Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-16
GRAIN SHIPMENTS
BOOM PORT TRADE
Philadelphia Channel for
Vast Exports of Flour,
Wheat and Rye
ALL RECORDS BROKEN
Business Takes Astounding
Leaps Despite Need for
More Elevators

Philadelphia, as II by magic, has be-
come the center Of vast grain export
business.
Within the last two weeks the port
has quadrupled its grain shipments, sew.
eral fleets Of merchantmen leaving the
port with holds filled with -four, wheat
and rye. a;
Although Philadelphia is handicapped
because It has but two grain elevators,
shipping men declare that the recent
shipments have broken all records for
this port
Philadelphia. largely by the decision
of the food administration, has been
made the channel through which mif-
lions of tons of much needed food will
be distributed to the devastated coun-
tries and hard-pressed neutrals of
Europe.
THE business has taken astounding
leaps said Assistant Director of
Wharves Hasskarl today. This is
readily substantiated by facts and
figures.
During the entire month of November
q tri1e more than 100000 bushels Of
wheat were shipped from Philadelphia.
During fourteen days Of the present
month steamships have received cargoes
20 =
more than twice the amount shipped
during November
Port boosters point with pride TO the
fact that virtually n steamship a day
Is being loaded and cleared from this
port with food grains. Fourteen big
merchantmen have been loaded with
grain here so far this month, and sew
eral others are waiting to dock at ;he
grain elevators. A small fleet of vessels
is on the sea headed this way to carry
grain back to the Continent
Flour shipments have equaled the reg
ular grain wheat trade, although def
mite comparisons cannot be made owing
to the fact that the export bureau OF the
food administration here withheld the
figures.
However. during the first two weeks
of this month five steamships received
total of 9,539,5S0 pounds Of -four. The
entire LOT of -four is consigned to British
interests.
The wheat on the other hand, is being
carried on Dutch and Swedish ships TO
Rotterdam for distribution in Holland,
Belgium and the war-stricken areas of
northern France. and on British and
Italian steamships bound for Gibraltar.
The two elevators here are said to ne
taxed to capacity, and port boomers are
now planning campaign to urge the
railroads to construct additional e,e-
vators. 1t is said that IL Philadelphia
had additional elevators the port could
carry on even a larger commerce. In
grains, that would rival anything along
the Atlantic or Pacific coasts,
a joint committee from the port de-
velopment committee and the Commercial
Exchange will endeavor to interest
Reading Railroad officials in establish
ing a new elevator. They will confer
with the railroad men this week
The steamers loaded at this port dur
ing the first fourteen days Of the month
are. ,...
Caterina Accame 1talian). bound for
-four, 10000 bushels Of wheat and
$1,000 pounds Of rye -four.
Ammorante (British). for Gibraltar,
with 2,130.300 pounds of -four and 1885,
900 bushels OF wheat
Foreric (British), for Gibraltar. lss.-
900 bushels of wheat. Cargo not COM
pleted
Graecia (Swedlsh). for Rotterdam,
1922 bushels of wheat.
Belos (Swedish). for Rotterdam. 1872
348 bushels OF wheat
Mercian (British). for Liverpool. with
$4,000 bushels Of wheat
Kennemerland (Dutch). for Rotter-
dam, with 2l4.360. bushels or wheat.
Carlsholm (Swedish). for Rotterdam,
with 181,455 bushels of wheat.
Sonia (Swedish). for Rotterdam.
with 87,37S bushels of wheat.
War Beetle (British). for Gibraltar.
with 1,139.1s0 pounds of -four and 241.-
078 bushels of wheat.
Baron Forlie (British). for Gibraltar.
with 2,868.8SO pounds of -four and 1884,
900 bushels Of wheat.
City of Florence CBritish), for Man.
chester, with 3b2,170 bushels of wheat.
Sahara (British). for Gibraltar, with
1,s69,56O pounds of -four and 16s,00y
bushels of wheat.
Scythian (British), for Cork. 25l,9so
bushels Of wheat.