Evening star., 1914-08-15
South American Merchant
Marine May Aid the U. S.

With European industry stopped by
the war, demands for manufactured ana
agricultural products of the United
States are increasing in leaps and
bounds This country's ability to meet
these demands is dependent only on
the ability to obtain transatlantic
transportation facilities.
In this emergency the United States
can get a measure OF assistance from
the merchant marine that already is
established in, several South American
lean Union. 1t is pointed out that
Brazil and Argentina on the Atlantic
coast and Chile and Peru on the Pa
cific coast have lines of merchant ves-
sells capable Of caring for a conslder-
able volume of international shipping.
Late statistics show that these four
countries have q combined total of 469
steamers. classed as sea-gping. each
of 100 tons net or over. with total
gross tonnage of 549,267. In sailing
vessels the same countries have "a
total of 622 ships Of fifty tons net or
over. with a combined gross tonnage of
704.473. OF course. all of these vessels.
although classed as sea-goipg. are not
of these lines, however, are well
equipped with a number of modern
steamers which could be utilized for
over-sea shipping. Notable among these
Many Modern Vessels.
The Lloyd Brazileiro. large COM
pany subventioned by the Brazilian
government, has such vessels as the
Sac Paulo. Rio de Janeiro and Minas
Geraes, quick passenger, mail and
freight steamers. which are of $500
tons each, equipped with wireless tele-
graph and every modern convenience.
and which have been plying between
Brazilian ports and New York. The
company has similar vessels plying
between Rio de Janeiro and southern
ports to Buenos Aires.
The Argentine Navigation Company
(the Mihanovich lines) of Buenos
Aires has no less than S25 steamers.
most of which are engaged in fiuvial
and coastwise traffic. but many of
which are adapted to oversee ship
ping.
pany, a Chilean line. has fleet of
steamers composed Of some twenty
vessels, plying between Valparaiso and
Pacific ports, with an average Of 1000
tons each. Seven of these make regular
trips between Valparaiso and Panama,
some formerly going as far as San
Francisco. These vessels have mod
ern equipment and fairly good pas
senger accommodations.
The Peruvian Steamship Company,
opera ting under a subvention from the
Peruvian government, among numer-
Gus other vessels. has a fleet of five
fine, up-to-date turbine-driven, oil
burning steamers, which have only re-
Gently been placed in commission. Ow-
ing to the recently developed oil fields
of Peru, these steamers are using oil
for fuel. although they are built so that
coal can be used II necessary They are
equipped with all modern appliances
and conveniences and have excellent
accommodations for passengers. They
have an average Of 1000 tons capacity
each and are especially fast. They can
make the trip from Callao. Peru. to
Panama in six days, and from there to
New York in as many more. AL could
be easily adapted to transoceanic traf-
|fic.
These several lines, as well as others
not specifically mentioned. will doubt
less be ready to grasp the opportunity
to engage in the most profitable busl-
ness at hand. Presumably such vessels
as are suited to the transatlantic trade
will be promptly prepared to meet the
emergency. Thus the South American
merchant marine may become an i'm
portant factor in North American ship
ping.