Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-18
PORTS Of THE SOUTH.
GAIN DIRECT ROUTE
To LATIN AMERICA
Chairman Hurley Promises
Justice to Southern Ship
pers = Senators Pleased
With Victories Scored
Inc Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
RY THEODORE TILLER


WASHINGTON, D. c., July H.
Shippers of the south and the Mis-
sissipupi valley are at last to be
given a more direct route and cheap
er freight and steamship rates to
Latin America. Chairman, Edward N
Hurley, of the shipping board, 1:
committed today to an equalization
and readjustment of ocean rates
and promised a delegation of south
ern senators and representatives OF
various commercial bodies that
the south Atlantic ports shall not
only get ships to handle their COM
merce but ocean rates enabling them
to compete with the northern out
lets.
This announcement comes on the
heels of the promise made Tuesday by
the railroad administration that
freight rates from interior points
equalized with those to the contest
ed port of New York.
Senators attending those con-
ferences and hearings regard these
two victories of the past two dates
as momentous affairs in the com
: Mississippi valley territory:
Senator Holle Smith effectively
presented to the shipping board fig
ures he recently read to the SEN
ate, showing the enormous amount
of export tonnage handled before
the war. This tonnage exceeded that
of Philadelphia, Baltimore and Bos-
ton. With cheaper freight and ocean
rates Senator Smith believes there
will be a great boom in commerce
at all south Atlantic ports. Sena-
tor Harris asserts that Chairman
Hurley's assurance will give great
impetus to the development of our
foreign commerce"
A Friend of South
1T regard Mr.. Hurley as one Of
the best friends the south has ever
had" said Senator Smith, and hts
promise that every port shall have
Justice is of greatest Importance.
The senator believes there will be
immediate improvement in the COM
I ercial relations between the south
and Latin America and it is now a
question of going after the business.
Chairman Hurley's statement was
made to substantially the same del
egations of business men and south
ern senators as appeared the day
before at the railroad administra-
ton hearing. IN the amendment of
the ocean rates the southern ports
will be given the advantage to
which their location entities them.
Charleston. Brunswick. Savannah,
and Jacksonville are nearer to
the business of Cuba and South
America and therefore will be CIV
en- a proportionate rate on dis
lance basis in comparison with the
ports of the north Atlantic, which
are farther away from the Latin
American markets. The shipping
board also promises to allocate a
sufficient number of ships to handle
all of the business passing through
the ports of the southeastern and
gulf ports.
This means that no longer will it
, be necessary for the producer or
shipper to send his products a thou
sand or so miles by rail to New
York and then to have his ship
;nents brought back in ships down
the Atlantic seaboard and past the
ports through which they should
nave been handled.
Chairman Hurley told the delega-
tions today that the time had arriv-
ed for greater 4riiization of the
port facilities of the south Atlantic
and gulf and the shipping board
promises to bring about an ocean
rate adjustment, giving to the south
ern ports the advantages due them
because of their location in the de-
Helopment of trade in Latin-America.