The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-20
The Shipping Trade.

inc
Messrs. II. Z. Moss e. Co. of Liver
pool have issued their usual review of
the shipping trade.
THE depression" they remark, '1n
the shipping trade which commenced
at the end of 1900 still continues, and
we regret that at the present time
there are no signs of improvement.
This, however, could hardly have been
expected, as, owing to the completion
and delivery of the large number Of
tramp steamers ordered in the spring
of last year, and also to the number
of steamers given up which had been
on government employ, an already
weak market has been burdened with
a large additional amount of tonnage.
At the beginning of this year the guam
tity of merchant tonnage under con-
struction in the United Kingdom was
1.359,205 gross tons, and on the 30th of
September 1902, it was 1.000,714 gross
tons showing a reduction in the nine
months of S5S491 gross tons, and as
against the corresponding period of
last year there is a reduction in the
twelve months of 413, 900 gross tons.
These figures, at any rate show a
move in the right direction; as the
surest way to bring about an improve
ment in freights is the cessation of
building seeking tonnage, and the
laying up of steamers in preference to
running them at loss. AS no actual
reduction has been made in wages in
the shipbuilding yards (although a
per cent reduction will shortly take
effect, and as material is certainly no
cheaper, the present price of ship
plates being G5 15s per ton, builders
are in no better position in rendering
for new work than they were at the
beginning of the year, but prices for
building are undoubtedly lower, show
ing the anxiety there is to secure or
ders even at prices which will only
cover the bare cost of production
Shlpowners are not, however, to be
tempted at present into giving orders
for new boats, evidently believing that
during the next year or two they will
be able to contract at still lower prices,
and also considering that the new
boats, If ordered later, will not have
so long to wait for remunerative en-
ployment A 7000-ton dead weight
boat, about $50 feet long, and with O.
knot power, could be built to-day for
$4,000. Two years ago similar boats
were sold for 100000"
Coasting coal freights are advancing.
several sailing vessels having secured
$3.50 per ton from Philadelphia to Bos-
ton and proportionate rates to other
New England ports The only trouble
is the delay which vessels are required
to submit to. owing to the congested
condition of the railroads and the i'm
possibility of securing coal for ship
ment within a reasonable time. In ad-
dition to high rates of freight shippers
have been compelled to pay large sums
of money for demurrage in several in
stances.
A suit has been brought against the
international Navigation Company. by
Henry Mcneil of Williams county
Ohio, to recover $4,000 for the drown
ing of his wife. DR. Jessie r. Mcneil.
on Nov. "a. 1901, while a cabin passen-
ger on the steamship Belgenland.
homeward bound from Liverpool to
Philadelphia The vessel listed sud
denly off Nantucket and DR.. Mcneil
was thrown down, carried under the
railing, swept overheard and never
seen afterward. The International
Company claims contributory negli-
gence and that DIR. Mcneil went out
on deck in heavy weather against or
ders of the officers of the steamer.
1t is probable that the big seven
masted schooner Thomas w. Lawson
Will be towed whenever possible in her
voyages up and down the coast The
first attempt has been made, when the
steamship Hector, bound to PhiIadel-
phia, left Boston with the Lawson in
tow. The Hector towed the schooner
as far as the Delaware Breakwater.
after which she proceeded under sail
10 Baltimore. whence she win load coal
for Boston. Much better time can be
made in this way, as delays to a big
vessel like the Lawson, through ad-
verse winds and Gains, means a great
deal in dollars 10 her owners.