The Delta independent., 1919-10-31
MERCHANT MARINE QUESTION
SHIPPING FIGURES TELL STORY

sHiPPiNo FIGURES TELL STORY
Washington, Oct 27.-The Republi.
can Publicity Association. through its
President, Hon. Jonathan Bourne. Jr.,
today gave out the following state
ment from its Washington headquar-
ters:
"Vessels engaged in foreign trade
which entered and cleared American
ports during the fiscal year ended
June Both, 1919. aggregated nearly
$4,000 net tons, according to Of
ficial figures recently published. Let
us analyize those figures.
"Of this tonnage nearly 100000
was foreign and Al 100000 was Amer
ican. either new or temporarily oper-
ating under our flag. or the Ameri-
can tonnage over 33.500,O0O piled be-
tween the United States and North
American ports, principally those Of
Canada. Mexico. and Cuba-easy dis
tance-thus leaving less than 900, 900
net tons to handle our import and ex-
port trade with the rest Of the world.
THE total OF that trade for the fis-
cal year 1919 was valued at $10.179,-
900, 900, imports amounting to $685.
100000 and exports to 1904 900 900.
Our total trade with North America
came to $2,344, 100000. Of which ST.
344, ,O0O, 900 was hauled by cars and
other land vehicles" leaving some
thing like one billion dollars of our
trade to be moved by 33,50O.0OO net
tons of American vessels.
while this was going on, the re-
mainder of our trade with the world.
amounting to $685.. 100000 in value.
was being carried by something under
10000. .00O, 900 OF net tonnage. Of which
nearly 80 per cent was foreign, or, at
a rough calculation, foreign vessels
carried about $1,000. .OOO, 900 or 70 per
cent of our entire trade last year. To
put 1t in another light: While 49,
500, 900 net tons of American vessels
worth of our foreign trade the con-
fines of North American division, 52.-
600 900 net tons of foreign vessels
were getting paid for handling seven
billion dollars of our foreign trade to
and from the uttermost confines of
the earth and in between. To the
American who has relied implicitly
on the rosy vision OF America trium-
phant as a maritime nation, as pic
tured by the press agents Of this ad-
ministration. this analysis will give
quite a jolt. Expressed in ratio 1t
would read something like this:
1872: 1000: 50: 1000. Ton for ton. for
eign tonnage showed an efficiency
nearly four and one half times larger
than our own in getting cargoes.
For example the net tonnage of
British (Engiand, Ireland and Scot
land) vessels entering and clearing
our ports in 1919 totaled 15.400 900.
and It handled $3.O67, ,oO0, 900 worth OF
our trade-nearly one-third of it, in
fact This was less than one-half the
tonnage We devoted to the North
American division. and It handled ov-
er three times the trade, by value.
Japan. with an entrance and clear
ance in American ports of 1,5sS,000
tons. handled nearly one billion dol
lars worth OF our foreign trade, or
with less than one-twentieth OF the
tonnage we devoted to North Ameri-
can trade. the Japs handled an equal
value of our foreign trade. The Dan.
ish. Dutch. and Norwegian vessels en-
tered and cleared our ports in an ag-
gregate OF nearly 2.700,O00.000 tons,
handling $1,172, ,000.00o worth OF our
trade. These are the great maritime
nations with which we must compete
in the future. and never forget that
Germany is coming back within ten
years. Our merchant marine must
have the full support and cooperation
OF the Government and the people
IL II is to succeed. and this will ne
cessitate Government aid and. ulti-
mately. private operation and owner
ship to insure business efficiency and
fair returns. What We give in aid
will return an hundred-fold In trade.
for ship is the best salesman in the
world. and the people must support
the program for perpetuating the
American flag on the high seas"