Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-02
RAILROADS HELP THOSE
WHO HELP THEMSELVES
And Ships Come to a Port That Has Car
goes Ready for Them to Take Abroad.
Mr.. Rea's Stimulating Letter

of the Corn Exchange Bank, and to con-
centrate attention on that part of it
which attempts to exonerate the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company from the
charge of hampering the development OF
the port.
There are men who will regard this
part of the letter as a specimen Of skill
full special pleading. But whether it is
or not is of little moment now, as Mr..
Rea exhibits disposition to cooperate
with every one who is inclined to do any
thing to attract shipping here and to
provide csrgoes for as many vessels as
can be accommodated at the piers on the
Delaware.
The conditions which confront us to-
day are different from those with which
we have had to contend in the past. The
port of New York, our chief competitor,
is unable to take care of the business
which finds its way there. That business
will go where it can be done best. Bos-
ton, Baltimore and Norfolk are seeking it.
Philadelphia is better able to take care
of it than any of these other cities. 1t
will come here if we take the trouble to
go after it. The overflow from New
York, added to the business that origi-
mates here, if properly assembled, is
enough to provide cargoes for as many
ships as can now find room at our piers.
But it will not come here Of itself.
AS a matter of fact, much of the busi-
ness that originates within the city
limits is done through New York instead
of through our own port. Everybody
knows this. Mr.. Rea is making no dis
closures when he reminds Mr.. Calwell
of it. And when he says that the differ
ence between the ports of Philadelphia
and New York is due to the difference Of
| the enterprise of the business men of the
! two ports he merely repeats what has
| been said over and over again. The con-
| cluding sentences of his letters should be
read carefully by every public-spirited
Philadelphian. Here they are:
To make a great seaport you need
something more than tidewater stream,
piers and railroad facilities. Philadelphia
has all these What Philadelphia now
needs is the traffic, and the only way TO
get that is by emulatiug other ports in
competing for the countly's trade 1t is
trade getting proposition. pure and
|
our business men to patronize their own
! port.
The significance of Mr. Rea's letter
lies in its revelation of his desire that
the shipping men of the city should en-
brace the opportunities confronting them
Cooperation among the shipping mer
and the railroads can double the business
| IL - t. f,,t,
It can also provide business for the
new facilities which will be ready as
soon as the Hog Island terminal is avail
able for general business. One of the
first things to be done in connection witt
this terminal is its incorporation bodl!
into the port system by annexing it anc
the Intervening territory to the city
This cannot be done without Legislative
authority, but if the city asks for it ther'
is little doubt that enabling Legislation
can be obtained.
1t Goes not matter very much wh'
owns the terminal so long as it is il
operation. No one need be disturbed b.
the reports that corporation backed b.
outside capital is considering its pur
chase If outsiders are persuaded that
will be profitable to invest their capita
here we should welcome them with opeI
arms. Yet it would be preferable tina
local capital provided by local bushes
men with a direct interest in gettin
business for the terminal should buy it
that is if the local capitalists are deter
mined to go after business with the alert
ness which characterzes the men VIII
put their money in shipping facilities j
Other. ports. The interest of outsiders
the project may be the spur needed
inpel the enterprising men of this city
hasten their plans for financing a corpC
ration to buy the terminal.
But none of these plans will succee
, until backed by men of initiative who al
willing to assume responsibility. Thel
are many such men here who have mac
, their own business brilliantly successful
, A man without faith in the city migi
saw of others what Secretary Lane sa
in his farewell statement about the me
! in Office in Washington. ABILITY is n
- lacking" wrote Mr.. Lane, "but it
pressed to the point Of paralysis by g
. infnitude of details and an unwillingne
on the part of the great body of publ
servants to take responsibility. Evel
one seems to be afraid of every one. II
self-protective sense is developed abno
n mally, the creative sense atrophies."
: This is the curse of public conduct
$ business. Because the city owns its pie
$ and because political appointees manai
T. them may be in part responsible for t
/ slowness with which the business Of t
port has developed. But if we shou
II have the Hog Island terminal private
E owned and in competition with the pu
/ licly owned piers there might develop
10 rivalry which would benefit both beyo
=. computation.
'e The most encouraging development
a wears is the awakening of an interest
K the whole subject. If. the issues were r
alive Mr.. Rea would not have gone to t
u | 4.o,,bla IN answer Mr. CalWelps