The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-28
Port Of Birmingham Com pany Charges Lack Of Faith In The
 System
PUTS BLAME UP TO
 WASHINGTON HEADS
Annual Report Notes Growth In Business, Despite Handicap
 Faced By Barge Line
POINTS TO INDIFFERENCE
 OF SOME CONGRESSMEN
Three Representatives From Ala bama Mentioned As Failing
 To Help Waterways Bill

Only the lack of barge equipment in the Warrior river service is preventing the rapid development of this impor- tant artery of commerce. and the gov ernent has not kept faith with Bir- mingham in providing these facilities. it is set forth in the annual report Of the directors of the Port of Birming- ham company, presented to the stock holders of the company Saturday.
 The gross annual rate of earnings of the company, which made possible the establishment of Birmingport, on the Warrior, has been increasing. and the volume of Warrior river tonnage ex- banding, the report declares, but lack of equipment to move the tonnage or fered and available has caused heavy loss to shippers, who have been unable to take advantage of the low rates ob- aiming, and have been forced to route their shipments all-rail.
 Industries of the district, it is point ed out, have co-operated with the gov crnment by building steel barges equiv clent in capacity to sixteen of standard size and have leased them to the gov. eminent on reasonable terms but even with these additions the water equip ment is far short of what is necessary.
 Managem Powerless
 "The waterways management is help less to furnish equipment" says the report. except as from time to time Congress authorizes appropria tions suf- flcient to purchase it. Such approprla- tions are included in the total amounts covered in the budget of the Mississippi Warrior service and the waterways ap- propriation is therefore of great inter- est to Alabama and all of its people.
 fIot l,rno members of the Alabama delegation in the last Congress failed to vote for or voted against the waterway appropria- ton. We feel sure that these mem bers in the rush of other matters did not have time to investigate the. pur- pose of the appropriation, its wide | spread value to the nation as whole, and it's partiular importance to Ala baIna.
 Tonnage Comparison 1 s The l,gSgtfr,g m tonnage oil the Mar Erior in 1928 was 61. .482 tons, whereas the downstream total was qnly 43,69I tons, the report points ouf, thls dis- crepancy being due to the fact that upstream cargoes consisted largely or sulphur and manganese ore. moved Tn wooden barges, which were not suit able for carriage of the heavy steel ana iron pfoducts WHICH moie u stantly awaiting shipment through Birmingport and which were finally shipped by rail at loss to Blrmins- ham interests because of the higher rail rate.
 The report comments:
 "Birmingham and its industries and it's people have kept faith with the gov ernment in providing port facilities and in making arrangements that per init the movement of tonnage to and from the district by means of the War rior river. The government to date has not kept its part of the bargain that it would furnish the necessary floating equipment to move the tonnage offered.
 We have right to expect the gov ernment to finally provide this equip lcontinued on Page I've Column fvel