The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-04

and by business men az Toa1zS :
in general. the response is likely to De
enthusiastic. for I find that there is
now widespread realization that Bos-
ton cannot afford to stand still or to
fall behind.
On learning of this move to introduce
an industry entirely new to Boston,
sought out a man familiar net. only
with the new project but possessing q
thorough grasp of national and inter
national industry, commerce and ship
ping. In reply to my questions, ne
made this statement +:
This seems to be tremendously
important development and one which
may, have far-reaching effects. From
the earliest times the greatest handicap
with which Boston and territory tribn-
tary has had to deal with in relation
to its export trade has been the lack of
suitable heavy bulk cargo. To the
layman it may not be apparent why
this ii SO important, but to the ship
owner it is plain that not sufficient OF
light high-priced cargo. can be loaded
into a ship to make it pay. This Is
sure for two reasons:
First, the cargo is too large in bulk
per ton.
Second, there would be great diff
Guilty in assembling "a large quantity of
this high priced cargo at one time.
The ideal cargo is sufficient heavy
stuff, such as steel products, loaded
into the bottom of the ship to bring her,
down in the water, using up very little
cubic space and the balance to be fol-
lowed up with high-priced freight bring
ing her down to her loading mark. If
a blast furnace works in Boston, per-
haps the one solution Of our diff
culties Is at hand. The blasting fur
mace idea has long been talked of, for
these four elements which go to make
up the steel industry are all present at
the port Of Boston.
Lime. Within easy barge
transportation from Rockland, Me.
Coal. Available by water in
unlimited quantities from Hampton.
, Roads.
aS.-Iron ore. Available by water
: from Spain, Chile, Cuba, etc.
Ample labor supply.
It viii be apparent that a we'll de-
veIoped steel industry would have the
advantage in supplying. for instance,
ports ON the west coast, over inland
blast furnaces in the eastern United
States, as no rail haul is involved.
Furthermore the local demand for steel
products, which Is very heavy, could
be supplied more advantageously than
By shipments from Pittsburg, Bethle-
hem, etc.
1T may be asked whether it is not
possible today for Pittsburg steel
products to be shipped to Boston for
export as well as from Baltimore, New
York, ETC., but with the exception of
New York, there is a rail differential
against Boston which makes this out
Of the question. This would all be
obviated By local manufacture"
Now I do not pretend to be able to
pass judgment on the feasibility of pro-
ducing iron economically at Boston, but
presumably the level-headed business
men who are behind the enterprise
know what they are doing.
ssBe that as it may, the development,
as 1 see it, is significant of what 1
believe viii become very pronounced
spirit locally, spirit of determination
to throw off self-satisfaction, the leth-
argy, the goingness which has been
too prevalent in Boston and in some
other parts of New England during the
recent years.
have been given another illustra-
ton Of this new spirit of enterprise.
There is in Boston a man who has
unique career. In his early days he
was a sailorman. He studied as. well
as sailed and became lawyer, specil-
izing in admiralty law. Having imagi-
nation, he saw business opportunities
connected with the sea. So he became
interested in shipping, in coaling ships,
etc.
When the bottom fell out of the
shipping business throughout the world,
this man didn't sit down and bewail
his fate. Coal prices having risen ire
mendously in Britain, he conceived the
idea of sending and selling American
coal in continental Europe.
He chartered two ships for this pur-
pose. When the news became known
in marine circles he was laughed at.
But he went ahead, sent his ships to
Hampton Roads II think it was), had
them loaded and started them off for
Italy.
And the business proved successful.
This man was and is Harris Liver
more. When / talked with him on
this subject he remarked -
THE Fom&nce Of the sea isn't dead.
Why there was the keenest rivalry be-
tween the two shippers as to which
would reach the other side first. /
started one ship off two days ahead of
the other.N The second skipper, a Dane,
speeded up the loading of his ship all
he could. When the regular cargo
space was full, he shouted up to the
men on the dock to dump two more
carloads on deck. The progress made
BY each ship was communicated by
wireless to the other. The Danish skip
per sent me a wireless after he was
two days out: "I'll catch him yet"
When you get men handling ships in
that spirit you can make success Of
the business"
Did you know that American coal is
NOW beginning to offer British coal keen
competition in foreign markets?
You probably do not have the faintest
conception of how important bearing
this has upon the outlook for the
American merchant marine, and for
that matter, upon the ability OF the
American navy to hold its place on the
seas. ~
The development will be presented in
a later column.
OPERATORS ARE SLY !