The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-29
NO BORT MONOPOLY,

n
portion OF our foreign trade has passed
through the port OF New York. It 10 q
situation which 10 extremely pleasing to
The metropolis ana 1t In only natural
that It should desire a perpetuation OF
the near monopoly. Whenever there Is
talk OF diverting freight through other
outlets, somebody Immediately sits UP
and takes notice. The Evening Posts
monopoly, New York II meant" shows
bow apprehensiyeiy the advantage Ia
guarded
but rapid as has been New Yorks
growth, It's port facilities have not kept
pace with It nor with the growth OF
the country. The "bottle-neck" II no
larger than It was n generation ago.
Tho room for proper terminal facilities
does not expand as rapidly as the COM
nserce OF the country. Besides. OBJ
sIfuctions are common and frequent.
Iongshoremen sometimes take II upon
themselves to close the neck OF the
bottle Just TO see how It would look.
The country then waits with such pa
tieence AZ II can command until they
change their minds.
IN such circumstances. governmental
nKencies, which are selfishly termed
hostile" bring to shippers attention
the fact that there are numerous other
open ports along our seaboard which
wtuld be glad to furnish facilities for
handling their business. The constantly
oxpanding development Of the country
has made different ones among these
latter named ports more convenient TO
ilssuch OF the shipping tonnage. It IL
unnatural to expect that freight should
ce1itinue to be routed through 4 port
where congestion may be expected any
tine instead Of over q shorter cut to
tidewater.
Il II not necessary TO feel any hos
tiiity TO New York In order to appre-
cinte the wholesome effect OF develop
ing and utilixing all OF the country's
rorts. Such q policy would greatly ia
c9ifate our processes Of distribution.
This II policy however. which should
not depend mainly upon the government
for Its vitality, but largely upon the
business interests and organizations OF
the country. Because the trade Of the
country has long followed beaten track
. no reason that II should always do
20 u there 10 a shorter or clearer track
to the goal.
The Evening Post comedies that the
country has some rights to be consid-
cred. II confesses that there IL no oc-
casicn for Mysteries II there Ia search
elsewhere for relief in case OF stagna-
tiof. It admits the inconsistency Of
contending for an unnatural monopoly
and concludes the discussion az fol-
lows:
In 20 far az we fairly earn our easy
piimacy, we should retain Il; In 10 far
90 Y is ours by mere custom, II can be
assaiied. II behooves New York "a
realize that her rivals are doing Their
best TO make much OF her shipping
husinesh uneconomicai Our antiouated
terminal facilities, our costly lighteragc
system. our tamn,ed wharves and yards.
our delay In carrying through the mort
tcaty-Nil, Hhese conditions give then,
= right 70 demand government help in
freight diversion"
We are not certain that New Yori's
rivals are doing their best" but we are
sure they ought TO do II. And not IN
any feeling OF hostility. either. The
nhipring interests of the country should
pe educated 10 use the most conyen-
sent ports. Trade routes and habits are
changed very slowly al best on account
nhthe various elements entering into ths
trnnsaction. A policy" to promote them
y altogether proper. And II IL a policy
which should be carefully considered
ny southern manufacturing, agricultural
nrd shipping interests.