The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-23
VOTERS IN BOSTON ON FOREIGN SO|L
  Large Area Is Built of Ship
 Ballast ARE FOREIGNERS Al HOME
  Some of the Disadvantages of the Worlds commerce-lnterchanse of Merchandise Is Great Advantage to Shippers.
ARE FOREIGNERS Al HOME
From the Boston Herald.

From the Boston Herald.
 There are certain sections of made land about Boston upon which people are living in serene confidence that they are within the limits of the United States. If they were to be told that they were really living upon Italian soil or swe- dish soil, they would be surprised, but in some cases investigation would prove such an assertion correct
 7 To be sure, they exercise their fran ehise and vote for congressman and al- dermen, and as citizens of the United States, yet they reside on foreign soil, and in some cases upon the soil of half dozen nations.
 The solution of the paradox is found at the old ballast wharf in South Bos- ton, where vessels from foreign coun- tries are constantly unloading hundreds of tons of stone, earth and gravel which they have transported In some cases half- way round the world.
 In the last 9 years many thousands of tons of earth have been landed in Boston by vessels which brought It as ballast. and much of it has been used in making new land within the limits of the city of Boston.
 The reason for ballast reveals a grave defect in the worlds system of con- ducting commerce. The ideal method is to send a ship from one port loaded with merchandise which she will dispose of, and return with a cargo of the mer- chandse of the country which she has visited When this Is done the vessel proves very profitable to her owners. Un- fortunately the law of supply and de- mand enters into the matter. There may be a demand for American merchandise in England and no demand for English merchandise In AmerIca. The vessel is obliged to return from England empty, and, in order to stiffen her, ballast IS used.
 This creates a trade in ballast and in every great port there are ballast mer- chants whose business Is to discharge ballast from incoming vessels and to furnish it to outgoing vessels in need Of 1t. The securing of such large quan- titles of earth and stone such as a large vessel requires is. difficult natter The three or four hundred tons of bal- last required to stiffen a good sized ves- sel would make an enormous hole in the ground and the ballast men are enabled to charge a good round sum for their services.
 There has been a tremendous boom in the ballast business of Boston during the last few years because of the growth of the lumber trade to South America. Whole cities in the Argentine Republic are constructed of timber which grew in the forests of Maine and New Bruns- wick, for timber is very scarce in that country This trade, which formerly was carried on by three or four square rigged vessels per year now employs be- tween 50 and 10 of these veterans of the sea and provides the last great trade for the old time square rigger, which is still the cheapest way to transport the lumber.
 From all over the world vessels have been coming to Boston to secure lumber charters. In the last six months, ships and barks flying the flags of England, Norway, Russia, Denmark, Holland, Ger many. France, Italy and even Austria 1 and Spain have come to Boston harbor, and in almost every case, in ballast. There was no trade between any of these 1 countries and Boston which was not at tended to by the regular lines of steamers. i So in rapid succession there has been dis l charged upon the ballast wharf in South | Boston thousands of tons of soil and rock | from every one of the countries men toned. I