The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-23
THE FUTURE OF THE us. MERCHANT NAVY By
 Fnens Nw wer
By ARCHIBALD HURD

MT Edward Hurley. thee hartman of the United States Shipping Board has returned to America con- vnced that the American merchant has bright future and can compete successfully with mercantile marine. even the greatest which is flag resumed his propa- gandist work, utilizing the impressions which he France And. put the matter shortly, he does not think he and those associated with him have much fear from the rivalry of British shipping if his plans carried consisting of partially dis guised of State subsidy He be right or he may be wrong but at any rate his conclus1ons nave a deep this country, which lives by its communications the American people live by their vast railway communications
 MT. Edward Hurley, the chairman of the United he declares 'the greatest marine power of the earth for the reason that we possess the greatest shipbuilding altes''-a fine bold and resting declaration. It's measure in what is not revealed namely that a considerable part of Americas power lies in facilities for build ing wooden and concrete ships, and both are at a discount peace has But still, when all deductions have been made, Mir Hurley's statement is probably true by and large.
 It must be borne in mind Hurley is not an expert in maritime affairs. But as an oo, server experts he has examined position United States before the and mage, has assessed the progress made in the development of the shipbuilding industry:
 world-war. the United States sea-goins merchant marine So9 gross tons ana to and s7o sans vessels and schooner barges of 947s62 gross tons, vessels, a.7oss17 gross On Nov. H. 1918, at the end of the the steam merchant marine sailing vessels had decreased to TAT ofS making grand total 2,11 going vessels of 5,515,1S0 gross tons include the seized enemy vessels. of 562OO5 gross tons. which number at the end of he vessels. of 562.005 gross tons of which number of 546,21O gross steamers z, of 15.795 tons were sailing vessels.
 g. The total construction the United merchant marine during the war SIS O 29 The purchase from aliens O of S33,S54 tons, the move the from the Great Lakes of 66 steam O gross and miscellaneous quistons amounting s1 vessels. of ss.21s gross of acquisition The loss of vessels of 322214 gross by actions 278 vessels of 405400 tons, by marine risk, vessels, 26s149 tons by sale to liens of 149,761 tons, through sale to Government, abandonment nd for the decreases. Losses of requsitioned Dutch vessels amounting 112,24S tons not in cluded n losses. On March of this year the Shipping Board had added to merchant a total of 619 wood and steel ses, aggregatng 3,640,4G6 deadweight tons."
 B. The United States S41 shipyards wit 1,2s4 launching ways-'more than double the number yards owned by all the rest of the worr0 combined" Hurley states that the 56 merchant shipyards of England 246 ways, which have estimated maximum annual output Of 1sS2,9ss tons; that Scotland 35 yards of something less than 165 ways produce 1,O67,0oo tons, and substantial yards which could turn out 25o,550 gross tons
 he frstp point e emphasized is that the ductiye capacity of the States has increased enormously, if MT. Hurley's ngures somewhat exaezerate the progress been made
 Balance Profit and INss
 But America having built 4n1ps, run them proftably? MT. Hurley in the affirmative. He had inveajeated the situation with his advisers study1nS conAitions in thin ceupty- Francs 1tsiys