The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-17
HOBO" OF THE SEA IS TRAMP STEAMER Will Take Any Cargo for
 Any Port PROFITS ARE LARGE But Risks Are Also Enormous-Tram Vessels Usually Find Plenty
 to Do in the Seven
 Seas
.om the New York Tribune.

although the old song of Wherever there's freight, that's where the tramp goes," applies. in measure, to the pill carriers of the steel rail. it was penned by some one who had in mind the thou sands of sturdy steam craft that. arc known on the seven seas as tramps.
 All vessels that do not ply on regular routes may be said to be tramps, and. while tramping may be looked upon with disfavor by those who live ashore, those a1oat and the shipping interests hold the tramp ship in high favor. A manufacturer gets a large order to deliver, say at Tampico, Mexico. There are no regular freight ships plying from his nearest coast port. What does he do? He tele- graphs or telephones to a ship broker at that port and the agent charters a tramp steamer of the required cargo ca pacity.
 And one may always, or nearly always, find a tramp at the larger cities laid up waiting for charter.
 The skipper of the tramp Is the man with whom to talk. He does not care what the cargo may be-fruit, oil in case. wheat, lumber, ties. dynamite or snews of war for revolutionary party in any part of the world-just so the price Is in keeping with the risk and the time re- quired.
 Among the calculations of the proposed revolution that certain dissatisfied pa triots may be contemplating the question of transportation of their army" and tc i, of the junta know that for the price a tramp steamer may be chartered. The risk to the owner? Oh, that's nothing if the price is right
 During the Russo-Japanese war 1t was common to read of both the Japs and Russians destroying steamers found to be carrying contraband. The owners of the steamers were satisfied for the men who chartered the vessels had paid enough freight money to justify the loss. As for the skipper and crew, if they escaped with their lives to enjoy their portion of the money paid, well and good If they went down. well, is 1t not all in the busi- ness?
 The business of tramping is as old as ships, but it was developed to high de- gree by the Yankee shippers of the early days of this country. in those days young man returned from a voyage with a rating of second or first mate and knowledge of navigation. He wanted vessel of his own, so he organized a company on a stock basis.
 With the ship in commission the cap tains real work began, and when he slipped his moorings for voyage he was going tramping, although he. called 1t trading" In his quest for cargoes he did not bother where he might have to go, his only stipulation being that he should have a return freight or a mone tary consideration
 Those were the days when trading was not so prosaic as today, for the doughty shippers of sailing craft took all kinds of chances. especially those who went over on the African coast, swapping beads, mirrors, calico. knives and other grim cracks for ivory. Many of those shippers were not aVerse to "blackbird- ing" as running slaves was called and many a cargo of blacks was run to the States, even after the British government started in to break up slave trading.
 Just as soon as the procuring of blacks was difficult then the rewards were great CT. was the temptation, and many a vessel that left her home port trader became a "blackbirder. sometimes with profit and sometimes not.
 During the civil war the tramp steam ship made it's appearance, first as a blocK- ade runner In that business a success fui voyage meant quick and ample re turns, for the freights were generally worth more than the ships One round trip paid for the vessel, after that it was all profit
 It Is to the tramp steamer that England owes her position as the foremost mari time power The crown has encouraged tie building of liners and tramps by the LiVing of subsidy. In other words. the crown is part owner but only in time of war does the crown assert it's rights. Then these tramps must respond, to be used troop transports, as many were during the Boer war. The ship subsidy bill that has been agi- tated in this country for years provides that kind of encouragement for our peo- pie, but Congress has not yet been con vinced of it's necessity. The result is that the stars and stripes Is rapidly disap bearing from the oyersea trade.
 Tn the meantime England and Norway. which also has subsidy systenl are en- toying tine major profits of carrying the wares of the world In bottoms that yield from 24 to 40 per. cent interest annually England leads the world because of the readiness of her people to invest, and the rapidity with which the vessels can be turned out One shipyard alone for sev- era years maintained an average of one 3001 ton stamer every three months, from tine laying of the keel to the official trial trir.
 1he cable has done wonders for the master Of tho tramp. He no leuger sails ''in ballast, on seek. Rather than that. he lays mp, retaining only enough of his crew to keep up his ship. Then he waits nrders from his shore agent. who in the meantime, has been notified. The latter then goes after business. For in- stance. a ship loads coal at one of the Chesapeake bay ports for Tampicoa and upon arrival there finds that the only. out cargo is one for Delaware Breakwater for orders W
 The cargo is taken, and when the vessel arrives at the breakwaters she receives orders to proceed to New York At3the latter port there is no outbound cargo for her. unless she Is willing to waitxtwo weeks After hav virg just come of short voyage the prospect does hot appeah so the skipper telegraphs his agents at all the coast ports asking for charter, and until something does come the ship must lie up in a basin. While there is an enormous amount of business done one may always find one or more of these tramps laid up. and these are the vessels that may be engaged for any enterprise. from seeking treasure to running contra band for a band of patriots 4
 And in tonnage, too the tramp has grown until there are some of them that register 60C0 tons. Most or them. how eN CT, are less than 5000 tons for they have been found to be more economical to operate in a line of business that is more or less uncertain
 As the tramp carries her cargo at so | much ton only the restraining hand Of l