The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-19
THE v1cToRY FoR MQn1LE

(Mobile Register)
 The adoption of the port devel- opment bill Is in reality a grant of a charter of freedom to the states seaport. Up to now all the development, except that repre- sented by the city's wharf, the Turner Termina, and the govern ment's coaling plant and oil sta ton, has been by the railroads and for the railroads; and has been made use of for the benefit of the railroads, as was natural and 70 be expected. The railroads. how ever, were not and are not man. aged for Mobiles advantage, but for their own; and the railroads touch at other ports and have in- terests adverse to the best inter- ests of Mobile. The attitude of the railroads has been friendly when friendliness was profitable, but has been discriminatory when such policy was dictated by their inter- ests elsewhere. The public funds have been expended in making this navigable harbor. Millions of money have gone into the ship channel and the dredging of the river; and commerce was supposed to become the beneficiary. The railroads alone, however, were in position to profit by the develop ment, for they controlled both the lines of communication and the terminals, and commerce benefited almost solely to the extent the rail- roads were able and willing to give 1t accommodation. Efforts by private business to operate water lines, competing with the rail lines, were choked off and failed. It became recognized in course of the campaign to obtain a remedy for the situation that the only method which promised a satisfac tory result was that of initiating Louisiana's action, and, by asking the state to take control of the port, to operate the port for com merce and on equal terms, without regard to the special interests of the railroads. which interests were sometimes favorable and some times unfavorable to Mobile. Also, 1t was recognized that the rail- roads were not in position or did not have the disposition to develop the port to it's fullest advantage. and that the port needed develop ment in order to meet the demands of commerce, and the competition of other seaports. The railroads themselves confessed judgment in this matter. saying by their repre- sentatives that there Is no ques- ton but that we need greater fa- cilities at Mobile for handling water-borne traffic" and that "an end has come to the requirement and development of docks by the railroads"
 The two great needs of this port have been emphasized too often to call for long description. They are equality of treatment and dispatch. Commerce comes where 1t is made most welcome and where It's busi- ness is speedily handled. The ports all know this, and have adopted the open door policy and provided the needed facilities, or are busy in doing so. Mobile has Jagged behind because not able to offer what commerce seeks-and now, dt idSt' tHe stdte mas ueClQ Sd to take the work in hand!
 Much doubt IS expressed as 70 what will be the result; but we have no doubt. The thing has been done too often elsewhere to prove a failure here. It is the modern or evolutionary method which ports have adopted to their immense Advantage; and we may say with perfect safety that wher- ever a port is not in the van of progress the reason is that 1t has not made the proper effort to serve commerce. Mobile, with the state backing it. Is now to become ,o,onAt{tor Tor cop,r, aro.,. e