Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-18
SOUTH AMERICA
HAS SOME SHIPS
Merchant Marine Problem Par
tally Solved by 1000 YES
sells Owned There.

With European industry stopped by
TIE war the demand for the manutac-
tured products, as well as for the food
products of the United States must
increase by leaps and bounds. This
country can supply the demand provid-
e. the transportation facilities can be
found We can sell the goods If we
can deliver them. According TO
statement issued by the Pan Ameri-
can union, Washington, ID. c., the sit
uatIon may be relieved to an extent
b. the merchant marine of several
South American countries. Accustom-
ed to shipping their goods in Euro
pean vessels, the exporters of the
United States have perhaps lost sight
of the fact that Brazil and Argentina
on the Atlantic and Chile and Peru on
the Pacific have lines of merchant YES
se;s capable of caring for a consider
able volume of international shipping.
Late statistics show that these four
countries have a combined total or
459 steamers, classed as sea-going,
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 so tons
net or over, with a combined gross
tonnage of 2O4,473. OF course, all OF
these vessels, although classed as sea-
going, are not adapted to trans-oceanlc
traffic. Some of these lines, however,
are we'll equipped with a number of
modern steamers which could be util-
lied for oversee shipping. Notable
n fOIInu-iney Iinac
The Lloyd Brazileiro, a large COM
rany 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 tel
egraph 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
Ayres has no less than 325 steamers,
most of which are engaged in f1uvial
and coastwise traffic, but many of
which are adapted to oversee ship
ping.
The South American Steamship
company, a Chilean line, has a feet
of steamers composed of some 20 YES
sells plying between Valparaiso and
Pacific ports. with an average of 1000
tons each. Seven of these make regu-
lar trips between Valparaiso and Pan
ANA, some formerly going as far as
have
modern equipment and fairly good
passenger accommodations.
The Peruvian Steamship company,
operating under a subvention from the
Peruvian goernment, among numerous
other vessels has a fleet of five fine
up-to-date turbine driven, oil-burning
steamers, which have only recently !
been placed in commission. Owing |
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 If necessary. They |
are equipped with all modern appli- |
ances and conveniences and have ex-
cellent accommodations for passe.
gers. They have an average of 1000 |
tons capacity each, and are especially |
last. They can make the trip from |
Callao, Peru, to Panama in six days |
and from there to New York in as
many more. All could be easily adapt |
ed to trans-oceanic traffic.
These several lines, as we'll as 9TH
ers not specifically mentioned, will |
doubtless be ready to grasp the OPP
portunity to engage in the most profit
able business at hand. Presumably
such vessels as are suited to the trans
Atlantic trade will be promtly pre-
pared to meet the emergency. Thus
the South American merchant marine
may become an important factor IL
North American shipping.
United States apple crop is expect
ed to reach 65,000,00O barrels this
year.