The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-27

England war industries may be
expedited by water.
The survey Of port facilities
undertaken by the commission
shows them taxed to capacity
by the present shipping-in
many instances overtaxed and in
nearly all instances, unless they
are speedily expanded, facing
serious congestion. This is es-
pecially true of the facilities Of
New York harbor, the greatest
problem of port development in
the world today.
To a lesser degree some Of the
southern ports show congestion
in sight unless the National Gov
eminent expands their facili-
ties.
Diversion of Traffic
Among the larger problems Of
shipping for profound and de-
tailed study before the commits
sion is the diversion of imports
and exports from northern to
southern ports, especially those
going to and from the Middle
West. Hitherto they have pass
ed through the port Of New
York. thus increasing not only
the burden Of the facilities Of
that port, but Of the badly con-
gested railroads along the north
Atlantic seaboard and in Penn
sylvania and Ohio. In the flu
ture, to relieve the congestion
Of the wort and eastern rail-
roads, other routes may be sup
plied-to the Middle West, for
example, via southern ports,
railways, and waterways.
A great deal of the enormous
trade in sight with South Amer
lea is prospectively considered
in relation with the ports of the
South, and if plans for this di-
version go through, the expan-
sion of waterfront facilities in
that part of the country becomes
Of front rank Importance.
All the Pacific ports, if Bri-
fish shipping history points a
face likewise notable ex-
pansion of trade with the ORR
ent, and therefore of port re-
quirements far beyond all pro-
war plans.
Since the development Of port
facilities links up with the rail-
roads. the Railroad Administra-
ton is represented on the Com
mission on Port and Harbor
Facilities. The plans and poll
cies of the Shipping Board CO.
ordinate with those Of the Rail-
road Administration to give
ports in the future a closer con-
nection between shipping and
railroads than they have ever
had in the past. Port develop
ment on both sides-land and
water becomes easier with
shipping and railroads under
Government control.
And for the first time, with
both great methods of transpor-
,ation under Government dlrec-
ion, the studies of what is need
ed to take care of requirements
is accompanied by equally de-
allied tabs on what is being done
on the railroads by what each |
ar is doing, on the water
what each ship is doing. So
hat the Port and Harbor Faci- |
titles Commission is equipped to
Measure not only what the port
facilities are doing, but what
the ships are doing in ports.
Their needs can thus be deter
mined exactly in relation to one
another and so matched. They
IAN also, of course, be deter
mined in relation to accurately
measured railroad facilities.
The task assigned to the Port
and Harbor Facilities Commits
sion of developing the water
fronts to keep pace with the ex-
oansion of shipping has aroused
tremendous int est on all three
coasts, and existing port organ
izations, State and local, have
,ffered to cooperate fully Reenly |
alive to the peace-time signi-
,ance of the great shipbuilding
program of the country, they
-ealize. as their communications