The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-23

Norfolk, Va, Aug. 23.-Lack Of
4 Aalaace between railroad and ocean
sAippins between American manu-
faeturing capacity and American
transportation facilities. 10 result
II il the loss Of more than $1,000
~ each day at this one port.
The total Of losses due to this
snhalanced condition in the coun-
! ~ q a whole amounts to a stag
eering sum. Here 1t Norfolk it Is
\ possible to size up the local losses
and thus to sense a glimmering OF
what the national loss Is.
The situation here at Norfolk and
Il Newport News. just across the
lanes river, their waters forming
practically common port for the
Whole Hampton roads district, en-
phasizes the extent to which the
railroad and the coal-producing
factors in our commerce have fail
ed to keep pace with our industrial
production and the development of
our export shipping.
More than three hundred vessels
lie idle at anchor at Hampton
Roads today because the coal and
rail facilities are not equal to the
Industrial and export shipping de-
mand.
Lack of coal is nominally respon-
sible, but lack of transportation is
back even of the lack OF coal.
Inland industrial cities needing
coal to keep their factories going,
protest every diversion Of coal to
tidewafer, whether for export or
bunker purposes. But il in supply
Ing full coal requirements to manu-
featuring establishments coal is
withheld from vessels which carry
the products OF those factories to
the markets Of the world, the stu
alton has not been helped 1t Is
useless to work factories full speed
il the products Of the factories can
not be transported after they are
made.
~ "Orders" Cure Fails.
At present the interstate COM
merce commission is the sole body
with authority to regulate this bal
ance. But despite priority orders
embargoes and other measures, ex-
port terminals are clogged with
merchandise while boats wait for
days and weeks for cargoes or for
fuel which will enable them to
transport these shipments to their
destinations
or the 800 odd vessels now idle
In Hampton Roads. approximately
one in four Is loaded. awaiting sim
ply bunker coal before putting to
sea. The other three-fourths are
light awaiting the cargoes that the
railroads have not been able tt
'place on the piers.
They are of all sorts, although
probably nine out OF 10 are steel
steamers of 5000 tons or upward
All the flags Of the seven seas are
displayed. the Stars and Stripe.
leading, although by small mar
gin, followed by the British, French
i Dutch, Danish and Swedish nags.
I Picturesque among these modern
steel vessels is sprinkling Of sail
ing vessels. schooners, barkentinei
and few big full riggers, master,
and crews swearing in strang,
tongues at the obstacles that pre-
vent them putting to sea.
Some Say t1,so0yo
With actual expenses still run
ming at wartime levels. and will
lost profits and interest charges
mounting with every hour in port
shipping men here estimate the los
to shipping tied up at we'll allow
100000 daily-some place it a
as high as $1.5O0,000.
On the c. & o. piers at Newpor
News alone boats aggregating NOR
than 100000 tons cargo capacit.
are lying awaiting coal. The Nor
folk & Western and Virginian Rail
ways terminals are similarly sur
rounded by boats waiting, witt
more or less patience, for the deliv
cry Of cargoes long assigned.
\ Coal, coal, coal-that is the de
mand OF every skipper in port. /
ne isn't waiting for a cargo of coal
mes waiting for coal with which t
hre his boilers.
In July alone 2.127,747 tons Q
coal were dumped over Hampto
koads' pier, but the number of YES