New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-13
OCEAN FREIGHT RATES.
EFFECT. UPON THEM BY THE OCEAN
"TRAMPSo

'IhAn1f o..
II the employment for ocean tramps' should con-
tnue in the East Indies and Australia as It has during
the last few months, the Of vessels which are
recognized as legitimate, because they built for
and continue to be run In a distinct lne would have
occasion to rejoice, would have hopes OF the ships
earning enough to pay running expenses, and, pos
s,bly. to pay a dividend to the stockholders The
ocean tramp, socaed is of that class Of steamships
built solely upon speculation vessels that are little
else than a shell, without any home except where
they happen to be able to get cargo, ocean wan
derers so TO speak; leeches that come into the mar
ket and because of their cheap construction and
cheap labor able to come into the freight market
and cut under the rates of those better constructed
vessels which have built up the trade, and whose
regularity Of voyages and security to passengers and
freight have advertised them to the world.
Nine months ago, in April last here was such
surfeit Of tonnage and light demand for freight
carriers tina. transatlantic for grain, provisions
cotton and petroleum were the lowest ever known on
the Atlantic seaboard. Grain-room on tho regular
transatlantic steamships literally given away TO
save the expense Of purchasing ballast, which other
wise would have been necessary. For instance, Hour
was carried to Liverpool for Is. Cd. 60 cents per
tom provisions carried for just double that
price; grain was penny q cents bushel; cotton
was half Of farthing pound. Yesterday grain
was sd. a bushel, -four lbs. Cd. ton provisions 20
shngs per ton, cheese 35 shngs per ton and cotton
a farthing and quarter pound.
r. j. Cortis, for many years New-York manager Oh
the White Star Line and recently appointed New YORK
manager OF the Hamburg American Steam Packet
conpany. is Acknowledged to be one Of the best-in
formed men on transatlantic freghts He said yes
terday: A few months prior to september last, the
depression in freights about great as ever
known Grain carried from here TO Liverpool
at Id and Cd per bushel, IT is now 3D.; cotton was
1-sd per pound 1t is now Sled. bacon was los and
bocc err heep nm
tramp-steamers demoralized the market. They came
here In large numbers and knocked everything
down. Then !. they found employment I'D the
East Indies and Amsterdam, and In sep
tember there began a rise which culrnina'sd I'D
the highest prices In November. We may now expect
a little falling of, there is slight decline In the
grain and cotton movement and the hops and apples
which 20 In large shipments before the holidays have
been checked stlll the outlook for transatlantic
freghts is little encouraging than last year at
this time"
Another shipping man said @At the time OF the
April depression petroleum carriers were easily 3D.
tainabe at Cd per barrel tn the United Kingdom
and Is. I'D for direct ports on the Conunen,.
Then came a demand for coal tonnage for the Pacific,
and for trades In other cargoes, especiy
oil In this way much tonnage taken out Of this
market The rates for oil advanced slightly, but we
can't expect much improv owing to the fact that
tank steamers are employed largely and more are
building for the OIL trade. But don't look for much
success In the tank steamers owing TO the greater loss
by leakage by carrying it In bulk over that IN barrels
and cans"
The tramps, as well as other vessels under the
foreign flags have entered into competition with tho
better American vessels employed In the West lndies'
Mexico, Central and South American trades but the
American owners have persistently kept their vessels
running In hopes of better times. w. III. r. Hughes
manager Of the Wand Line. which runs drst-class
American steamships to Mexico, the Bahamas. Cuba
and other ports in tho West Indies.
said to reporter Of The Tribune We have not had
the advantage the boom OF cights that the trans
atlantic lines have had owing to the competition
with the Spanish subsidized line and tho English
tramps The sugar freights have not begun YET
owing 10 the backwardness of the crop caused by
the heavy rains. The cgarmakers' strikes In CUBA
stopped the shipments of cigars from there but they
are now beginning TO move with some activity We
are also bringing quantity OF hemp nelghts ron
Mexico principally Progresso The principal inc OF
freight carried to Cuba Is provisions, such as iard
bacon ana pork Our Mexican freight Is varied out
one article that is growing Is popularity IS inc
American beer We are carrying 10 Mexico and
Cuba quantities Of drygoods hardware, Hour lumber
butter and cheese And the shipments OF sugar
machinery from here the largest ever known 30,
too, are locomotives and other railroad stun This
country needs 10 encourage this trade ana IL VIII reap
immense benefits