Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-12
LINE TO ADD SHIPS
FOR SERVICE HERE
Independent Concern Plans
to Take Advantage of
Ports Opportunities
OTHERS SEEKING DOCKS
Two New Companies After
Pier Facilities, Says Com
merce Chamber Secretary

one Of the largest independent steam
snip concerns in this country--Furness
"ithy q Co.'s planning"to put several
"uditional vessels in service at this nor,
II has been announced.
although no definite program could
oe obtained from officials Of the com
pahy at the Philadelphia office in the
nourse Building, it was said they had
conferred with members of the mort
developing committee on their plans.
according to Assistant Director of
wnarres, Docks and Ferries HassI,sr,
d member of the port development com
.hltlee, officers of Furness. withy q 20
including J. r. Binney, head of the
agency here notified the port "boomers''
they intended greatly to enlarge their
trade at this port.
expect the increase will take MIA 90
IN the near future" said Mr. Hassl,arI
today. ii'''Ner'
he said the ALLEGATION of additional
snlps to this port by the company would
take place just as quickly as arrSnpa-
mehts could be made and that II would
.h u.1"s thousands OF added tonnage TO
the port each month
"ah'bg 10r Releases
D; H. TAFT, assistant manager OF the
Philadelphia office of Furness, withv &
Co. said that at present the company
was marking time" waiting for the re-
tease OF many ships from Allied govern
ment service e.. .
He asserted that just as soon as fine
steamships were released the company
would begin operating lines from Phila-
delphia to Glasgow, Manchester. Lon
don and Lelth. Similar lines, he said,
were maintained before the war.
The status of negotiations with two
steamship lines contemplating opening
service from this port, announced yes
terday by n. b. Kelly, Of the Chamber
or commerce, was made known today.
although the identity of the, cornpanies
remains secret
From the Chamber. of Commerce. II
was learned that the general managers
or both lines one transatlantic com
pany and "a coastwise concern-had
visited this city and Immediately be-
came boosters for this port.
They declared themselves highly
pleased with the business prospects and
facilities and have returned to present
Philadelphia's cause before the board Of
managers of the companies.
General Goethals' reply to the in
Quhy VI SoHsItSSlildH moore relative to
the abandoning OF Philadelphia as a
quartermaster shipping center was
termed "back-stepping" by Mr.. Hass-
karl.
- Said Cost Too High ..'
Previously, General Goethals had told
Mayor, Smith the port was to be dropped
because of the high cost of shipping
here, which statement brought a storm
Of protests from trade bodies and port
boomers. His answer to Congressman
Moore was that the port was released
from Government trade because Of the
falling off, in war needs abroad, neces-
stating. a concentration of the remain
ing business at certain shipping points.
That is backing down - back step
ping" said Mr.. Hasskarl I'VE are not
satisfied with such an explanation. Cen
eral Goethals made a fiat statement
against this port that the charges were
unnecessarily high. This statement we
challenge"
The. Official made it clear that Phila-
delpha's. port supporters expect General
Coethals either to withdraw his previous
assertions altogether, or meet the facts
presented in behalf of,this port.