The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-10-23
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 te
Private wnership--Trsinins Men
TO Operate Them.
BY JAMES p. HonNAoAV.

direction. A member of the consular
from his post on the other side of the
earth remarked that the American flag
may now be seen regularly where II
was seldom, II 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 this
consular officer. at is new expert
ence for those of us who are repre-
senting our government In far away
places 10 see American built ships
sailing under the American flag and
carrying products taking their place
alongside the ships of the other great
maritime countries"
Now that the men who fought In
France have nearly all been brought
home the shipping board will be able
TO place great many more ships In
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 daily.
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 a question of ships.
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 1,IGS ships of 5,4O6,03S
gross tonnage. Keels for 300 addi-
tional ships, have been laid and many
Of these vessels are almost ready to
be launched. OF the government ships
launched l.004 were built of steel. AS
of wood and l6 were of composite
build. Every one is large modern
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. II is also the possessor OF
informed in harbors In this country
when we entered the war. A few OF
these German ships may 60 to other
countries in the final distribution. but
most of them will continue to sail I'M
der the American flag. The govern
ment is not operating all the ships II
has built or has bought since the war
began. A good many have passed to
private ownership. II has been the
policy. however, to insist that all YES
sells disposed Of by sale shall remain
under the American flag.
All TO Be Privately Owned.
Congress, II is assumed, will in due
time authorize the shipping board 10
sell all government-Owned ships. The
board some time ago recommended
private ownership and operation as a
fundamental policy for commercial
shipping. In its report TO congress II
advocated legislation which would au-
thoriZe the government 10 retire from
commercial shipbuildlng. ship owning
and ship operating activities "at the
earliest date which may be convenient
and practical" Thus far congress has
not taken up the subject but It plans
TO do so at the next session. New
companies for the operation of ships
are being organized nearly every
week. The ships that are now being
sold by the shipping board are as a
rule passing into the hands OF these
companies.
The problem of obtaining men to OPP
crate American built ships is being
solved. Some months ago the govern
ment through the shipping board Of
fered some unusual inducements In or
der TO interest young men In the sea
life For one thing II established here
a supercargo school in which a large
number of young men were trained In
the business of taking charge OF the
cargo of an ocean freight carrier. The
young men trained In this school, and
who had never had any particular ex-
perience at sea, are now making regu-
lar trips 10 foreign ports. and the
testimony is that invariably they like
II. or the 100000 young men who
crossed TO France at wars call, thou
sands acquired taste for sea life
and are falling into the new maritime
organization.
In nearly every port along the At
lantic and gulf coasts operators OF
privately owned ships have opened
schools for the training OF ordinary
seamen.
Two Problems for Congress.
While the senate trying 10 |
dispose Of the treaty OF peace with |
Germany. congress as a whole is
finding time 10 give some thought TO
two subjects In particular. railroad
legislation and budget system for the
government. In committee In both |
senate and house some real progress is
now being made with the framing OF
legislation under which the railroads
will be returned 10 their owners. But
II Is doubtful, say the men who are en-
gagged In formulating this legislation.