Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-20

u
terror Georgia towns see the import
ance of conserving their interest in
y ESouthern ports Thus the Rome News, IN
discussing the attempts of Eastern railway
is groups to overturn the equitable freight rates
~ which have been granted from the MIDDLE
West to outlets like Savannah, BRUNSWICK
Jacksonville and Charleston, seasonaoly sug-
ii gests that the business institutions OF It's
community organize for cooperation among
=. themselves and with similar bodies else
s where in protecting their menaced rights.
"As a manufacturing city," says the News,
a5ssRome will have deep interest in the mani
.tenance of nearby Southern ports, because
these manufacturers are going to seek for
g efgn trade, and they will not want to sur
render the advantage they have in conVen-
sient ports. If these are destroyed as shipping
~ centers Southern manufacturers will be
compelled to pay tribute to Eastern ports,
Export trade should form larger part OF
Southern business in the future, and Rome
should acquire satisfactory portion of it."
This alert and sound reasoning applies
with equal cogency to every Georgia town.
: and to those of neighboring States as WE'LL
that have industrial or commercial amDl-
lions Continuing development and prosper
itv for this region depend in large. measure
on keeping the fair freight tariffs which the
Federal Railroad Administration has esta6-
fished to Southern ports and also on keeping
\ the merchant tonnage which the Federai
Shipping Board has allotted them for the
maintenance and upbuilding of new over
seas trade routes. For with these rates and
this tonnage the ports of the South Atlantic
and the Gulf will draw rich tides OF COM
! merce from the Middle West as we'll as from
nrrif0 m
for Southern railroads, wider and keener in
.aterest in Southern investments, fresh lmpe-
istus to Southern growth.
- But if the old rate system with it's unjust
lsvfavoritism to Eastern roads and ports should
be re-established, the natural inducements
s. which the rail lines and ocean outlets of the
South have to offer the shippers of the Mid
- die West would be virtually nulliied More
iafover, advantages which Southern shippers
lc themselves now enjoy, and to which by every
rule of right and reason they are entitled,
would be snatched away. If in addition to
regaining the arbitrary rates. the Eastern
Interests should succeed in diverting the ves-
n sells and Gripping or perhaps destroying
the foreign trade routes on which Southern
ports depend for usefulness and growth, the
consequences would be we'll nigh calami-
gsfous ---.--
3 1T is not only for present rights and OPP
portunities, but for those of all the years
ahead, that Southern business now is called
Eupon 10 coACenu. export Crdue Will play an
gever-increasing part in our prosperity. To
the extent that our export trade wakes in
.@a1lge and volume our productive energies
& will be quickened and sustained. In devel-
. oping overseas markets for the output of
her factories and fields (markets for, divers
M products other than cotton) Georgia will
IS. gain millions Of wealth and opportunities
p immeasurable. Agriculture as we'll as in
,oadustry and commerce will share this gain
g and the mass of the people will profit there
by.
We have seen Americas highest period
of prosperity coinciding with her highest rec
sszofd of export trade; and this same economic
law we shall see borne richly out in the
y south, If the natural resources and natural
II rights on which her export development
! rests are duly conserved It is the duty of
~ every city and every interest in this region
TO lend itself full-heartedly to the defense of
sEthose rights against the selfish forces now
STRENGTHENING them.