The Washington herald., 1908-06-28
WHY EUROPEANS WIN
Geographical Position Aids
III Shipping Business.
FRANCE A GOOD EXAMPLE
Steamers Coming from Havre, Mar
seflies, and Bordeaux Carry Mails
and Receive subsfdy-EmigratiOn
To United States Also an Important
FactOr-American Difficulties.

Much Of the trade between the United
States and France is carried in a French
line Of steamers which enter New York,
concerning which Consul General Robert
P. Skinner. writing from NIarseIles, gives
the following interesting facts:
For handling FrancO-American traffic,
Of which the portion exported goes very
largely 10 New York, lines Of steamers
now exist, and provide regular sailings
from Marseines. Havre. and Bordeaux.
The Havre line (Compagnie Generate
Transatlantique) receives a heavy postal
subsidy, and depends upon this and the
passenger traffic. as the freight-carrying
capacity Of the fast steamers is not great.
The other lines operating between French
and American ports are chiefly freight
carriers, but such as are under the French
flag also receive premiums from the state.
and the Fabre line from MarseiIles is main
tained, as far as west-bound traffic is con
cerned, by emigration TO the United
States.
Line Projected TO New York.
In 1906 an all-American line was pro-
jected between Marseilles and New York.
and one steamer was purchased and put
into commission with the hope that the
frequently asserted inability Of the Ameri-
can flag TO compete. without artificial aid.
would be this time controverted. After
three round trips had been made. and no
additional capital in the meantime having
come forward 10 purchase additional
ships. this steamer was withdrawn and
the experiment abandoned. During a long
experience in Nlarseilles I know OF but one
small sailing ship under the American
flag that has visited this port, with the
exception noted
1t costs great deal more 20 operate
American than European ships. and were
this otherwise the capital ventured IN a
line Of modest proportions might well be
inumidated by the completely organized
foreign enterprises now handling the
worlds traffic. Steamers are operated in
great fleets, with ports Of call visited at
regular intervals, and the through bin Of
lading is coming into more and more gen
eral use.
The increasing number Of German yes
sels in MarseiIles illustrates what is being
done. In 1888 German shipping tonnage
entered and cleared at MarSeilles was only
l29.s9S tons. Il had increased TO I70,S3
tons by 1900. In 1906 Il amounted 20 "a. .I92
tons. representing a network Of lines IN
every direction owned by the two great
German companies or their subsidiaries.
In 1906 the total shipping tonnage OF. Mar
seilles was 1880 939 tons. and il is probable
that not more than 100000 tons were rep
resented by tramp ships. and many Of
these were time chartered by firms who
% 81
why Europeans Succeed.
American shipowners cannot afford 10
feel their way toward success on a small
scale, and stH Jess can they afford 10 DO
so under existing conditions. We are un-
likely 70 see a great American commercial
feet in European waters until the stand
ard American wage has been reduced 10
the European level or until we find some
means which will make up the difference.
backed up by sufficient guaranty that this
means can be depended on as long as il
shall be needed.
The graphical situation Of the United
States compels most American navigation
lines 10 depend upon traffic between the
port of departure and port Of arrival. and
when any great difference in the bulk of
liiNA Gi414-441r 4AiF1l ltu anu tAloIlcu eAlSLS
freight rates must be ged 10 get
back operating cost. European sea pow
ers are much more favorably located in
this respect than the United States.
The great English lines 70 the Orient,
for example, sail from London. and call
at MarSeilles, sometimes Naples. Port Said.
Alden, and half a dozen or more East In
dian and Oriental ports. discharging and
receiving freight thus managing 10 keep
the vessels holds full, more or less, all
The time.