The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-09
A Municipal Problem.

"A NANAASAPbA S~S
We do not believe tho plan formulated
the meetA~i e: shippers held at the
amber OF Commerce Thursday look
70 securing additional steamboats,
d organisation Of "a corporation sut-
entity large TO rebuild and maintain
equate and efficient river transpor-
sion," as a means OF reducing rail-
I'd rates, offers solution for the
xatious and imminent problem.
The suggestion that river transporta-
N should be revived for the purpose
letting the railroads take the inltta-
re for lower freight rates is not the
rect perspective. Under such
cory the river would serve only to
nder temporary relief As soon as
o railroads meet the competitive river
ties on an equitable basis, then the
yer would be abandoned and the rail-
rad patronage would be resumed.
An effort should be made not so
UGH 20 encourage the construction OF
yer carriers rs to offer encourage
'ent for their operation.
There Is a decided municipal dis
animation against river trade and In
,vor OF the railroads, a discrimina-
on Of long standing, that must be rec
fled before any permanent or last
lg good can come OF the agitation for
idltIonal river traffic.
In the first place the shippers should
ot confess the judgment of the in
'rstate commerce commission that
iver traffic In and out OF Memphis
! potential rather than actual,
The Interior Traffic association. rep
asenting jackson. Tenn, Dyersburg,
'ipley. Covington. Lexington, Hum
oldt an dother good towns, has won
victory under the direction OF A. J.
tcGehee, the secretary, which 1t
in not readily surrender. II Mem
his IL to maintain its preferential po-
ltion It can do SO only by presenting
rrefutablo facts which the interior
owns can not dispute and the inter-
tate commerce commission can not
eny.
We must make II clear that river
raffic at present is heavier than it
as been for fifteen years, We should
tand by that statement and prove It,
! can not be denied, and there is no
Reuse for an increase in rates on the
heory that we have only potential
lver transportation We have actual
lver transportation. ....tt
There is more river traffic than the
government barges can handle and
here are more barges than there are
.teamboats to handle them,
There is a shortage OF steamboats, on
ccount of prewar railroad rates which
lrevented steamboats, from doing busi-
less. and now on account OF made
uate railroad facilities there is a great
lemand for river service.
Chambers of commerce throughout
he country, situated on navigable
'ivers, have interested themselves In
avenues for developing mod
I'm, nonsinkalbe, fire proof river car
.iers which can handle tonnage at the
owest expense together with mod
srate amount Of depreciation. Cities
the country are offering en-
to steamboat transporta-
ion. That is what Memphis must do
4 river traffic is to continue TO in
,rease.
The city gives the railroads the most
privileges in the com
nercial zones. II places railroad faclli-
les at the mouths OF the great indus
ries. The municipality gives this priv
lege away
On the contrary the city imposes a
wharfage tax on boats which provides
! fund out OF which the wharfmaster.
lis assistants and others in charge OF
he levee are paid. II makes no such
,harge against the railroads for pas
engsrs and freight and the charge be-
ONES a discrimination against the
water carriers.
one OF the best-informed river men
a the country informs us that Mem
his aud New Orleans are the only cities
nth wharfage charges other river
owns abandoned the charges fifteen
cars ago.
The things necessary In handling river
are modern terminal IA
mites, modern buildings modern ma
.hfnery for loading and unloading, in
rider that freight may be handled at
be lowest possible cost
The part of the municipal terminals
hat has not fallen INTO the river Is In
.deuuate and insufficient. Steps for It's
eveioprnent or the selection Of a more
-uitable site should be taken al once
In addition there is a charge Of 81
on for handling freight at the munich
al terminals This is a prohibiuve
barge against the river carrier.
As the first step in the solution Of
be freight problem we favor the aboI-
ion OF all wharf charges and nominal
barge for freight handled through the
municipal terminal
When this Is done traffic win he
profitable to the steamboat operators.
reigfnt charges viii be lower for the
shipper and after that will come river
rattle and lower railroad rates on tho
initiative Of the roads themselves.
This is strictly a municipal problem
md there is no solution for It unless
he city administration takes the Until
.tive and removes some OF the disCrim-
nations practiced against river trade