Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-22
THE WINTER LOAD LINE.
Advantage Enjoyed by Newport News Ma,
be Abolished.

advantage Enjoyed by Newport News May
be Abolished.
If the British Board Of Trade decides
to adopt the recommendation of the
Lloyds' Register Committee and heed
the petitions coming from northern
commercial bodies by extending the
winter free-board so that it shall not
only apply to northern ports, but to ali
as well as Baltimore and Norfolk, will
lose the just advantage now allowed
them OF loading vessels four inches
deeper from October to March, owing
to their more favorable location as
winter points for vessels journeying to
and from Europe.
1t looks now as If the British Board of
Trade will rule against these ports, in
which case all northern ports, including
New York, will be placed on an equality
! with Newport News the whole year
round.
New York is the principal port agitat-
ing this question, claiming that the
three Southern ports enjoy an unjust
advantage over that point.
The current number of the New York
Maritime Register contains the follow
ing in this respect:
The LiOydS' Register Committee who
have had under consideration the North
Alta ntic winter free-ooar question at
the instance OF the London Board OF
Trade, have, 1t appears, resolved by
present rule should be continued. but
| that it should apply to all ports n.rth
of Hatteras, which would of COURSE in
clude Baltimore and the Virginia ports
This conclusion has been reached by the
committe after having gone carefully
over the statistics of disasters happen
| ing to vessels on the voyage across the
| North Atlantic from Hampton Roads
northward, covering the past three
| winters. which showed that of 1928
| steamers which sailed outward from the
ports north OF Baltimore during that
| time, one steamer was lost, and OF the
1882 steamers which sailed outward
| from Hampton Roads four steamers
were lost. Whether the Board Of Trade
| will eventually adopt the resolution or
| Lloyds committee, as 1t stands or IN
some modified form, cannot be stated,
! although at the present time 1t seems
quite probable that the board will make
| this rule apply to all ports north of
| Cape Hatteras.
| .1Strong influence is being brought
| TO bear upon that body both in Eng
| land and in this country with view
| to abolish the discrimination against
| the ports to which the present rule APP
plies. The movement in this direction in
| our own country is to be actively con-
| timed by the commercial bodies at the
several ports affected by the present
load line, until definite results are ar
rived at in respect to it. The expression
| of Lloyd's committee in favor of contin-
| uing the winter load line and its further
! applica ton to ports as far South as
Cape Hatteras WiH undoubtedly have
great weight with the London Board Of
Trade in reaching 8 decision in the
matter, and it seems more than pruba-
bic that the committees recommended
tions wild be adopted. Should the board
follow this course the rule as modified
would probably remain a permanent
one for many years to CONS"
The Glasgow Herald of January 9Th
published : suggestive paragraph en-
titled "Norta, Atlantic Load Line" The
Intelligence it contains wiz not serve
to gladden. the maritime communities
Of Newport News, Norfolk and Baiti-
more. The article is q $ follows:
Another step toward reform in con
nection with the North Atlantic load
fine has just been taken by the Board
OF Trade. After considering the stats-
tics on the subject recently collected
by Lloyds' Register. lMr. Ritchie has
given notice to the various certifying
securities of his intention to call them
together for a reconsideration Of the
| whole subject. These securities are
Iloyds' the Bureau Veritas and the
British Corporation, which has its head
quarters at Glasgow. mo date has yet
been fixed for the meeting, but no doubt
il will be held at an early date"