Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-08
WAR RESULTED
IN BIG BOOM FOR
BRITISH SHIPPING
Port of London Never Buster,
and Relief Is Sought from
Congestion of Traffic.

LONDON, Nov. 20 Correspondence
of the Associated Press)-The, war
has resulted in boom for the ship
ping industry of Great Britain. No
where has this been felt more than
IN London. The port of London has
never been buster, and notice just
posted by the association of master
lightermen appeals to ship owners
and manufacturers to do all in their
power to obtain the prompt dis
charge of cargoes as a measure of
relief for the unusual congestion of
traffic.
An unprecedented demand for
barges is noted by the trade jour-
nails. due to the large number needed
for military purposes as we'll as to the
immense arrivals of sugar, lumber
and food stuffs.' more than $4,000
tons of sugar is awaiting wharfage
in the Thames, and more is arriving
daily from Java. Mauritius and
America.
As for foodstuffs, the present re-
serve stock is five times larger than
it was at this time last year. OF
grain there are 100, 900 tons now afloat
for London. The stock of barley on
hand is twice the usual amount, but
the stock of oats is lower than GUS
tcmary, owing to the fact that the
government has intercepted all car
goes of oats for some time past and
directed their discharge at French
ports, where they would be available
for the cavalry at the front
A consignment of 100000 bags of
flour, sent as a gift from Canada
several weeks ago is still in the
dock warehouses, presumably being
held as part of the reserve supply for
the troops.
Meat and Tea Short.
The supply of meats and tea is not
so large as had been planned. Steam
ers to carry meat require special re-
frigerating. machinery, and the gov
eminent has Communicated a con-
siderable part of the available ship
ping of this character for use in car
rying meat supplies to the troops. Ar
rangements are now being made,
however, for bringing into use such of
the captured German vessels in Aus
tralia and South Africa as possess re-
frigerating apparatus.
The supply of tea apparently was
affected by the activity of the Ger
man cruiser Emden in the far East.
With this menace removed heavy ar
rivals are expected shortly. One full
ship load of 1900 tons which arrived
on November rs, was the largest
cargo of tea ever sent here from
China. Several of the German prize
ships are to be utilized by the gov
eminent for the transport of tea.
The shortage of lumber, which was
noted during the early part of the
war, has been remedied by the arrival
of vast quantities from the Baltic and
Archangel The regular lumber docks
are SO congested at present that there
are generally from ten to twenty-five
lumber-laden vessels waiting their
turn to come up the river and dis
charge. The war office has shown
particular interest in maintaining the
supply of lumber because of its inn
portarce in providing winter shelter
for the troops.
Trade from Archangel and the Bal
tic has been active also in other lines
than lumber. Immense quantities of
eggs from Russia, as well as other
produce and supplies of various kinds
have been received, and there has !
been, of course, large return trade.
Freight Rates Rise. 80
kinds came at time when. the trade |
was expecting depression. With the |
beginning of. the war freight rates !
began to rise steadily and sometimes
very rapidly. Freight for grain from |
the Platte have more than doubled |
in three months, and freights from |
the Pacific coast of North America |
have advanced more than a third.
Of course. this increase was due in
considerable part to the effect of |
the acquisition Of many vessels by |
the government of England, Russia
and France. But at the same time
with this withdrawal of vessels there
came an undoubted expansion of
trade.
Part of the revenue to shipowners
from increased freight rates has gone
into increased expenses War insur-
ance has been heavy, the cost of
coal and stores is higher, and the
wages OF seamen have advanced by |
leaps and bounds. Alien seamen have
had to go from all British ships, and
a considerable proportion of the Brit
ish seamen have been taken for war
duty The best of those who remain
can practically command their own
price.
In London ii is noted that since
the war began dock labor has been
fully employed for the first time in
years. About 1900 London dock la
borers have been taken to France for
work in unloading transports. A No
vember report from the port of Lon
don authority says. casual labor has
ceased to exist in this city, and our
observation of labor generally in the |
east end of London is that with few
exceptions there is no distress caused
by lack of work"
(iermany NOT to Occupy