The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-13
Forum, Of The People
Mobile And The Railroads

Every citizen of the state of Alabama is
interested in it's development and welfare
We must have. great concern over the pres
ent work Of developing the port of Mobile.
In this connection I have heard. on more
than one occasion, statements made that
Mobile and its people have never~been en-
tirely friendly to the steam transportation
lines serving the port of Mobile. ~
became part of the city government of
Mobile in the year 1874, and for fifty years
1 have been directly interested and connected
with all of its municipal and business affairs,
and / know of my own knowledge of the
many things which the people of Mobile, the
municipality of Mobile, and the press, have
done towards the aid and encouragement of
the steam railroads serving Alabama's only
seaport. A notable fact that will prove the
enterprise and courage Of the people of Mo-
bile is that the Mobile and Ohio road was
first conceived, organized and chartered by
the states Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee
and Kentucky, in the year 1S4S, and it was
the result of capital and the material aid
given to this great enterprise by the people,
the press of the city of Mobile, that it was
constructed through to Columbus, Kentucky,
on the Ohio river.
About that time the Civil War began, and
of my own personal knowledge 1 can state
that vast privileges of tie uses of the streets
of Mobile, and much of its terminal property,
have been granted to the rail lines reaching
into the port Of Mobile, without any money,
and without price. h.
/ want to correct the impression which
seems to have taken Judgment in some quar-
tiers, that there ever has been any degree
of unfriendliness on the part of the people
of Mobile, or the city government of Mo-
paf roil ar 0fh
ton engaged in the development of trans
lportation, traffic and commercial enterprises.
What is true with respect to the Mobile and
Ohio is equally true, perhaps in some less
degree in regard to the Mobile and Mont
gomery branch of the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad and with the other branch of
the New Orleans Chattanooga and Mobile
road which is now part of the Louisville
and Nashville system, connecting with New
Orleans and also with the Mobile and Bir-
mingham Railroad, now part of the South
ern Railway system. All grants to this lat
ter road were, with the implied, if not writ
ten understanding, given for the purpose of
connecting Mobile with the coal fields of
Alabama. This road was to make its great
terminal at the Gulf of Mexico, at the port
of Mobile. Contributions. were also made by
individuals to accomplish survey of the
location of the Mobile and West Alabama
Railroad which has since become the Gulf,
Mobile and Northern Railroad.
What / wish to emphasize in this letter
is that every obligation in the way of grant
ing of franchises by the city of Mobile have
been completely and entirely fulfilled in the
most complete way.
If there has been any failure on the part
of the railroad companies serving this port
to make it what it ought to beSthe greatest
port on the Gulf of Mexico--the results
should not be charged up against any failure
on the part of the municipality Of Mobile, or
its people to do their part. -.
What / am trying to place before the peo-
pie of Alabama, I recall this fact: That
when was boy living in New Orleans, the
port of Galveston was only served by
steamship that ran from New Orleans OPP
Grated by the Morgan Line. Galveston then
small sand island. But the great state of
Texas, with all its imperial power, became
interested, and this, it's only port then, has
resulted in great development Had the
imperial state of Alabama required the trans
portation systems to serve its only seaport,
then it would have occupied its rightful po-
sition would have been one of the great
ports of America. 80.
wish to illustrate: Prior to the Civil
War New Orleans was one of the largest
ports in the country. After the war was
over New Orleans lost its maritime position
and for a number of years it was ranked
one of the lowest ports, property values and
business had left it. and some years ago the
great state of Louisiana put its imperial as
sistance to its only seaport, and has resur-
rected the port of New Orleans to the posi-
tion of second port today in the nation DO
we need any further argument in this direc-
ton? JOHN CRAFT. Il
Mobile. Ala, April 5, 1924.