The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-11
For the Good of
 the Community

New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other ports north of the Potomac
 These roads and these ports had enjoyed ex- elusive privileges so long that they had come to look upon them as vested rights, and any effort to do justice to the gulf and south Atlantic ports an outrage that they could not brook. It is stated that forevery carload of freight coming into the south, three go from the south to the north. This condition is uneconomic and against the best n- terests of the whole country The shipping board recognized the injustice not only to the south ,but to the west and the middle west, whose products could and should reach foreign markets with the shortest haul and the smallest charge.
 The Manufacturers Record states the case as follows
 In 1918 the great trunk lines serving the north Atlantic ports failed to earn their government guarantees in the sum of about $2000O0 900. in the same period the lines serving southern ports earned surplus of $12,000000. So ran the tes- tlmony at the hearing before the railroad admin lstratlon Tn July There is reason for this and it IS congestion. Of all the scandals connected with the war, none, we believe, approached in it's tragic meaning and results the lamentable, stupid and persistent attempt to supply the American army Tn France and our allies through New York har- Dor. For miles out of New York the congestion was so great that words could not describe it. All sorts of devices were resorted to, including en- bargoes but without success; yet never once was there willingness on the part of. New York to permit some of the business to go elsewhere At timesthere were literally miles of cars almost alongside empty Philadelphia docks but some mysterious influence prevented those cars from being unloaded in Philadelphia and stopped ships from going to Philadelphia. The facilities of other ports lay idle and unused for months, while New York wilted under the load. Not only that, but the terminal expenses in New York are the highest in the country, the barge service in cases eating up almost all the profit from the overland haul. Yet the New York mania has persisted and no attempt can ever be made in this country to ship goods through natural channels but that New York, through her financial or other influence, does not try to block it. Not the south Atlantic and gulf ports alone, but Philadelphia and Bati- more and Norfolk have also known at times what the New York fad meant
 How monstrous the discrimination against southern ports has been it would take volume to relate. For instance, three loaded freight cars leave the south for every one that enters That is terrific burden on any section. Roads gre not going to send their cars into territory where they get but the one-way haul But so decisive have been the preferential rates in favor of New York that it has been impossible for exports to move via southern ports It was pointed out that in1order to build up the southbound traffic it would pay erailroad administration if it got only half rates for shipments so moving. Empties cost money.
 From New York to Havana the distance is 1186 miles. From Charleston, 646 miles, 45 per cent less; from Mobile to Havana, 553 miles, 53.4 per cent less. But exactly the same ocean rates prevail between New York and Havana as be- z tween either Charleston or Mobile and Havana From New York to Vera Cruz the distance is 207O miles, from Charleston to Vera Cruz the distance is 1455 miles, or 29. .7per cent nearer. From New Orleans to Vera Cruz is 789 miles, almost 61 per cent nearer than New York. But the ocean rates are the same. That is why New York has become congested funnel. No wonder that Senator Ran dall exclaims: The idea of freight being com pelled to pay the same from Pensacola Mobile or New Orleans to Havana and Cuban destination, as from New York to Havana, is so unfair that the spirit of American fairplay will never, never con- sent to it when it is called to the attention of the American people.
 It is natural that the big roads terminating at eastern ports should oppose any change that would divert shipments over other routes but the < south and the west cannot afford to SIeep while