The sun., 1919-02-06
TINY SHIP FLEETS
MEAN LOSS TO y. s,
Many of Smaller Vessels Built
During War to Go Into
the Junk Pile.
TRADE NEEDS BIG CRAFT
Numerous Contracts Awarded
for Little Carriers Have
Been Cancelled.
TRADE NEEDS BIG CRAFT

Begging pardon for the bull, the
United States now has a feet of white
elephants on Its hands. A large propor-
ton OF the ships whose swift multiplioa-
ton in war time has caused Americans
TO talk eSpansively of "our great new
merchant marine are too small to be
OF any use in the deep sea competition
which We are proposing to enter. When
shipping man talks Of world commerce
on the ocean he has In mind 10000 ton
ships. nothing smaller. The smaller
ships are being crowded Off the long
trade routes because the big ones. ton for
ton. can carry a cargo more cheaply.
In the war emergency no ship was too
nnal TO be contracted for II there
seemed a chance OF getting It built. That
was what the nation demanded. and
there has been no criticism OF the Ship
ping Board because It had to take what
Il could get wherever It could find or
make yard. There is criticism, how
ever. OF glowing predictions OF what we
are going to do on the sea, based on the
figures OF magnificent tonnage. a large
part Of which really does not exist. in
asmuch as It Is tho tonnage of ships
that can never be employed in the
transoceanic trade,
Many Cndersized ships.
The Government is we'll aware that Il
possesses a lot OF understood vessels. 1t 10
Unofticially said In Washington--no plan
Of the Shipping Board is official and def
d. t..
that the Government intends to sell them
ard to use the proceeds in building big
ships suitable for competition, as fast
as they are needed. But thus far no
sal. has been reported There Is small
market for little ships in America, even
with considerable OF the inflated war
costs written of. European countries
that have a great short haul trade might
buy them II tho sale was open to all bid
ders as II is reported It will be.
In the last annual report OF the Ship
ping Board. dated December l, looms the
fact that the United States had built or
under contract steel cargo ships OF s,777.-
600 dead weight tonnage. That total was
enough to make any patriotic bosom
swell when. considered against the fact
that at the start OF the war America had
less than 100000 tons OF ships OF all
classes But with the war over the Ques-
ton transcends that of aggregate ton
mage. 1t Is essential to ask what are the
SIZE and quality OF the ships which we
have built and which the uniformed
among US are talking Of pitting gloriously
against the argosies OF Great Britain
and the other additionally maritime
nations.
AS TO quality. the returns are not all
in. Private shipowners rate a good
many OF the hastily constructed vessels
rs soon destined for the junk heap. The
few concrete ships that have been built
have not yet had a thorough test but
even If they stand up" the fact they are
heavier than steel ships OF equal size and
can therefore carry less cargo will handi-
cap them in competition,
1926 Vessels in All.
As to the size Of the steel cargo vessels
that go to make up the tonnage OF S.777.-
900. the Shipping Boards report con-
ceals nothing from the analyst OF figures
There are 1895 OF them. Therefore they
average 6.772 tons apiece. This suggests
that We are getting some very big ship.
as well as some very little ones. which Ia
true. What Is most interesting in the
light OF the fact that the standard ocean
carrying craft OF the future will have a
tonnage OF at least 10. 900 Is the surpris-
ing number of the little ships we are
build!ng-the ships that can't compete
ror oceanic trade, No less than $50 IN
ne Shipping Boards list as OF December
are under 800 tons apiece-almos,
half OF the whole number. No less than
25J are 1000 ton boats. Following ID
he complete classification OF those under
1900 tons:
Ten Of 1900 tons.
Sixteen Of 1000 tons
Three Of 5000 tons
One hundred and fifty Of $500 tons.
Forty Of 5000 tons
Two hundred and hfty-fvs OF i,00t
tons
Ono hundred and nine Of $500 tons.
Some of these ships will never be
visible, for according to a statemen,
made In Washington last week all build.
ers have been notified OF suspension OF
contracts on all vessels Of less than
1000 tons which were not laid down or
July ! last How much the programme
has been cut by this cancellation IS moi
apparent.
England built some 5000 ton ships
while the war was on, but the great ma
ior'iv of her new vessels ara 5000 tons
and upward. In the North Sea, Mediter.
ranean and other trade In landbound
waters England has use for a far grea tel
number of small ships than America IL
likely to have In the coastal trade, even
y present optimistic dreams come true
ne trade or the world' VIII be carried
N ships Of from 10000 to $4,000 tons.
Cargo Space n Problem.
ENen the coal trade has little use for a
sip below 1900 tons these days. On the
Pacific the ordinary freighter must b
able to carry thirty days supply OF
coal II takes big ship to do this and
nave enough space for cargo to yield a
pToht. 4 5000 ton ship is only half as
6.g as 10000 ton ship. but 1t requires
'hree-fourths as much fuel to run II. The
economic advantage is all with the bis
ship. Shipping men say that the United
states may be able to use its small yes
se.s to good account for the year or Sc
l4I'ng which every kind OF carrier will
he IN demand, but that at the end of tina,
r'1od, II not before. they must eithe,
no cold to foreign nations which vii
continue TO need them or chartered u
jflNate American owners at a very Low
rate. In either case the public mus
stand heavy loss.
Ocean Giants Used in Pacific.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 5.-To care 10,
me expected revival and expansion O!
ssn'ppng on the Pacific coast the Toyc