The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-07-16
Shipping Board Plans to Make Fuller
Use of the Southern Harbors to
Relieve Freight Congestion in
East-Cotton, Naval Stores
and Lumber to be Sent
by Sea Direct

Washington, July ia survey 81
southern ports will be put under way
soon by the Shipping Boards Port
and Harbor Facilities Commission, as
part of the Boards plan for develop
ing fuller use of southern harbors to
relieve congestion in the east
Shipment of sectional products
such as cotton, naval stores and lum-
ber and even grain from the middle
west through the ports of the south,
instead of through Norfolk, Balti-
more, Philadelphia, New York and
Boston, is expected to aid this winter
in preventing repetition of conditions
which prevailed six months ago, de-
laying the movement of needed sup
plies to the Allies and the American
forces in France.
In beginning it's work in the south,
it is likely that the Port and Harbor
Facilities Commission will start with
/ one of the Georgia ports, because OF
I their proximity to the most produc
i tive part of the southeast, and their
4 comparative nearness to Europe and
!, South America
!; The commissions work is expected
4 to result in the shipment through
l southern ports in the next twelve
Il months of a greater part than ever
Il before Of the Souths annual output
II Sc 900, 900 900 worth of of farm pro
Il ducts, not including livestock, and
II also the fruit of southern mills.
\ The bulk of many products origi-
|; mating in the South and Middle West,
l; instead of being sent by the nearer
Il line to Georgia and other ports, have
II been sent in the past by devious
Y routes far to Northern ports. Year
II after year these methods persisted,
Il although it is asserted no valid rea-
son could be given for their contin-
|. uance. Practically all of the cotton
Il received at Fall River and New Bed
!, ford and much of it received at Prov
4; idence has been transhipped at New
ii York A circuitous, expensive way
= of shipment this was, when the cotton
4. could have been sent by direct route
H all over the world from such ports
y as Savannah and Brunswick.
~ Georgia is considered the most in
y Lortant of the Atlantic coast cottor
y states. 1t produces variously about
HI 100000 to 100000 bales year. Fol
n years the practice has been to sent
"a much of Georgias cotton on coas
" wise steamers to Northern ports
y mainly New York and Boston. From
IA these ports it has been forwarded tt
N, other points, either to the New Eng
M land manufacturing centers or in ex
HI port to foreign countries. In fisca
MI year ended June 80, 1914, a pre-wa
WI year when ships and exports wer
y moving normally, 100000 bales of cot
. ton in round numbers were exporte,
S. from New York $4,000 from Boston
Nc 10000 from Baltimore and $500
'ns from Philadelphia total from thes
5h four ports to foreign countries o
10000 bales of cotton Not al of this
sty 1t should be explained, came from
ing Georgia ports. Yet in that sam
lch year, according to the United State
Department of Commerce figures, or
All " little more than twice as muc
lah as 1,515,000 bales of cotton were el
red ported to foreign countries fror
Georgia, the seat Of the South Al
lantic cotton industry Indeed, tn
report of the Savannah Cotton El
change put Savannah's cotton e,
ports to foreign countries in the sef
:, son from August to July 81, 191S-11
at only 1,215,10O bales of the total Q
pa 1,S22,OOO bales shipped from Savar
iau nah.
a. Cotton is only one instance of
'eu variety of products that could b
GU shipped direct from Georgia ports,
en' Europe. 1t is obviously a niue
shorter route from these ports tina
'eu it is from Boston or New York I
'" Central American and South Amer
can ports, and via the Panama. Can;
to the Pacifis.
" The ports are there too. all read
, for use and ice-free the year roun,
Savannah is only &c miles from tn
ocean. Clear from the mouth of tn
Savannah River to the city is
dredged channel varying in widt
from 1890 feet at the mouth of tn
: river to 600 feet opposite the cit
49, Along its whole length this chann
80, has a minimum depth of 26 feet
ona mean low water, allowing the NOV
~ ment of large ocean steamships. Bl
T.. to such a small extent has this po
been used hitherto for foreign trad