The Colorado statesman., 1919-11-01
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.
Rv JAMES p. HoRNADAY.

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 rema rked 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. st is new expert
ence for those of us who are repre-
senting our government In far away
places to see American built ships
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 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 shipbullding 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 II
merchant marine worth mentioning.
Since the war began the government
has launched I .46S ships of 5,406.03S
gross tonnage Keels for 800 addi-
tional ships have been laid and many
of these vessels are almost ready to
be launched OF the government ships
launched O04 were built of steel. 44S
of wood and 10 were of composite
build. every one is a 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. 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 90 to other
| countries III IIlS llllHl hlStilDulloi. pht
most of them viii continue to sail un-
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. 1t 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. il is assumed will in due
time authorize The shipping board 70
sell all governnent-owned ships. The
board some time ago recommended
private ownership and operation as u
fundamental policy for commercieI
shipping. In its report to congress u
advocated legislation which would au'
thoriZe .he government to retire frons
commercial shiI building, 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
70 do so at the next session. New
companies Cor the operation of ships
,re being Organized nearly every
week. The SHIPS that are now beinS
sold by the shipping board are as 81
rule passing into the hands of Theses
companies.
The problem Of obtaining men to OPP
crate American built ships is being
solved Some months ago the govern
ment through Il e shipping board of"
fered some unusual inducements in or
der 10 interest young men In the se;-
life. For one thing it established here
| a slIpercargo school in which a large
number of young men We're trained in
the business of taking charge of the
| cargo of IN ocean freight carrier. The
Young men trained in this school, and
who had never had any particular eX-
| Derience at sea. are now making regu-
lar trips to foreign ports. and the
testimony is that invariably they like
II. OF the 100000 young men who
crossed to France at wars call. thou
sands acquired taste for sea life
1 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
Seumen.
Two Problems for Congress.
While the senate ! $ trying to
dispose of the treaty of peace with
Germany. congress as whole Is
finding time to give some thought to
wo 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
/, gislation under which the railroads
.,iil be returned TO their owners. But
is doubtful say the men who are en-