Atlanta semi-weekly journal., 1918-02-05
The Governments WiSe Plans
To Utilise Southern Ports.

The Governments purpose to utilize Southern
ports more extensively for traffic is the nat
uraI and. indeed, only solution of problem that
has waxed alarm:ngly serious. For three years or
more the congestion OF freight at North Atlantic
ports has been a source Of increasing and almost
nationwide disturbance. The trouble has not been
confined to the seaboard to export cargoes, but.
in consequence of the overcrowded condition at
ocean terminals, has reached far inland and
affected every field Of the country's material inter-
ests Thousands of cars OF freight have been tied
up time and again for weeks together on railways
leading TO Northeastern ports Such delays are i'll
enough within themselves. but they result also in
keeping out of service hundreds upon hundreds OF
cars that belong other parts Of the country. At
the time of the United States entrance into the
var trunk lines north of the Potomac had upwards
of a hundred thousand box cars more than be-
Ionged TO them, while Southeastern roads lacked
some twenty-five thousand cars, which they owned
and urgently needed. These problems with their
untovard effect on commerce and industry have
sprung directly from conditions which be rem
edied by the freer use of Southern ports.
1t was assumed when the Government took con-
troll Of transportation that these ports, along with
Southern railroads, would be employed more ex-
tensively in handling transatlantic shipments. The
Government il was obvious, could brush aside any
obstacles that stood, or seemed to stand, in the
way of the individual carriers diverting traffic
from crowded to commodious routes-because the
Governments sole purpose and policy, as Mr.. Nc
Adoo made manifest at the outset, is to produce
the maximum measure of results for the country's
common interests, particularly its interests.
That policy Of course, led straight to Southern
ports as the simplest and surest of relief
for the freight congestion North Atlantic outlets
and on the railways leading to them. The latest
adv1ces from Washington indicate that the use Of
Southern ports for this purpose will begin in the
immediate future and will become much more
tensfve than at first appeared probable. As
Director General of railroads, Mr.. McAdoo has or
dered surveys made of the trackage and wharfage
facilities az Savannah, Charleston, Brunswick,
jacksonville Wilmington, Galveston, New Orleans
and Mobile. The object of these surveys is to de-
termine not only what accommodations avail
able now but also what improvements necessary
TO make those ports adequate to the increasing
demands that VIII be laid upon them. It is trust
worthfIy reported that IN the Southeast alone i'm
provements amounting to upwards of fifty million
dollars viii be made
Georgia ports will contribute largely to the new
service and will share literally, doubt, in the
improvements. Arrangements already have been
made to divert to them much traffic which hereto
fore has moved By rail TO the Northeast. Savannah
and Brunswick, together with Charleston,
handle the exports Of cotton, pig iron, lumber and
other basic materials supplied from the Southeast
Their nearness to the production centers of those
staples will much time and expense in rail
hauls. and the fact that they never ice-bound
as Northern ports are viii make them serviceable
the year around. II great deal to the de-
velopment and prosperity OF Georgia that these
ports are along with others in the South, to play
a larger part in the nations commerce, part
IN keeping with their natural and strategic advan-
tages: but II means most of all to the country
whole that the unfortunate and now really dan
gerous policy of trying to crowd continents
ports through a few North Atlantic outlets is to
he abandoned for a truly efficient course.