The St. Louis Republic., 1901-06-16
Remarkable Growth of Americas
Maritime Trade, in Keeping
I. With Phenomenal Progress in
Manufacturing and Other Indus
trial Work.
BIG F0GEIGN COAL BUSINESS.
Reasons Advanced for Belief That
1t Would BE Practicable for Tug
to Tow Sea Barges Wholly
Across the Atlantic.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York. June ia huge tug for tow
Ing coal to Cuba has Just been launched at
Bath. Me. This IL believed to be the pre-
cursor Of the Transatlantic tow.
The evolution Of the American carrying
trade during the last decade has been MR.
velous. Our merchant marine now seczna
likely to resume its wonted pre-eminence.
American iron ore Il converted into steel
plates in ten days. and one Belfast firm has
taken 10000 worth for a single vessel. the
Oceanic.
American coal Is making inroads into Eu-
rope: American petroleum is being shipped
in greater bulk than ever seemed possible:
American machinery is being shipped from
Chicago to Hamburg direct.
These conditions are considered by ex-
perts TO mark the growth Of the United
States to the position Of maritime, as well
as commercial and financial, supremacy.
Chauncey &. 9. Miller thus discusses the
situation:
Certain salient facts lead to the conclu-
sion that the United States Is fast attain
irg maritime supremacy. as she has won
the foremost rank In manufactures and
general productivity.
First. the development Of the American
merchant marine and American shipbuild-
ing have gone forward hand in hand, both
ity following the Spanish-American war.
the shipbuilding industry being especially
benefited by the drain of Government pur-
chases OF available tonnage for the Suxil-
larry naval feet. Then. the evolution of the
American carrying tvade has proceeded
with native rapidity. marked by character
istic innovations and Yankee inventions.
Growth Of Foreign Coal Trade.
"A year ago conditions prevailing in, Eng.
land nearly resulted In a coal famine. The
cost of production had increased tremen-
douslJ. and. despite the fact that the de-
mand for coal was greater than ever. Eng
land could not sell her coal on the Con-
tinent at prices that would pay for its min
ing. Before the African war coal was SELL
ing at $3.50, free on board cars at Cardiff,
while In August last the price Of the sams
coal was quoted at $50 In this emer-
gency the eyes Of the world turned to
America. We were quick to seize the op-
portunity. Special agents were dispatched
to Europe. There was instantly increased
activity in building ships for the coal trade.
and the extension Of operations in the
Pennsylvania and Virginia coal fields, to-
gether with cooperation Of the Baltimore
and Ohio. New Jersey Central and other
here for handling coal. while the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railway erected huge new
wharves at Newport News.
None OF the countries OF Europe save
Great Britain produces enough coal for
home consumption. Great Britain has sent
9o. 600 tons to the Continent in = single year.
In lSss all Europe took from the United
States 260 tons Of coal. valued at $1eSu In
the nrst seven months OF last year We ex-
ported to Europe 3n.sz3 tons. valued ct
$3.50. France took . paltry Lou tons IN
lsss. but the following year she received
U.4U tons from us. Las year Germany for
the first time imported coal from America.
taking some 600 tons. These ptraWp show
how the trade winds blow.
The fact that . Aritish ehs1ist has
Welsh Goals which have be6a produoei =
vroof positive that We have quality g ven