
The offer of Mr.. Schwab will be dis
cussed at the next melting of the por
development committee, when Director
Webster hopes TO have figures to show
what the loading charges are. both a
= this port and New York. At the lat
ter port the steel company has a $1,000,
900 loading plant of Its own.
Problem Looms
Director Webster said that il MI
Schwab wanted the railroads to max
the same charges for loading as at tn
steel concerns plant In New York
{ would form a dtflcult problem
Mr., Schwab's offer to give this por
the Bethlehem business, II condition
were made favorable, was accompanie
:, BY the assertion that Philadelphia ough
, to be the best port in the country.
. why don't you ship through thi
port" Mr.. sSchwab was asked, 'instea
Of New York;"
THAT is very easily explained" h
: said. First / want to say we did shi
!, through here, and that our ore boat
= from Chile always unloaded at Phila
4 delphia But there came time whe
\ the congestion on tho Reading becam
so great that we had to get our or
q through and relieve the congestion. 8
a the Lehigh Valley was the only way 70
It US TO solve the transportation prot
h lem"
y what do you think about Phiiade
o phia as a port, anyway" he was asked