Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-05
Three Private Lines Running
From the Atlantic Coast.
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Many Vessels Running From Europe
Apparently at Profit.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Frauds Perpetrated in Europe Upon
inexperienced American Buyers
of Curios and Furniture.
El WILLIAM E. CI RTIS.

E1 WILLIAM f.. @ KITS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The daily consular and trade reports
published by the bureau Of manufactures
contain a good deal Of interesting infor-
nation these days for the general pubic
as well as for the commercial interests
Of the country for which they are es-
pecially intended.
A recent number contains thought
full report from Consul Alfred A.
Winslow at Valparaiso. Chile. concerning
the shipping facilities between tie
United States and the west coast OF
South America. He says there has been
a material Improvement during the past
few years. especially in the matter of
handling freight but there is still much
to he desired. During 1907 and 1908. and
| am sure the same is true of 1902
there was not one American passenger
or freight steamer in Chilean port, and
but few sailing vessels, which is fact
worth the attention of the business men
of this country who are opposing the eT-
forts of President Taft and others to Sc
cure regular mail and passenger and
freight communication with South Amer
lea under the American flag.
There is no public line of steam ers
connecting any Of the countries on the
west coast OF South America with the
Atlantic ports of the United States. The
business is conducted by three private
lines Of steamers sailing under the flags
of European nations and chartered by
business firms in New York TO carry
their own freight. The Merchants line IS
run by and for the especial benefit of
W. K. Grace & Co, the West Coast line
for the especial benefit of Vessel, Duval
& Co, and the New York and South
American line for the especial benefit or
the United States Steel corporation to
carry merchandise to their own agencies
on the west coast of South America and
bring back nitrate of soda to be manu-
featured into fertilizer for the use of the
farmers OF this country. These steamers
do not do a general freight business.
They do not carry passengers. They are
simply sent back and forth by the firms
named i'm New York at their own eN-
penSe and for their own advantage. The
public generally IS compelled to ship by
the Isthmus of Panama, which requires
from fifty to sixty days for a package
to reach its destination.
The fare to New York by Panama from
Valparaiso is $50 So67.65D for distance
of about 5000 miles. while to Europe,
distance of 11,O0O miles, 1T is the same,
and the time is about twenty-four days
in both cases. There are about half a
dozen German and English steamship lines
between the west coast and Europe, and
they all seem to be paying good profit.
from Europe to Chile was 2,413.617 tons
and as against 2S7516 tons from the
United States. while the export tonnage
for Europe was I. 122, 102 tons. as against
534, aa46 tons for the United States. Ere ght
rates from the United States from 10
to 20 per cent higher than from European
ports.
German Labor Troubles.
Consul General Dillingham; of Coburg
gives an account, from the government
returns, Of the strikes and lockouts in
the German empire during the year 1He.
They were 1,:,47 in number, as against
2,26,i in 1907 and :,,32S in 1906. OF these
POS were successful. 437 were partially
successful and 7Oi unsuccessful.
OF the $500 strikers, 1854 were sue
cessful, 1920 were partially successful
and 32.59S unsuccessful.
OF the 1,3A7 strikes. 9oS were ended
through negotiations. 497 by the parties
directly concerned without outside help,
81 by the courts and 1913 by labor as
socations or third parties
The strikes In 1903 concerned Alta fac
tories, with 9,371 employees. OF the fac
tories 1,21f were brought to a complete
standstill. OF the $3.50" strikers. those
under twenty-one years numbered 1854.
OF the total number of strikers. 47,19S,
were free tn stop work. but the re-
mainder, 1854, broke their contracts by
striking Employees who were compelled
by the strikers to stop work numbered
7.4O5
In 1903 the strikes and strikers for in
creased wages numbered 1.1O6 and 49,,
s56, respectively, while the remainder,
al strikes and 1895 strikers were i'll
protest against decreased wages.
In the distribution of strikes last year
the largest number was in the building
trades, with 400 strikes and 1888 strikers
out of 39,1S9 employees. Those of longest
duration were in the textile and stone and
earth industries. In the first industry
1861 per cent, and in the latter industry
~ per cent of all the strikes continued
over 100 days. Strikes of longer dura
ton than fifty days occurred in the stone
and earth industry. in the Woodworking
industry in the machine, instrument and
appar atus industries in the lumber and
woodworking industries, in the textile in
dustry in the food and delicacy indus
try and III the building trades.