The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-25
Astounding Revelation on
Cost Of Transatlantic
Shipments
CHARGES GOING HIGH
Err is ALSO STATED
American Shippers Faced by
a Very Serious Sit
uation

washington ~. ~, Jan. @os--HNiuchN'
OF extraordinary advances III trarsatlan-
! tic freight rates since the outbreak OF
the European war, amounting in some
instances to 900 and even ,l50 per cent,
was presented to the Senate to-day in a
Joint report from Secretaries McAdoo
and Redfield.
"While this report is being written
the statement says, information is re-
ceiyed that rates are higher than those
given in some Of the tables presented,
land that even at these extraordinary
| figures, it is difficult to obtain cargo space
for earlier sailings than March and
! April
The report contains numerous tables
| of rates on various commodities from
American to European ports and sum
marizes the principle advances since
August ] last as follows;
! New York to Rotterdam on grain, 900
per cent. on flour, 500 per cent; on cot
ton, 700 per cent
New York to Liverpool on the same
commodities, from 800 to 600 per cent.
Baltimore TO European ports Except
ing Germany on grain 900 per cent; on
-four, 3e4 per cent; on cotton, GA per
cent.
Norfolk to Liverpool on grain l57 toI
200 per cent; on cotton, 1856 per cent.
Norfolk to Rotterdam on cotton, All
per cent; to Bremen, 100 per cent,
namely, from Sl.25 TO $500 per bale
Savannah to Liverpool on cotton, $50
per cent; to Bremen, 900 per cent.
Galveston TO Liverpool on grain, ia
per cent. on cotton, 30l per cent; TO
Bremen on cotton, 1901 TO 1850 per
cent.
The report declares that in one year,
il American exports maintain the De-
cember, 1914, level. the increased rates
will make a charge of S2l6,224,A0 on
American shippers and that ii the i'm
ports be Included IN the same basis Of
the amount would reach the
sum OF s3ll ,s646 400, or l4l.6 per cent.
over the usual cost. If normal rates
are taken in conjunction with the abnor-
NAL on the December basis, the freight
charge on both exports and imports in a
year would make the grand total Of 4
s532, 10000.
The report contains several score let
ters from business men over the country, I
declaring their inability TO get bottoms
for their freight, and charging diserimi- /
nation by such carriers as are in busi- I
ness against freight that pays low rate,
md the breaking Of contracts BY AZ least {
,ne Of the big Transatlantic steamship !
companies. The charges are summarized 4
Is follows; IN
Ocean freight rates have been arbi- h
rarily increased 70 an unparalleled ;
leight without regard 10 the interests \
4 American trade. a
High rates are not only restricting
he general volume Of our export trade, 4
nat are actually stopping expectations 7
y some lines. Some business plants
ave been shut down as result Of the
Norbitant rates.
"Ship owners in some instances are A
aking only those goods or commodities
.hich will pay the highest rates Of
reight and are easily unloaded. and are
eclining 10 accept shipments Of other
tsuch. for instance. as hum
er, becausc the character Of the ship. = :
tents and the rates obtainable thereon u
AXE il more 70 the interest of the =
owner 20 accept one class Of -
pods than another n common carriers of
b land were TO practice such discrimi- W
ations against shippers. and adopt such
-bitrary methods. they would b. subject
criminal prosecution.
Despite claims that there i ample ~
image for the south American trade.
Iere are letters 70 show that rates 20
luth Amcrica hl,Hc been greatly in N.
eased. and there i shortage of ton. =
leo both t. and from south America. ~
aThe direct charge = made that the y
oIlsnd. American line las repuAiatss ~
ritfer contract eith America sbip. y
~ and has increased freight charges ~
tbo1a rrgard "a thely rigftse -
me rer..rt slaa contains 4 lettar from -
y Panama Railroad co~rapY ubirb
com efoek fof casl hss hs-n reduced
~, 600 - Al aaa -. a. t,...h ~, ~
-. frs a,.f ,,rr ogsrn.r,. 49,, -. ~
\ ri.s-t.r a = H. So y, ...,,,e