The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-06-19
The Farmer and a State Port.

Editor The Dawson News: In your last
issue | find on your editorial page under the
caption South Georgia's Need" brief artl-
Gle. reproduced from the Moutrle Observer,
which is full Of meat.
This article closes with this comment: Our
CRYING need is the resolve to quit system
that has been ruinous for one-halt century
or more. and turn to a system that harmon
ICES with the times and with modern condi-
tons"
This need is being appreciated not only in
your section but throughout every part OF
our state. 1t is noticeable that there is de-
cided drift away from the old ru1nous syS
TEN referred to, and a turning to system
more in keeping with modern agricultural
methods and more adapted to make Georgia
truly prosperous state permanently.
do not recall that there has ever been
so much agitation in Georgia for more di-
versihed agriculture, for a greater acreage
given up to pasturage, and Of the production
of feed for stock and poultry as we'll as OF
various food products for humanity. The
newspapers from every section OF our state
bring to me the news of this widespread and
rapidly expanding movement. Judging from
their news columns there is more acreage CIV
en- up in Georgia this year to pasturage, corn,
hay, oats, peanuts, beans, peas, etc, than
ever before in its history, and the output OF
cattle, hogs, poultry, eggs, etc, promises to
be unparalleled. In some counties progressive
cooperative marketing steps are being taken,
but in other counties the old method evident
ly still prevails and the harvesting of prod
ucts may find the farmers facing a serious
situation as to the profitable marketing OF
the same.
While our agricultural leaders are laying
so much stress on diversifcaton OF products
it must not be lost sight of that if improved
marketing methods are not brought into ex
istenCe at the same time this very turning
toward new crops and their production on
larger scale than ever before seen in Georgia
may result in the serious embarrassment OF
our producers later on. II we are gong to
continue this program of varied products we
must provide more efficient and more salts
factory marketing methods
Here is where the state port and terminals
project comes into play, providing, as 1t Will,
a modern thoroughly equipped and economl-
cally operated warehousing, cold storage,
marketing and shipping system conducted by
the state for the sole benefit of its own citi
zens. That is all the term state port and ter
minals implies It is to be servant of the
producers enabling the assembling of their
products at some central marketing point on
deep water where numerous buyers will
gather, and permitting the producers to
cheap1y and safely warehouse and carry their
products until they see fit to dispose OF
them, all expenses reduced to a minimum.
Such a plant should and will not only pay
its fixed charges and operating expenses. but
take care of its bonds, provide the fund for
their retirement and become in the end a
bond-free property owned by the state and
producing for it handsome revenue This
has been demonstrated by the operation of
somewhat similar plants elsewhere.
l hope that The Dawson News which has
ever been a progressive leader for its imme
diate section, will come to the aid OF the state
port and terminals project and by the edu
cation of its readers as to the advisability,
necessity and advantages of such a plant
bring their influence to bear in its behalf
when the legislature meets. 1t is not ques-
ton Of location of such plant. 1t is ques
ton OF providing somewhere on deep water
an efficient thoroughly equipped, economi-
cally administered marketing base. Very
truly yours, GORDON SAUSST.
Savannah, Ga.