Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-06
BUSINESS NOTES

shipping rates on commercial cargoes
from United States Paelnc COAST s p0rts
points in the Far East are to be cut
about so per cent by the United states
shipping board in accordance with Us
policy TO restore ocean-carrying tarlns
10 something like a normal basis. The
rate on New York to Nladivostok via
Panama Canal has been cut from 500
per ton to $40. effective yesterday. The
lower rate from Pacific Coast ports 70
the Far East are to be effective Msrcn
and follow reduction OF 90 20
per cent made In transatlantic rates
by British shipping interests.
steel manufacturers have received the
first inouiries for steel from the unlteo
states Government reported since tne
ending, Of the var war; TsTs psnssrfment mem that
II will receive bids until FeoruSrE
for steel required for four battlesnIps
and one fuel vessel, which the govern
F. ment will build.
The French Government has Just
placed an order for something in excess
Of 800 tons of ship plates for cary i,e- ne-
livery The tonnage was originally allo-
Gated TO the American producer through
I, The war industries board. but nrm
order never negotiated until very re-
> Gently.
Eirbty-six companies were chartered
in January for the development or the
nations oil and gas resources. having
aggregate authorized capitalization Oh
$50, ,s2b, 900. This amount compares
with twenty-eight companies chartered
600.
Railroad tariH regulations, which re-
fuse to allow egg shippers 10 claln'
damages unless more than per cent
of the contents of a shipping case nave
been broken, or to pay for more thsn
per cent, were set aside today D! @ ne
Interstate Commerce Commission. lne
decision ordered all eastern trunk line
roads and the railroad administration
to establish a new set OF rules on MAY
], correcting the requirements under
existing rules. The commission also
held TO he unrea sonable the tarin RUE
under which railroads dlsclaim all re-
sponsibilty for damaged egg shipments
z unless the cases or crates showed ex-
ternal evidence of rough handling.
The STANDARD oil Company OF Louisi-
ana today reduced the price for t'addo
crude oil below 32 gravity, 25c barrel
TO 81 barrel
The war trade board announced today
that iron and steel, except high-speed
steel. had been added 10 the list OF COM
modities for WHICH licenses for export
10 Switzerland would be granted freel!.
The International Institute of Agricult
ture estimates the 1913 production of
wheat in Spain, United Kingdom, Italy,
Iuxemburg, Netherlands Sweden, SwltZ-
erland, Tunis, Egypt. British India,
Japan, Canada and United States at
2029, 900. 900 bushels This is 1S per
cent more than the crop of 1917 and 7
; per cent more than the average of the
five years ended with 1916. Rye was 81
per cent more than the preceding year ;
4 barley shows an increase of g. oats 3.
sugar beets ?. tobacco and linseed 20
per cent above the preceding year. Po-
tatoes we're but 30 and corn 81 per cent
of the 1917 crop
The permit system of embargo on hog
shipments was lifted today at points
east of Chicago, except Indianapolis.
with reference to rumors that the prac-
tice of fixing a minimum price for hogs
would cease with this month. Everett
Brown, of the hog committee of the food
administration, said that no action had
been taken on the subject.
Removal entirely of limitations upon
the export of many commodities. in
ctuding clothing. machinery and rubber
tires. to Norway. Sweden, Denmark and
E Holland. was announced today by the
war trade board. Such exports will be
licensed freely, subject only to the con-
ditions that proper import certificates
have been issued. The board gave no
tice that the associated governments had
Informed the governments of the coun-
tried named OF notifications in restric-
tions upon the export of various COM
= modities covered by existing agreements
materially increasing the amounts which
may be exported,