The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-11-01
AMERICAN FLAG IS
NOW IN ALL PORTS
UNITED STATES is IN THE WAY
OF BECOMING ONE OF THE
MARITIME NATIONS.
RESULT OF THE GREAT WAR
Ships Built and Acquired by the Gov
eminent Are Being Turned Over TO
Private ownership-Training Men
to Operate Them.
By JAMES p. HORNADAY.

by JAMES r. HOliNRDRr.
Washington. - The United States s
may yet become a maritime nation.
1t is now making long strides in that :
direction. A member of the consular
service who came in the other DAY
from his post on the other side OF the
earth remarked that the American nag
may now be seen regularly where II
was seldom, if ever, seen prior to the
war. american freight carrying YES
sells are now entering most Of the i'm
portant ports Of the world" said TINS
consular officer. at is a new expert
ence for those of us who are repre-
senting our government in TAR away
places to see American built shlpS
/ sailing under the American flag ana
/ carrying products taking Their place
alongside the ships of the other great
maritime countries"
Now that the men who fought III |
France have nearly all been brought |
home the shipping board will be aple
to place a great many more SHIPS III
the freight-carrying trade. During the
last few days several additional as
signments have been made to South
American routes and the number OF
boats carrying freight TO European
ports is being increased almost dally'
War Made the Merchant Marine.
Development in shipbuilding in this
country has already progressed enough
to warrant the statement that foreign
trade is no longer question OF shlps'
When the United States entered the
war in April, 1917, the country, as al
most everybody knows, was without
merchant marine worth mentioning.
Since the war began the government
has launched LAOS ships of 5,4O6,o3o
, gross tonnage. Keels for 299 addl-
: tional ships have been laid and many
of these vessels are almost ready TO
> be launched. Of the government ships
: launched 1904 were built of steel, 44o
= of wood and 16 were Of composite
! build. Every one is a large modern
r freight carrier.
: The government since the beginning
Of the war has also come into posses
! sion of a large number Of ships, some
| freight and some passenger, through
| purchase. 1t Is also the possessor OF
the German owned ships that were
informed in harbors in this country
when we entered the war. A Few OF
these German ships may go to othei
countries in the final distribution, Du'
most of them will continue to sail I'm
: der the American flag. The govern
ment is not operating all the ships /
has built or has bought since the wa
began. A good many have passed Il
private ownership. 1t has been TIT
nolicy however, to insist that all yes
sells disposed of by sale shall remail
under the American flag.
All to Be Privately Owned.
Congress, it is assumed, will in du
time authorize the shipping board +
sell all aforementioned ships. Tn
:. hoard some time ago recommends
priyate ownership and operation as
fundamental policy for commercia
~ shipping. In its report to congress
a advocated legislation which would at
err thorize the government to retire froI
it commercial shipbuilding, ship oWnln
I'd and ship operating activities at tn
earliest date which may be converter
I'd, and nractical." Thus far congress ha
&C. not taken up the subject but 1t plan
d. m do so at the next session. Ne
mo companies for the operation OF shiI
are being organized nearly ever
cd week The ships that are now belr
Ike sold by the shipping board are as
ge. rule passing into the hands Of the'
nd companies.
The problem of obtaining men to o
crate American built ships Is bell
;. solved, Some months ago the COVER
nent through the shipping board
fered some unusual inducements In
dor TO interest young men in the 8
emit, life For one thing it established ne
supercargo school in which lar
number of young men were trained
- the business of taking charge OF t
- cargo Of an ocean freight carrier. L
Young men trained in this school, a
who had never had any particular
,o-,arca at sea, are now making rel
lar trips to foreign ports. and
testimony is that invariably they Il
q OF the 100000 young men "
crossed to France at wars call, tn
sands acquired taste for sea
and are falling into the new manti
organization.
In nearly every port along the
,antic and gulf coasts operators
privately owned ships have opel
schools for the training of ordin
seamen.
Two Problems for Congress.
While the senate j trying
dispose of the treaty of peace v
Germany, congress as whole
finding time to give some thought
two subjects in particular, railr
legislation and budget system for
government. In committee in
senate and house some real progress
- now being made with the framing
"a legislation under which the railrt
d will be returned to their owners.
N II is doubtful, say the men who are
:. gagged in formulating this legisla'