Evening journal., 1915-11-27
SATURDAY NOV. 27. 1915
AlIERICA,s MERcHANT MARINE.


ClArf per cent OF the big and able merchant ships
- in the world owned by Great Britain
Not seven per cent. Of them owned by the United
States
Those are facts set forth statistical statement on
the American merchant marine that has been compiled
by the Nations Business Official organ Of the Chamber
OF Commerce OF the United States
In the above connection 1t is well for the reader to
bear in mind the fact that the merchant marine OF
Great Britain fostered by subsidies and reasonable
laws while the merchant marine Of the United States
receives subsidies is cursed by such acts as the
LaFollette seamen's law and menaced by Ship Pur
chase legislation, with the President of the United
States and his Secretary OF the Treasury prominently
back OF It,
Great Britain has merchant marine that is the
wonder of the world because she has pursued
ligent and helpful policy deang with it, It is a
pity the thing cannot be sd about own coun-
which ought 10 have one/of the largest If not the
largest merchant feet in W world. It would have It
II policy of hopfuness instead OF one of indifference
or anagonism, ruled IN Washington
The statement above referred TO shows that the
principal trouble with the American merchant marine
us that nhnnesimally small It is respectable
both ia number and OF craft It's lamentable
weakness lies IA the fact that n is OF all proper
The trade Of country and has only
"a small number Of big and up-to-date deep-sea car
lricrs
II is pointed out that when one speaks Of merchant
inherently connected with merchants merchandise and
careoes meant and further that it has TO do with
THE seal Yet than 120o0-nearly half-of our
solal merchant marine may be said truhfully TO have
more to do With the land.
Out OF a total OF 2G7Ol registered and licensed YES
Sells, there S4s2 motorboats 500 canal boats and
1921 barges. which. metaphoricaly speaking. never
take more than dip in salt water There remain
$4,000 vessels to account for, which may
do with the romance and economics OF those who go
down to the in ships.
AS matter of fact it appears that less than 5000
Of these plough their through foreign seas
The remaining 1900 have their life and being in the
different waters-fresh and salt-which make the
United States in one respect, unique. For other
OF the leading maritime nations has so extensive a
eoastline, such inland seas farwindipg river
navigation. The western rivers show more than / Ss3
vessels, aggregating lSSS04 TONS There is a great
traffic on the lakes 3l61 vessels in all nearly ooo
600 TONS But even the shipping OF the Great Lakes has
not that Of the salt sea which merchant ma
line implies although il offers a totally neglected but
unsurpassed wealth of material in men, possibly 90
900 strong, for reserves for the navy
What is coastwise trade? Il is an anomalous ,h,n
1t means trade from American port to another.
which, by the delightful irony of statistics classes
alike the steam barge which plies between ST
Louis and New Orleans with the 10000 ton ocean
steamer which between San Francisco Honolulu
and New York
I
from authentic data, what part OF our coastwse trade
might be dgnihed reputable element in the mer-
chant marine OF nation II is therefore evident
from survey OF the statistics Of the American mer.
chant marine that the figures for the trade on the
coasts-which includes adjacent sounds bays and riv-
srs-must cover swarm of small schooners steamers
motorboats and barges. well as ocean steamers
Therefore, far the the rest Of the world knows
he American flag. seen in foreign trade our mer-
chant marine consists OF 81 sailing ships averag-
ing 1900 tons each 544 wooden sailing vessels aver
aging 600 TONS 239 wooden steamers averaging 800
tens and 3S1 steel steamships averaging $500 tons
There are also 5S7 motorboats and llO6 barges
In large merchant steamers the class that is fast
growing in commerce and Of a size and speed TO rem
ger some assistance naval auxniaries the United
states stands third surpassed only by Great Britain
ana Germany Bpt a glance at the grand totals and
en at tho individual figures for each country reveals
startling situation That is as pointed out above
@'Sis per cent. OF the big and able steamers in tho
world arc owned by Great Britain and not seven nor
'eni by the United States Hero lies one Of Tho III,
Foo's OF disbursement to our merchant marine
me uadc and wealth OF the United States have 81,
their disposal only about onc-tenth OF the shinn,n
facilities available to the British merchant and manu-,
acnrer TO the bulk OF our sea-borne eomn,erc,
We have 70 rely on he ships Of friendly nations
The estimated result Is that every year ssoo ooo ooe
leaves the United States in the form OF freight may.
meuis for deposit The Golfers Of foreign shipowner
Americans only subscribe TO the upkeep but ais,
q the construction ships Of their marine com
fsfit2rs e tle rpifod States is to take its proper
- ~ = 1ifo sucffiila bands with APPS