New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-23
A NEW LINE TO EGYPT
DIRECT TRADE SERVICE.
Ne7e Commercial Outlook VieIced
Fa0oraMy in Washington.

Vrasbi,g.on Auq- 22-Close students of Amer
lean commercial conditions IN washington VINO
have begun 10 fear that the trade deVelopiheh' %
the United States win become uneven because Oh
the tendency to cater to the Far East, take great
consolation from the announcement that direct
steamship line from New York and Philadelphia 10
Egypt has Just been established. They believe that
this Is a commercial incident which may prove OF
Immense importance in the development OF Amer
ican trade in Africa. A Greek navigation com
pany recently started line Of steamers plying De-
tween the PirRus and New York, ana aiter soiie
months Of investigation decided that II Wouio De
profitable venture 10 make Alexandria a port OF
call en- route from New York. one steamship was
loaded with coal and
The features OF this venture-the direct freight
service and the introduction into Egypt or Amer
lean coal and cornare in the nature Of an expert
ment and upon the results achieved will depend the
future business in these commodities between the
two countries. II is recognized by experts IN the
Bureau of Trade Relations and by commercial men
in Alexandra that the first step toward the IN
creased sale in Egypt Of both raw and manu-
featured American products. is a regular and fire.
quent service of freight steamers direct from New
York 10 Alexandra. Its lack has been the great
est drawback TO the expansion of American trade.
The Egyptian customs figures place the value OF
American imports at Alexandria fer 1908 at S.OlS-
040 but there are many indications that this figure
low and not representative OF the volume OF
American business done with that port II Is the
practice OF the customs authorities az Alexandria
10 credit imports to the nation from which the inn
porting steamer comes. The bulk OF American
products now reach Alexandria through trans
shipment either Liverpool Naples, and in the
absence Of American marks on the packing the
customs office is prone TO class these goods as Eng
lish Italian.
Not one of the 2l00 steamships which entered and
cleared Alexandria last year was from or bound
TO American port These steamers brought
into that harbor S5S5l64 tons Of foreign merchan-
disc and took away S,5524S tons OF Egyptian prod
10 various ports of Europe
The English exporter may send his wares 10
Egypt every few days by five or more regular lines
of British steamers. France has line which
leaves every week for Egypt. Italian goods are
sent by a weekly service and Germany also sends
her products in her ships All these services
direct and enable the Egyptian buyer 10 secure
his goods quickly. lower freight rates and with
out danger OF breakage, owing 10 transshipment-
A further disadvantage with which the importer OF
American goods has contend by OF the
absence Of direct freight communications is the de-
lay which results 10y aging over OF goods at
the port OF transshipment
The American Consul in Alexandria informed
by a dealer in American furniture that recent
consignment thirty-two days in transit from
New York which meant a delay Of over weeks
in Naples
The difficulties incident to the expansion OF
American trade where direct freight service is
maintained may be understood from the foregoing
outline OF some Of the advantages enjoyed by alert
competitors, and II is confidently believed by the
promoters OF the New YOrk-AleXandria direct line
that American exporters will avail themselves of
this service in sending their goods 10 Africa
In report the subject TO the State Department
the American Consul at Alexandria, D. R. Bureh.
says:
Ten million dollars worth OF raw cotton is
shipped annually TO the United States from Alex
andria. An this cotton is sent first Liver
pool and there transshpped 10 American ports.
The cotton exporters OF Egypt were approached.
with view Of presenting Inducements in the way
Of lower freight and quicker delivery. with
out transshipment The reply Of every cotton
porter was the same They were bound by long
contracts with British steamship companies TO ship
the cotton sold 10 the United States via Liverpool
in the absence OF direct steamers TO America they
had no alternative but make contracts with
these lines upon practically such terms as We're
dictated by the British companies.
Some OF these existing contracts are for several
years, but there others for shorter periods.
The Greek steamship corporation is negotiating in
London with the various British companies. hoping
10 effect an agreement whereby Egyptian cotton
sold 10 the United States may be taken from Alex
sndria direct 10 New York by this Greek line. The
officials Of the latter think probable that such an
agreement may be made, and are prepared TO nay
the English lines bonus in order 10 secure this
trade.
With sufficient freight TO justify the oontinu-
ance OF the project, a regular and permanent
service from New York 10 Alexandria will be es-
tahlished The Greek company is prepared 10 make
rate OF 70 a ton for general merchandise from
Philadelphia and New York TO Alexandria The
company has feet of five steamers, four of which
are cargo boats, and one. OF 1900 tons, for both
freight and passengers. Another large steamship
Is now in the course OF construction. ANY or All
OF these may be utilized for the New York-Alex-
andria service IL the conditions warrant