Morehead City, N.C., Feb. 22—“I am confident that the State Ship and Water Transportation Commission will return a favorable report on the development possibilities of the ports and waterways of the state and if it does and I see that I can put the matter through, I am going to call an extra session of the legislature,” declared Governor Morrison, speaking here last night. The commission is expected to report about March 1.
The governor reviewed the progress of the state in the last few years and declared North Carlina had spent more money for education than any other Southern state or any state in the world of the same size. He discussed taxation and declared taxes had been reduced and placed upon the shoulders of those who could afford them.
“But even now,” said the Governor, “there are running about over the state men, or at least those who call themselves men, who are criticizing our tax system. There is one corporation alone int his state that paid more taxes than all the politicians, newspaper editors and farmers and many other classes combined, but this corporation is progressively supporting our program of progress. Nevertheless, some little tom tits are trying to raise a row.”
The executive said that what he wanted the state to have was the power to build docks, warehouses and other port facilities and a commission to control them and then if the shipping companies did not operate to the state ports, let the state operate her own ships and boat lines. He declared that the state never would have just freight rates until there was competition.
“There are ship companies running here alright,” the governor said, “only today I am told a ship docked at Newbern with 200 tons of cargo for this city and Newbern. I am also told that one of the citizens of this city controls the canned oyster business on the Pacific coast. He does it by water transportation. The railroad rate on a hundred pounds of oysters from here to the coast is $1.87. by ship from here to Norfolk it is 20 cents and from Norfolk to the coast through the canal it is 30 cents per hundred pounds. This makes a savings of $1.37 per hundred on the shipments.”
Governor Morrison told his audience that Morehead City was destined to be the Newport of the South and eventually one of the greatest resorts in America and that many big hotel men shared his opinion. He said that he expected to entertain these men here in the near future and with a view to developing the great resort.
“Farther north is too cold,” said the governor, “and farther South is too hot. Here you are just right, you have the garden spot of the world.”
From the front page of the Mooresville Enterprise, Thursday, Feb. 28, 1924
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