Arizona republican., 1922-06-02
New York and the Country

.aThe people of the United States must remember
that what hurts New York hurts the whole country,
was rung into the ears of residents of hundreds OF
cities on the night of May so. They were uttered in
broadcast speech by B F. Cresson Jr chief engineer
of the Port of New York
If one had heard other part of Mr.. Cressons
speech than and only known his official posi-
tion one would have been that it directed
against the St Lawrence deep seaway to the Great
Lakes Yet that project was not mentioned by name
by Mr.. Cresson
Sure what hurts New York hurts the whole coun-
try; and what hurts the village of Podunk theoreti-
caly hurts the whole country. But for many hurts
there are compensating benefits. Almost every hurt
that is not blndly maliciously wantonly inflicted
has its compensation.
Mr.. Cresson spoke of the "insidous propaganda
against York, circulated by rival ports and rival
sections of the country" We know OF no insidious
propaganda Certainly there is nothing nsidious in
the propaganda of the Deep Sea waterway. 1t has
been promulgated in loud voice. There may be some
doubt concerning the praccabity of the scheme but
there can be no doubt of the benefits 1t if it should
be shown to be practicable
The country is proud, as Mr.. Cresson says It
should be. of New York. the foremost of its cities
but the country has concern in the rivalry between
New York Port and the Port of Chicago. Ports grow
to serve country is not the office of the coun-
try to create ports objects Of pride but nstru-
ments of service and the rule is that when port
as well as individual. by circumstances or other
wise offer better service that is the port
or the individual to which the public turns.
If Deep Sea waterway is practicable certainly
the great Northwest, considerable section OF the
Middle West, and much of the Southwest and the
whole Pacific country be better served by
a Great Lakes port than by the Port of New York.
Especially great Northwest could be better served
by direct connection with foreign ports than by
rail and trans shipment through New York.
Such a seaway would greatly reduce the freight
charges on the products of much more than half the
area of the country That would enable the farmers
and the manufacturers of that the better to
compete in foreign markets and it would hasten the
greater development of that
Mr.. Cresson called attention to the fact that the
Port of New York is open twelve months of the year.
Though he did not say SO, he had in mind and in
tended to impress upon his wide flung audience that
a Great Lakes port would be closed part Of the
year. say four months. We think, though that
way would be found to keep traffic moving accord
ing to requirements, but anyway. eight months Of
would practically all the traffic Of the
region tributary to the Deep seaway.
New York owes it's present greatness to its mag
nficen harbor whose facilities have been increased
to increasing demands. 1t has drawn upon
the whole country for its growth and has become
so great as to become possessed of an overweennig
spirit 1t has to look all sections Of the
country which have been contributors to its great
ness as its tributaries; upon those sections prov
inces, somehow under its dominion; children to
be held in leading g-strngs.
The attitude of New York is that of merchant
who has grown rich by the patronage of his neigh
bors and who resents newcomer who offers larger
variety of better goods at lower prices He has come
believe that his business, built up by the patron
age of the community. has become obligation upon
the community and that transfer of the patronage
is disloyaity
There may be good arguments against Deep
Seaway, but the claim of New York upon the loyalty
of the country not of them.