Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-08
j. s. TONNAGE IS
FAST INCREASING
Number of Vessels, However, Is
Slowly Growing
Smaller.
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-The
worlds carrying power now includes
approximately $1,000 vessels, with an
aggregate capacity of 100000 gross
tons, and has nearly doubled in ca
pacity during the last twenty years.
In number, however, the commerce.
fleet has decreased slightly, thus
showing a tendency toward larger
carrying units. These figures are
based on the tonnage of all vessels
over 100 tons engaged in trade,
whether domestic or foreign, on
ocean, river and lake.
This country Is tied with Germany
for second place In the number and
tonnage of vessels engaged in COM
merce, but this is due to the vast
number of vessels engaged in lake
and ocean coastwise trade, since the
number of American vessels engaged
in foreign trade, according to re-
ports received by the bureau of for
eign commerce, Department of Com
merce, Is less than that of Great
Britain, Germany, France, Italy. or
Norway.
According to a recent statement OF
Lloyds out of o total tonnage OF
AZ, 900, 900 gross tons in 1914. 40 per
cent. was credited to Great Britain.
II per cent. to the United States, IL
per cent. to Germany, about per
cent. each to Norway and France 3
per cent. each to Holland. Italy ana
japan, and from "a to * per cent.
to Russia. Sweden. Austria Hungary
Denmark and Spain.
The carrying trade of the United
states shows a marked growth IN
coastwise and lake traffic and de-
cline on the ocean. While the gross
tonnage of American vessels engaseu
in lake and coastwise trade was IN
creased from 3,657,S04 tons in 1888 10
9,79s, SOL tons in 1918 that of our yes
sells in the foreign trade was ae-
crea sing from 1.302, 095 tons to 1921
776 tons. an increase in one case OF
1sS per cent, and a decrease in the
other of 81 per cent. during a thirty
wear period, In which the value OF our
foreign trade rose from s1,5oO, 00O,OOO
to s4,250, 100000.
The volume Of oversee commerce
SERVED by the worlds merchant
marine cannot be definitely stated.
r. IL known, however, that consid-
cradle portion of the $4,000, OoO,uov
worth Of merchandise imported and
exported by the various nations Is
carried by vessel
The United Kingdom, being an IS
land community, necessarily imports
and exports all its merchanulse py
vessel. The United States SENDS apout
four-fifths of its exports to south
America and overseas countries. Bra
iii sends 95. per cent. of her exports 10
extra South American communities.
Nearly half the goods shipped from
tha United States to Asia is destined
for extra Asiatic communities, and
practically all of Africa's trade stables
find markets outside the Dark Con-
tinent. While trade between the Eu-
ropean nations is considerable, those
countries ship large part OF their
surplus products to other parts OF
the world.
Recent consular advices indicate
that many of the leading nations are
enlarging their shipping facilities Tor
trade through the Panama Canal, for
it is expected that the markets OF
South America and Australasia will
be stimulated by the opening of the
canal.
The countries fronting on the Pacific
haves an aggregate import trade OF
over $4,000, 900, O00 and 1t is believed
that share of the United States in
that trade will be advantageously
affected through shortening of dis
tances and Improvements in transport
facilities.
OF that trade we now supply about
10 per cent, a much smaller proper
ton than appears in our trade with
nearer and better served communities
from the standpoint - steamship
lines.