The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-14
For the Good of
the Community

membership, the legislature thereby
made the Mobile harbor state institution
and consequently of interest to every cit
izen in Alabama.
Governor Kilby, in compliance with the
provisions of the amended harbor act, has
appointed the new members of the COM
mission, two of the members being resi-
dents of Birmingham.
The Mobile harbor fills very impor-
tant place in the industrial life of Bir-
mingham. 1t is conceded that to insure
the future growth and development of in
dustries in Birmingham and the Birming-
ham district there must be an expanded
trade territory
The southeast and the southwest, where
Birmingham iron and steel and coal, by
reason Of their closer proximity, can
practically have monopoly, are not suf-
ficiently developed at present to take all
of these products especially of iron and
steel and their products
That being the case, local manufac-
turers must look to other territories into
which they can ship their products at
least on equal terms with their competi-
tors in the north and the west Rail rates
are against them, except in the immediate
section, which embraces only very few
states.
The opening of the Warrior river gives
Birmingham access to the countries in
Central and South America and the is
lands in the Gulf of Mexico and the Car
ribean sea. Direct steamship routes have
been established by the United States
shipping board to most, if not all, of these
countries through the port of Mobile. Biz
mingham products can be laid down at
the Mobile port at transportation cost
considerably less than from Pittsburg and
other industrial centers west of there, and
it is stated that differential in favor of
Mobile to all countries to the south of the
United States will be authorized at an
early date
This makes Mobile port of greater i'm
portance to Birmingham than ever be-
fore. With her products going to that port
and regular sailings from there to the out
side world her manufacturers will have
an advantage in freight rates that will en-
able them to undersell or at least sell on
equal terms with the manufacturers of
any other section Of the United States,
The legislature proposed an amend
ment to the state constitution, which will
be submitted to the voters at the election
year hence, authorizing the state to aid
in the development and improvement of
the Mobile harbor. Upon the harbor COM
mission will rest the responsibility and the
duty of making Of Mobile barbor one of
the best in the country and as they are all
successful, substantial and far-seeing
business men it cannot be doubted that
they will perform their duties to the end
that the best interests of the entire state
will be served.
Within the next three months all of the
transportation equipment ordered for the
Warrior river will be in commission, and
tens Of thousands Of tons of Birmingham
products will be going down the river
every month. It is stated that approx
mately $4,000 tons of steel alone will be
shipped by way Of the Warrior just as
soon as loading and transportation facil-
tiles are available.
Therefore, it is just as important to
Birmingham that Mobile harbor be made
the equal of any other port in the country