The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-03
DISTRIBUTION OF SUGAR

It is estimated that the Coca Cola company at Atlanta uses as much sugar as the whole city of Birmingham, and
 ehere is no reason why that sugar, as
 well as all the rest used by the city
 of Atlanta, should not come and be handled by the river barges, through
 he Birmingham terminal.
 Indeed, nothing is more certain than that it will be so handled once it is
 demonstrated to the Atlanta people
 that saving of many thousands of
 dollars yearly can be effected through
 the use of Warrior river barges.
 As a reflex action. Birmingham will
 profit on both incoming and outgoing
 commodities by the lower rates made
 possible by the larger tonnage handled once the traffic is established. What is true of Atlanta, is also true of Chattanooga, Huntsville, Decatur and all the other cities and towns to he north and east of Birmingham, and is the obligation of the business men of Birmingham to awaken the people If these surrounding regions to the value of the facility offered them; hereby making sure of the continuity l 9f the river service in accordance with | sound economic laws.
 While it may seem to some that 1t ! early to begin such efforts, it can l 5e stated definitely that it is vital | -O I crt, and an awakened public senti- | nent will prevent the railroads, once 1 hey get into private hands, from re- newing the efforts by which in the | )ast they have choked off water com 1 petition.
 | Indeed, they have already begun. ] for it has come to my attention that | an insidious propaganda is already 1 in circulation to show that Tusca- l oosa. Birmingham and other river | towns should prevent all use of the l river by cities away from it's banks, l tnd thereby keep it's advantages to | themselves. and profit at the expense 1 If their neighbors-
 | Never was there a more falacious proposition, and as the only interests 1 would could possibly profit by such a | condition are the railroads, it un- | loubtedly emanates from railroad l sources.
 | The managers of the Warrior river | section of the railroad administration 1 nave made application to the authori- | ies at Washington for joint rail and 1 water rates on a comprehensive basis 1 between Mobile, New Orleans and south l Louisiana, and broad territory in l northern Alabama and western Geor- l sia, including Chattanooga and Atlanta, l via the Warrior.
 1 These territories are best shown by l the map which I will show you, on 1 which the area within the broad white 1 lines in Louisiana and Texas show 1 the rice. sugar and molasses producing l sections of those states and the area l of Alabama and Georgia within the 1 broad white lines, of which Birming- ham is the center, which use and need l he products of the other region, con- 1 nected by the red line, which indicates
 the route of the Warrior barge line. T1,- rav.1 1fant f<~- e. = made last March, but in spite of some l very pleasant remarks and vague i promises made by the railroad admin istration officials on recent tour, l nothing has been done about them, and they have not been promulgated; nor l is it likely that anything will be done unless vigorous public sentiment in- ! sists that they shall be promulgated. | r. is not difficult to guess that potent
 railroad influences are working to delay their promulgation over the period of gov ernment control and afterward. only years of litigation in the courts and ,hefore the Interstate Commerce commits sion will get them, if they can be gotten 1 at all.
 The picture is not overdrawu. and :t behooves the people of Alabama and sur rounding territory to wake ur. and get busy in demanding what the New York annals and other waterways already have. but what Alabama will never get unless lwell-directed and vigorous efforts are in- stituted quickly to compel official action. Il Therefore, say to you that 1t is your l duty, and the duty of other Birmingham l business organizations, to begin at once the effort to arouse in the outlving ter ritory the sentiment which will suTYle | -nent your efforts to realize on the won derful asset you have in the Warrio.
 river. and to enjoy the benefits which
 God and government have placed within
 vour reach and which will come to yo,.
 with other things if you hustle while you wait.
 l The business men of these communities should, as you also should, make strenu- ous representations to the senators and | congressmen from the districts concern ed. in order that the railroad admins l tration officials may while there is yet | time. be forced to promulgate the rates desired. as they have haif-heartedly promised to do.
 1 DETAILS OF PLAN l The details of the terminal plan, which are under development by the Warrior River Development committee. will in- clude bins for the gravity loading of bulk commodities. such are ore. coal. coke. etc, etc: specialized cranes for the loading