Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-15
The Port Terminal Bin; Itsl
inheritance to All Georgia

IT. HE bill looking to the construction of
State-owned port terminals on deep
water at Savannah has received the
unanimous and well-merited Endorsement Of
the two agricultural committees Of the Geor-
gia House Of Representatives. This is no
more than was expected, for the measure is
of exceeding Importance to the farm interests
of the whole Commonwealth. Without ade-
quate facilities for storing and marketing
them, the products of the soil will never
yield due returns to the grower. Failure to
conserve her prosperity at these vital points
has cost Georgia in the past untold millions
of dollars; and to safeguard them in the fu-
ture is now recognized as prime duty or
those who have watch over the general veal.
Hence the keen, wide-reaching interest IN
cooperative associations for the marketing
Of cotton and other crops, and in every we'll
advised movement for more efficiency and
more profit in disposing Of the agricultural
output.
That the problem of port facilities bears
decisively on that Of marketing, particularly
where the larger crops are concerned, is evil
dent to anyone who has giveAA the matter
thought. Consider, for one instance, the I'M
mense service which commodlous, Well-equlp-
ped warehouses and kindred convenlences at
the seaboard, owned by the State and OPP
Grated for the common good, would be to
Georgia cotton growers in selling large guam
titles Of their staple directly to large con-
sumers. Consider the advantage to all ex-
porters, agricultural and industrial alike, in
having at their States ocean gateway facili-
ties that will enable them to deal hundred
times more efficiently than now with the
great buyers of the world. Not only would
sales be more certain and more extensive,
but profits also would be richer and steadier;
and the upbuilding Of Georgia in all basic
business would be wondrously quickened.
This is not speculation, it is experience.
The port terminals built by the Dominion of
Canada at Montreal, primarily for the benefit
of the farm interests Of that region, have
been for years. as they are now, source OF
prosperity to the people far and wide. So
successful, moreover, has their operation
been on the financial side that they have
never cost the taxpayers of Canada one pen
ny. While augmenting the profit on ex-
ports, they have lowered the cost OF imports,
thus benefiting both producer and consumer.
So, too, of the publicly-owned terminals at
New Orleans, Portland, Oregon; and at 9TH
er points Of America and of the world. The
producing interests Of the countries concern
ed bear golden witness to the value, the per-
manent and ever-multip4 Jlng value, of such
facilities.
Having studied the project in the light
of these and divers other demonstrations, the
commission of eminent Georgians whom the
Legislature, at it's preceding session, directed
TO inquire Lully luLO Luo udILOI, Auo A1ouO
up a report on which the pending bill is
based. The purpose of the measure, briefly
stated, is to propose to the qualified voters
Constitutional amendment authorizing
State bond issue of not more than fifteen
million dollars for the construction Of State
owned terminal facilities consisting Of ware
houses, grain elevators, cold storage ware
houses, docks, wharves, tracks and other ter
minal facilities on deep water at Savannah"
The people thus will be given opportunity
to decide for themselves whether the enter
prise shall be undertaken and carried forward.
That they will indorse the proposal with en-
thusiasm, once it's vast potentialities for their
good are clearly in mind, is not to be doubt
ed. The first responsibility, however, is upon
the Legislature itself Within few days it
will have before it the complete report of
the commissions engineering counsel, where
upon it can determine the more definite ques-
lions of cost and related matters Having
informed itself thereon, the Legislature will
be in position to act. May it do so promptly
and with the good OF the common
wealth at heart.