The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-12
PORT OF MOBILE
 ISONE OF STATES
 GREATEST ASSETS
Chairman MiIner Points Out Advantages to State to Be Derived From Develop
 ment of Port

A thorough statewide campaign in behalf of the proposed constitu- tional amendment, which will permit the state to lend its credit to the port of Mobile, is to be launched in the immediate future, according to H. K. Milner. chairman of the Ala bama rivers and harbors commission.
 The submission of this amendment was provided for at recent special session of the state legislature, and the date of the election was made the same as the state and federal elections to be held in November.
 Two years ago a similar amend ment was defeated by a narrow ma tority, but it was the opinion of the legislators that the matter was of such general importance to the whole of the state as to give the voters an- other opportunity 10 vote upon it. Birmingham Is particularly inter ested in the development of the Mo- bile port, because this city now has all-year water transportation to Mo bile via the Warrior river, and 1t Is the belief of those handling the cam paiEn that Jefferson county will vote a very substantial majority for the amendment.
 Aid Entire State
 Chairman Milner is giving the mat ter of organizing for the campaign his personal attention, and it is ex- pected that within the next few days the selection of state chairman will be announced and then the campaign will be launched with the purpose of acquainting every voter in the state with the provisions of the amend ment and how it will aid the entire state.
 "Alabama's only port-Mobiie-is situated at the mouth of the longest canalized river in the world" said Chairman Milner in discussing the proposed amendment for The Age Herald. Tt reaches into the very heart of the states rich deposits of coal, iron and cement rock, which geologists tell us are inexhaustible. That port is Alabamas doorway, the natural outlet and inlet to and from the four corners of the earth. By reason of a lack of modern ware house and freight handling facilities, the door is only a. jar. We must throw that door wide open by the installa- ton of these facilities, if the people of Alabama are to have better and less expensive commercial intercourse with the outside world
 Cheapest Coal Market
 "If we will develop the port of Mo- bile, Alabama will furnish the cheap est coal market in the world De- velop the port and you will have at Mobile nearer and better cotton market than New Orleans. You will have hundreds of new industries with thousands of newcomers springing up through the state. With the proper development of Alabama's s sea- port, nothing but the hand of Prov, idence can stay her onward march 10 prosperity
 'If Alahamians will but reflect upon the location of their port its ever pressing need for development and the prosperity to flow into every section of the state by reason of port development, believe they will vote at the next general election to adopt the amendment
 Near Panama Canal
 The port of Mobile Is situated at the mouth of 1900 miles of navigable water. It is nearer the Panama canal than any other great port on the South Atlantic seaboard or the gulf
 Tt has rail connection with, and is nearer St. Louis, Chicago, Memphis and Kansas City than New Orleans It is only 30 miles from deep waters of the gulf, while New Orleans is no miles It is the natural outlet for the products of the Mississippi valley. It has been estimated that the harbor of Mobile has safe and deep anchor age enough to accommodate at one time all the commercial ships of any one nation in the world. Having all these natural advantages over the other ports of the country, if our port is provided with ample and modern facilities, it should easily be- come one of the first ports of the world.
 VIII he seIf-sustainjnE
 Where will we get the money with which 10 pay off the bonded indebted ness without involving the credit of the state? Is a question that natural ly arises in the minds of the voters Close investigation reveals that in- vestments in improved port facilities in all of the great ports of the coun. try have been paying investments.
 The facilities for handling traf- fife pay for themselves. The charges made upon vessels for use of the port for warehousing or storage charges for handling freight and other charges incident to handling of ves- sells and their cargoes will provide the funds with which to pay the bonds issued for port improvement, without calling upon the people of the state for any appropriations from the state treasury If this has been done in other states. why not in Alabama? If it can be done, it should be done, and any fear of additional taxes is not we'll founded"