Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-18


say, over the news that between July
nd September last the foreign commerce
passing through New York fell more than
twelve per cent in outgoing and more than
i've per cent in incoming business while that
IF other ports particularly those of the
South Atlantic and the Gulf materially in
;reased. Some of our friends in the North
east lay the change to what they call the
Shipping Boards policy of discrimination.
By this they mean Admiral Benson's an
nounced purpose to see that in the allotment
II tonnage, and in other matters where the
influence of the Government-steered mer-
liant marine comes into play, there should
)e an impartial deal for all American ports,
instead OF the favoritism which hitherto
indy turned its flow of milk and honey to
ne or two outlets of the North Atlantic
1t is pleasing to see, however, that the
lore thoughtful observers in that region in
erpret the developments more fairly and
lore reasonably. thus the New York Even
ng Post points out that while exports, to Eu-
ope for the first three quarters of the cur
ent year are nue.. below those for the cor
esponding period of 1919, exports to Latin
America have markedly increased. and that
in this South Atlantic and Gulf ports ought
profit" Furthermore the Shipping
UGH trade as it ought to get; it is for New
lork to see that it deserves as much as
ossible'
That is the common sense and the COM
ION justice of the situation. Neither Ad-
liral Benson nor any other reasonable
american could wish to divert from New
Iork single ton of trade which ought, as a
latter of natural flow or superior facilities,
go that way. But, just as obviously trade
hitch, if left to those same determining
onfn ,,rrl
tulf ports, should not be diverted to New
-ork by arbitrary regulations or arbitrary
ates Such policy, as experience has
harply proved, is highly detrimental to the
ommon country. In the earlier stages of
he World War, and even up to the second
pring of Americas participation, the custom
# trying to crowd the bulk O the nations
,verseas commerce through single North
ltlantic outlet brought widespread incon-
enience and loss, and at last grave peril to
ur military interests in France. So longest
d were the approaches to New York as well
the port itself, that not infrequently traf
for a hundred miles into the interior
'ould be tied up for weeks together Is it
D be wondered that in 1917, on trunk lines
orth of the Potomac, there were one hun
red thousand box cars more than belonged
here, while Southeastern roads alone lacked
ONE twenty-five thousand of what they
,wned and urgently needed? The whole
ountry suffered from the effort to force vast
tQoS OF commerce through single Cndnn0l,
gainst all rudiments of efficiency and natu
al economic law; and it will suffer just as
epeatedly as the short-sighted policy is in
!ulged.
The influences responsible for that state
affairs have been partly removed. For one
hing there has been a revision OF the dis
Eliminating freight rates which once con-
trained shippers in the Middle West to
QUITE their exports by way of North Atlantic
ut1ets, although the South Atlantic and the
1ulf were nearer, more convenient and alto
ether preferable. Moreover, there is a fair
allotment of tonnage to these ports than
foretime, and a promise of fairer marine
ates. Was it not passing strange that con-
ignment of goods for, say the West Indies
n Panama, should start from Georgia
actory. go the long rail haul to New York,
md thence be shipped by water Gown the
3eaboard; past Savannah and Brunswick,
when it could have gone directly through one
IF those last mentioned ports, at great
saving of distance and time and money?
Protests against the rules and rates which
made this anomaly possible were met by the
assertion that Southern ports lacked ships.
But when these ports would ask for ships,
they would be put off with the reply that
they had not business enough to warrant
ships being assigned to them-as if forsooth
it would be possible to develop the business
without the ships.
Surely there can be no just or reasonable
complaint against the rightine Of such inequi-
ties The development of Southern ports,
with their ice-free harbors, their commod-
ious facilities, their proximity to Latin Amer
lean trade routes their vast potentialties
for serving the countrys needs and promot-
ing its prosperity, is a matter for rejoicing,
not for regret throughout the nation.
Southern cities themselves, however. those
Of the interior included. must. do their ut
most to foster that DEVELOPMENT and to safe
rard it's fruits; elsewise the gains of recent
5aasons will be in peril.