The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-25
PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT

Charles F. Wood, engineer of the War rior river development committee, stated yesterday that the down river traffic IS in fine shape, There is as much of that as can be attended to. but the chief thing that must now be developed IS traffic up the river to utilize the space available in the up-river boats and barges.
 Now is the psychological moment fol the people of Birmingham to show the railroad administration that we meant what we said about wanting the rlvef developed" said MT. Wood. We must get this freight moving up the river to Birmingham and nearby points in such l volume that the railroad administration will be unable to chde us with failure to use the facilities they have provided. l .'It means much for the future of the river to &get a good start. The rates which become effective Monday morning lare only the beginning of what We hope | for. We have alerady made application l for rates covering territory which reaches out to Chattanooga and Atlanta because it is proper that freight from the gulf for these points should move through the port of Birmingham. It will be genuine economy. We have also ap- piled for water rates from the Pacific 1 coast and from Atlantic coast points The attitude of the railroad administra- ] ton will be governed largely by the | frame of mind in which we approach thu | rates they have already granted. Tt is for this reason that we want to start volume of traffic moving up the river to Birmingham at once.
 WATER TRAFFIC ON TRIAL
 '.As matter of fact. water transporta- ton in the United States is on trial right here in the Birmingham district today. The Warrior offers the best op- portunity in the country. It has been given more direct government encourage ment. If we fail to use it such failure will be felt all over the United States If river transportation cannot be made a success on the Warrior it cannot be made a success anywhere in the United | States.
 ..The system of steel containers which has been inauguratedS is ideal for the purpose and I shall not be surprised to see these containers adopted in all parts Of the country. I hope the people of this iterritory will realize that they have a wonderful opportunity before them"
 The railroad administration has sent out printed tariffs of the new rail and water rates. They are issued by Theo- dore Brent traffic manager of the Mis- sissippi- Warrior river section of the United States railroad administration. The tariffs were issued August Il and
 
 | ALABAMA POINTS AFFECTED
 The points in Alabama from which the new rates apply, arranged alphabetically. are as forfows
 Avondale, Bessemer. Birmingham. Golf feeville, Demopolis. East Birmingham, Ensley Eutaw Landing, Exum, Fair field, Gate City. Gays Landing. Gilmore Gorgas, Grassell. Gulfport, Hinman, Holt, Irondale, Jackson, Mcdowell, Minns Spur, Mobile, Mt. Vernon, Nahe- ola, Northport, North Birmingham
 Paynes Bend. Powderly. Powhattan, Pratt City, Riverview CTuscaloosa land ing), Salco, Simmons, Thomas, Tomp- kins Bluff, Tuscahoma, Tuscaloosa, West End, Woodward. Woodlawn. Vivian.
 The railroads which participate in the
 new tariffs are given in the schedule a.
 follows: A. G. S., A, B. & A., Birming-
 ham Belt, c. of Ga, l.. & N., M & O..
 Frisco, s. A. L. and Southern.
 BOATS CANNOT RETURN EMPTY At the. present time there is a very
 large amount of traffic moving dowr the river. consisting principally of coal The chief problem is to get enough
 freight coming back up the river tt
 utilize the returning carriers. Whers , the freight is all moving one way it is not on an economically sound basis, a. the nduilnS DdCk OL lnc empty uOd ls eats up the profits.
 The new tariffs embrace practically : any kind of commodity that is used ir the Birmingham district and scores O. , them can be shipped in. by the water
 channel at a great advantage.
 The Warrior river development com !, mittee has been working quietly upon it. plans, and while the port of Birming- ham is not yet ready for use it is stated
 that temporary provision is to be made
 until the state has the authority to takt
 hold of the proposition in big way
 To this end the committee will arrange
 for the development by private interest.
 in order that not days time may be l lost in getting the full benefit of thu
 river traffic.
 Important announcements in this con
 nection will probably be forthcoming II
 the near future. It is pointed out, how
 ever. that it is just as cheap to brint
 freight in today by way of the Tusca
 loosa terminals as it will be through thu
 bort of Birmingham. because the tariffs Twill be the same in either case.