The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-18
A GULF PORT FIGHT

Tampa is calling on all Gun ports
for cooperation in the fight that city
is making against a two dollar ton
phosphate freight discrimination IN
favor of South Atlantic ports. a
committee to lead this fight mas oee.s
anpointed by the Tampa Board OF
Trade. comprising D. 3. McRas, . a
Griffin. Wv. F. Stovall, Peter u
Ixnignt RI F. Lucas, Henry Snow, A.
w Perkins.
THE mort commission has also ap-
nointed it's committee which will act
in conjunction with the board OF
trade committee the port commission
DIR. l.. A. Bize, L, Ed.
Rrvan. d. C. Gillett, Phillip Shore,
and J. Edgar Wall.
A letter from S. B. Fleming, presi-
dent of the International Corporation,
general offices of 81 Broadway, New
York, and owning and operating
pebble and rock mines in the Tampa
territory shows what may be expect
ed in the future if the discrimination
of two dollars against the port or
Tampa is permitted to stand. Mr..
Fleming, writing to w. F. Stoval,
publisher of the Tribune, says that
there is no justification for that dis
The international Agrl-
cultural Corporation is large ship
per through Tampa, Port Tampa and
Boca Grande, and has boats calling
this month for 47,300 tons of phos-
phate.
Mr.. Fleming declares that at pres
ent the differential is not affecting
the sales of his company. as owing
to the exhaustion of supplies during
the war. the European market is call
Ing for extra tonnage, but he believes
that before many years competition
will he very keen and this dlffefen-
tial will represent the difference be-
tween profit and loss. To Illustrate
he says in his letter to Mr.. StoVall:
"Say that our statesmen in London
are in competition with statesmen from
with this differentlal the
salesman can underbid US
two dollars per ton, which would
mean their obtaining the business.
and if we lose the business the port
of Tampa will lose, in the same ratio
In normal times two dollars per ton
is a fair profit on our commodity
I'm my judgment there should be no
at ALL but if there is one,
it should not exceed the slight rail-
difference between Fernandina and
this port, or between the phosphate
fields in this territory and their
ports"
The Tampa Tribune publishes. the
full text of the letter from Mr.. Flem-
ing, and commenting editorially,
says:
1.-THE fight Tampa is making against
a two dollar a ton phosphate freight
against this port and
in favor of South Atlantic ports, is
fight for the future of every Gulf
port. If this discriminatory different
Lial is permitted to stand, it is the
natural surmise that being embold-
ened by past successes, anti-Tampa
ports will soon be trying to get the
advantage in their favor as against
Boca Grande, Pensacola, Mobile and
Texas ports"
The Tribune is right. The time has
come for the Gulf ports to hang to-
yether and fight together for their
rights, as the South Atlantic ports
are doins. The South-Atlantic ports
an able man at Washington
all the time to look after their inter-
ests. They are constantly on the job, !
lighting for their rights. They are
always on the alert for new business
and know the value of advertising.
The recent trip made by representa-
ives of the South Atlantic states to
cities of the west. proved their bust
ness enterprise.
If the Gulf cities lose in this game
Of commerce, it will be because the |
business men of the gulf section sit
supinely down and let the other fell
ow come along and take trade away |
from the Gulf ports. 1t is not one
man fight. 1t is every mans fight. |
Let's all get in the game and help |
Tampa win out and so help every
port on the Gulf.