The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-20
BRIGHT FOR SOUTHERN PORTS

BRIGHT FOR SOUTHERN PORTS
 The policy of sending goods from tn Middle West and Northwest to Centra American and Pacific points by way O North Atlantic ports is the very un economic one of sending them by two legs of the triangle when they could better go by the third leg. The uneco homie feature of the policy is funda mental and will become more and more pronounced as time goes on. As Secre tary Hoover expressed it in his able ar ticle in The South's Development Students of commercial geography have often pointed out that, as the world becomes more evenly settled and developed, the currents of commerce will tend to be less between east and west and more between north and south because the difference in climate means permanent difference in the products which calls for interchange. If this view is correct, the importance of the Southern ports as gateways of American commerce is likely to increase still fur ther"
 The growth of Southern ports has been rapid since 1921. As compared with their average annual tonnage during the last decade of the nineteenth century the present average annual exports through Southern ports have increased 336 per cent and the imports 642 per cent. From handling 5.6 per cent. of the nations tonnage in that decade the Southern ports now handle more than ten per cent, thus showing more rapid relative growth than any ports except those of the Pacific Northwest. In New Orleans and Galveston the South now possesses the ports ranking second and third in the United States in total ton mage. Cotton constitutes one-fifth ot the total exports of this country, and nine-tenths of our cotton leaves through Southern ports. The export of all other commodities through these ports IS con- stantly increasing, as well as mlscel- laneous importation.
 While MT. Hoover declares that "a very considerable contribution to the ex- pansion of the South's foreign trade must be credited to the rapid and far-reach- ing development of the railroads" it is Interesting to note that he says further Anterior points are well connected with the ports, and extensive development ot the water terminals at the seaboard af- ford easy and economical outlets to for eign markets. Worldwide steamship lines radiate from the South's Atlantic and Gulf ports, and these provide ocear transportation by both American anc foreign flag ships. The ports which en joy direct communication with virtual! all of the major ports in foreign coun tries are Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa, Pensa cola, Mobile, New Orleans and Calves ton. The United States Shipping Boart itself maintains steamship service be tween the South and all parts of thu globe, and the exporter is thus assured of equitable transportation charges ant fair treatment"
 This statement of the secretary o1 commerce is encouraging to the people of the South. They feel confident tha the future holds for them bright indus trial and commercial destiny, but officia confirmation of their view from a non Southern source is reinsurance that thei1 enthusiasm is not ill-founded. It is log ical for interior shipments to come more and more through Southern ports. Thl movement is not due to any artificial ol temporary stimulus, but is based on pro found economic reasons. The people o1 Alabama are thus given renewed con fidence in the benefits that will arise from the states imminent expenditure of ten million dollars in equipping it. only seaport for limitless world trade The need for the proposed facilities al ready far anticipates their completion