The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-08
BUSINESS MEN
HEAR MORROW
Shipping Expert Emphasizes
Importance of Better Port
Facilities for City.
COMMENDS POSSIBILITIES
West Florida Becomes an Active
Part of Mississippi Val
ley Association.

Economic development of gulf ports
depended entirely on those ports pro-
viding facilities for the expeditions
and economical handling of all ship
ping from the ports, declared J. b.
Morrow, general secretary of the
Mississippi Valley Association, TO a
gathering Of the principal business
men of Pensacola and West Florida
yesterday afternoon at the San Carlos.
The meeting was called to further the
aims of the West Florida zone Of the
association and to elect county chair
men and sIlb-zo directors
Mr.. Morrow was introduced and the
general purposes Of the meeting were
stated by ]. A. Merritt. Florida state
l'director of the association. Following
the address of Mr.. Morrow, Hunter
Brown was selected chairman of the
Escambia county district. w. c. Sher-
man. Panama City, was elected as
director of sub-zone No. Of zone 1,
and other county chairmmen win be
appointed subject to the approval Of
Mr. Sherman.
The Mississippi Valley Association
comprises 27 states and in this dis
trict 81 per cent of the voters of the
United States reside. This force work
ing as unit is the purpose of the
formation of the association, The
association has as its purpose the
proper shipping and handling of the
produce raised in the central section
of America, stated Mr. Morrow.
pensacola is especially interested
in the shipping question" continued
MIR. Morrow, "and your organization
here will aid in settling the PROPOSE
tion that confronts the entire valley
| Pensacola is a necessary part of the
association, because it is a gulf port
and the association is seeking the
development of every port on the gulf
that these ports may take care of the
produce of the inland districts.
'In other words, the entire and sole
purpose of the organization is the eco
nomic development of the section Of
America that is tributary to the Mis-
sissppi valley. This territory extends
from Chicago on the north to New Or
leans on the SOUTH from New Mexico
on the west to West Florida on the
east The gulf ports are the natural
outlets for this entire territory, and
we need every port, taxed to its ut
most to move the produce into and
out from this district.
shipping cannot and will not come
through your port unless modern ia
cilities are built here for the proper
handling of the cago," continued Mr..
Morrow. "The association does not
plan TO develop these facilities for
YOU. That is for Pensacola to do. But
YOU may rest assured that when your
port is supplied with these essentials
then shipping will flow through your
city, taxing even your wonderful water
front.
you may tell all of the world of
the beauty of your harbor; of the fact
that YOU can accommodate the navies
of the world, but until you do more
than talk about what a natural ad-
vantage you have here and prepare to
utilize that advantage you will never
grow to the capacity that you should
grow to and will not be able to take
your place among the prominent ports
Of America that is yours by nature"
The association is organized only
for economic development and politi-
cal issues, other than what viii af-
feet this development has no place
in the organization. The association
is demanding only fair play in the
distribution of what belongs to it by
nature; il asks of congress only equit-
able rights and adjustments in hand
ling the business which it creates and
demands
Mr. Morrow, accompanied by Mrs.
Morrow, left last night for Gulfport,
where he will make an address to-
day. His speaking tour will take sew
eral weeks to complete before he viii
return to the headquarters OF the as
sociation. St. Louis.