The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-30
MAY GET INCREASE
OF .D|FFERENT|AL
ON COAL EXPORTED
Alabama Operators Agree
to Pay Interest and De-
probation on Proper
Facilities at Mobile

A differential on coal
shipped from gulf ports, even
greater than the $3.50 figure
granted by the United States
shipping board, may be expect
ed when proper storage and
loading facilities are available
in Mobile, according to Bir-
mingham coal interests.
w c. Adams, chairman of committee
named by coal operators interested in the
export problem. recently filed formal
application with NJ. ]. Sanders, feerat
manager of the Mississippi Warrior wa
terways section, for the. establishment
of adequate coal terminals at mobile
which are regarded as a necessary INK
in the transportation system between the
north Alabama coal fields, the Warrior
Tombigbee system and the sea.
Birmingham operators producing coai Oh
the quality required for export held a
meeting with Mr. Sanders and agreed
that they would assume interest and de-
probation charges il the facilities were
provided at Mobile.
Henry t. DeBardeleben, manager OF the
Warrior section of the Mississippi-W ar
rior waterways, stated yesterday that he
had received no advices regarding the
disposition of the proposal.
Mr. Adams said coal operators were
sanguine of the eventual establishment of
the facilities. however. and declared this
to be the one remaining step necessary
to the opening of vast foreign market
for Alabama coal.
CAN MARKET BEST GRADES
Discussing other phases of the problem.
Mr. Adams declared the best grades OF
Alabama coal could be marketed most
profitably in Central and South Amer
lea in competition with European or Aus
traIian coaL or with other American fnel
English Welsh and Australian coal
and, before the war. German coaf-has
been used almost exclusively IN sou,h
America and Central America, accord
ing to Mr. Adams OF the American coal
which has been deemed acceptable, the
Pocahontas and New River seams. from
West Virginia mines, have been the most
popular.
This is a very high grade OF fuel, is
classified as the United States navy
standard and is ranked as the highest
efficiency coal mined in the United
States This coal has been exported ex-
ciusively through Norfolk. It's superior
quality need not alarm those who look
forward hopefully to heavy exports from
this district. Mr.. Adams declared. for
our best Black Creek, Cahaba and old
Pratt seams compare favorably with the
best of the Pocahontas and New River
Asked whether very extensive cam
paign of education would be necessary
to convert the Latin Americans from the
use of European and Australian Goals,
Mr. Adams gave it as his opinion that
only a little coaching as to methods of
firing would be necessary in the intro
duction Of Alabama coal.
FAVORABLE FREIGHT RATES
THE freight rates will be very favor
a BILE to us, once the proper facilities have
been provided at Mobile for storage and
FOR loading" said Mr.. Adams. The
present 81 so diTerential on coal from gulf
ports to Latin-American countries will
probably become 50 differential, or bet
ter, in time Storage and terminal facil-
tiles are necessary at Mobile, however,
as a connecting link in transportation.
1.-THE Warrior river will make it prac-
ticable to barge coal to Mobile at a con-
siderable saving of freight rates, but get
ting it aboard the vessel at Mobile is an
other question. In the first place, a yes
sci coming for cargo of coal cannot
wait for it to be accumulated by the ar
rival of successive consignments on 500
ton barges.
"If it is to take on a cargo Of 10000
tons, the coal must be there waiting for
the veSsel-the cargo must have been as
sembled in advance. The demurrage on
big vessels capable of carrying that sort
of cargo is enormous. often running from
5000 to $1,000 Gay. Thus, storage facill-
ties are absolutely necessary at the port.
Then there must be facilities for get
ting coal on the vessel speedily. IF an at
tempt is made to operate with crude load
ing facilities, with loading capacity. say
of 400 tons a day, it will require Is days
to load a 10.e0o-ton cargo, whereas with
adequate mechanical equipme rent you can
attain a speed OF 500 tons an hour, and do
the Job in two DAYS and a half.
MOBILE WITHOUT FACILITIES
These storage and loading facilities
have been provided at Norfolk, Charles
ton and elsewhere on the Atlantic coast
by the transporta ton companies. but Mo-
bile is without them. Birmingham coal
interests are hopeful that the government
will establish them at Mobile, as a nee
essary link in transportation between the
Warrior river and the sea- No change in
policy is anticipated when the railroads
are returned to private control. for the
has spent huge sums to make
Warrior navigation practicable. and with
out doubt it viii take further steps neces-
sary, to promote the development of a
heavy river tonnage from the mineral dis
trict.-
There are better facilities at New Or
leans than at Mobile, but Mobile is the