Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-27
Better Port Facilities

"HE people of Georgia will watch
with hopeful interest the work of the
State Board of Port, Harbor and Ter
minal Commissioners, which held it's initial
meeting in the office of Governor Hardwick
ON Thursday. The Kittrell bill, under which
the board was organized, was born of pur-
pose to provide facilities for moving the
crops of the farmers, the products of the fac
tories and the wares of the merchants OF
Georgia more cheaply and expeditiously than
10 now possible.
Persons familiar with the scope of the
work undertaken by the port, harbor and
terminal commission will agree with Com
missioner of Agriculture j. j. Brown that
the movement is one of the biggest and most
important steps ever taken by the State of
Georgia in the interest of all the people.
The State of Georgia is peculiarly blessed
with magnificent seaboard and four splen-
did harbors-Savannah, Darien, st. Marys and
Brunswick-but the natural advantages of
the magnificent seahOard and splendid har-
bors have been denied the people because of
inadequate facilities at the ports. Shipping
has avoided the Georgia ports, not because
the harbors are less desirable than other
harbors along the Atlantic and Gulf sea-
boards, but because the development of the
ports has not kept pace with the times.
The loading and unloading of vessels, and
their coaling, are important factors in in
fluencing shipping from one port to another.
The element of time is of first Importance
in ocean navigation, considering the cost of
operating ocean-going ships. Shipping nat
urally seeks that port which offers the best
facilities for loading and dischargng car
goes.
The Importance OF New Orleans as a port
has been increased many times over by the
facilities that have been provided by the state
Of Louisiana. The WharVes, warehouses, and
elevators that have been constructed at the
New Orleans docks are among the finest and
most modern in the world. Ships seek New
Orleans because the port lends itself to the
cheap and expeditions handling of cargoes.
The improvement of the port of New Or
leans and its development from fourth
rate shipping point t. its present rank was
not the work of a day or week or month,
and 1t was not accomplished without the aid
of the state of Louisiana. The commonwealth
lent its credit to the project, and authorized
100000 bond issue for the improve
ments. Abe revenue from the wharves, ware
houses and elevators is providing fund for
the retirement of the bonds. The improve
ments have not cost the taxpayers cent.
What Louisiana has accomplished in de-
veloping the port of New Orleans, the Geor-
gia harbor, port and terminal commission
confidently expects to accomplish for one OF
the ports Of Georgia. The meeting at the
governors office Friday was the first step.
Inc commission W0nC unanimously on T6c-
ord at its initial meeting as of the opinion
that the state should own and improve not
less than two hundred acres at some point on
the Georgia coast located Immediately on
deep water, with ample anchorage space,
where freight train and freight ship may
meet for the interchange of our surplus prod
ucts with other countries for their surplus
products. Along our coast between Balti-
more and Boston, and within 200 miles OF
that coast, are 25,00O,000 consumers and,
with this great mass of our population, we
should be in easy communication by water,
and harbor facilities are essential. We are of
the opinion that the establishment of a
great world gateway on the Georgia coast
will greatly aid the Panama canal because
by the use of such gateway, approximately
500 miles will be cut off the length of ocean
haul of our commerce with the Far East, as
compared with north Atlantic ports, and a
like reduction in ocean haul will be effected
in all of our trade with the West India is
lands and the north coast of South America
The commission very properly and wisely
invites the cities of Savannah, Darien, Bruins
wick and st. Mary's to have prepared "full
and complete maps showing the harbor areas
and facilities, together with all information
which said seaport cities may wish to present,
and also present to the commission maps
showing the location of land on deep water
which the state can obtain, and the terms
on which the same can be had
Pending the next meeting of the commits
sion, its secretary will gather statistics and
data pertinent to the question of port devei
opment, to the end that the commission may
formulate definite recommendation for sub
mission to the legislature at it's session next
summer.