Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-04
ship BOARD HOLDS
DESTINY OF PORT
Philadelphia's Munition
Shipping Value Well
Known to Committee
ADMIT ITS ADVANTAGES

The fate of the port of Philadelphia
as a means of getting munitions and
supplies to Europe economically and
quickly now rests in the hands Of the
three men who compose the committee
on ship control of the United States
Shipping Board. These men have been
told by Philadelphia's representatives
how easily the facilities of this port
can be used to accelerate the movement
of cargoes to Europe.
The ship-control committee consists
of =. A. s. Franklin, president of the
International Mercantile Marine Sir
Connop Guthrie, head of the Allies
Shipping Board, and II. II. Raymond,
leader in New York shipbuilding and
controller of that port under the Ship
ping Boards appointment,
All three have admitted the excellent
railroad, pier and harbor facilities Of
fered in the port of Philadelphia. Sir
Connop has even declared that his
Government--the British--iE now ready
to ship more goods than heretofore
through this port. Both Mr.. Raymond
and Mr. Franklin have admitted the
advantages of Philadelphia.
The ship-control committee members
have been given the power by the United
States Shipping Board to send ships
where they will in ports of the United
States. They are responsible now for
the efficient and rapid handling of
freight consigned to the battlefields OF
Europe. Railroad Director General Nc
Adoo has promised cooperation IN get
ting the freight to designated seaports
The Army and Navy Departments have
made similar promises Men working
for proper utilization of the port of Phil
adelphia say nothing stands in the way
of this committee carrying out it's work
,1,-a, 60 Af tI,a
Philadelphia has facilities to handle
at least SO per cent more cargoes than
have been assigned her in the last sew
erai months.
Mayor Smith, through George s. Web
ster, Director of Wharves, Docks and
Ferries, mas placed the arguments for
using this port before the railroad ad-
ministration and the United States Ship
ping Board. Similar action has been
taken by the Chamber of Commerce
through its Foreign Trade Bureau. The
Commercial Emergency Committee on
Transportation of the Allied Trade
Bodies of Philadelphia has entered the
fight with a request to Mr. McAdoo to
have the Shipping Board send ships
here to relieve the eastern freight con-
gestion which evolved from trying to
cram all cargoes through the port OF
New York
Mr. Franklin was visited by A. Homer
Smith. representing the foreign trades
bureau of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr.. Franklin was urged to visit this
port and to bring the other members OF
his committee with him to see for them
selves the advantages OF shipping
I through it, No reply has yet been re-
ceived from Mr. Franklin.
The foreign trades bureau of the
Chamber of Commerce will meet tomor-
row to develop plans for carrying its
campaign for the use of Philadelphia
before the committee on ship control.
The port of Baltimore has shared In
part with the port Of New York in being
allowed to handle war shipments. All
arguments that might be used for use
Of the port Of Baltimore to relieve New
York would be only the stronger in the
case Of Philadelphia. Baltimore and New
York are virtually the same distance
from Philadelphia.
Arguments have been advanced by
New York shipping interests that the
convoy system of the navy would not
warrant ships sent to New York being
diverted to Philadelphia. The same ar.
gument has not been used in the case
of Baltimore which is just twice the
distance south of New York.
The Merchants and Manufacturers
Association and other Baltimore organI-
cations foresaw last summer what would
be the result of constant shipping
through New York. They went to the
western shippers and showed them how
Baltimore could be used to advantage.
This created a habit that has been fol-
lowed up by the Government.