The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-05
Tells Pan-American CONNER
cial Conference Of New Lines
in Preparation.
WILL HAVE 226 VESSELS
Direct and Speedy Sailings to
South American Parts Sew
eral Times a Week.
Speeid! DsspatcA 10 TIE Sex.

comprehehsiVe programme FOR the diver
sion Of the new American merchant
marine into South American trade was
greeted with rounds of applause at to-
day s session OF the Pan-American Conn
mercial Conference here.
The conclusion of Mr.. Hurley's paper
was followed by q rapid fire OF enthusl-
astic questions in which members OF
the conference from the two Americas
asked what Mr.. Hurley's plans were
with respect TO the particular country
they represented. Mr.. Hurley replied
that no country would be neglected,
As outlined by Mr. Hurley the pro-
gramme, which probably will be opera
rive in part at least by next November
involves the ALLEGATION OF sufficient ships
20 Latin American trade TO provide for
direct sailing from great United States
ports to all the important ports Of
south and Central America. The plans
involve the use OF faster and more COM
Portable ships, -chtting down 10y one
month the present steaming time from
New York to Buenos Ayres and return,
with the corresponding betterment OF
mail communication and the incidental
improvement Of trade relationships.
Trade Expanding Rapidly.
Mr.. Hurley said in part:
IT is a time for caution and also for
the boldest initiative. On behalf OF the
United States Shipping Board invite
your counsel and assistance in one of
the greatest problems which confronts
VI at this time-that of restoring the
broken lines of ocean transportation and
OF creating shipping facilities that shall
be direct and adequate to the expanding
needs OF Pan-American trade. Combin-
ing imports and exports one finds that
total value of the trade between the
United States and Latin America grew
from $500. 100000 in 1914 to $3.50. 0eO,-
900 in 1918.
This vast growth OF nearly one billion
dollars in only four years put thu
United States not merely at the head,
but made its Latin American trade
greater than the Latin American trade
% all the rest OF the world put together.
These figures probably would have been
larger II adequate shipping facilities
had existed. Instead OF depending upon
foreign ships to serve the United States
Latin American trade, the future will
sec the rapid growth of strong North
and South American lines carrying
American goods and promoting better
acquaintance between American coun
tries.
Nov that the war with its INTERRUPT.
tons Of accustomed trade relations Is
happily over, the keen desire of Latin
American erchants for the renewal of
these broken shipping connections will
be met by the United States Shipping
Board and there viii be an Improvement
over the pre-war standard. < Y
Board Has c2O Ships Ailocated.
This sudden development Of the mer-
chant marine of the United States is
but the beginning of larger efforts in
tho future. The United States Shipping
Board IS laying its plans to respond ap-
propriataly to this call. Already 226
ships OF S63.334 lightweight tons have
been aliccsted to Latin American trade.
What is more important. the board Is
now surveying the situation In order to
promote the establishment of regular
American lines between the United
States and South America.
Contemplated plans call for at least
two lines from New York to serve the
West Indian trades, one of them cover
ing the Eastern Caribbean and the other
the Western Caribbean. with canal con-
nections at Colon. To serve the swelling
commerce Of the west coast n line will
be maintained connecting Valparaiso
and the other western ports with Mobile
or New Orleans. We have to-day a pas
senger service from New York to vaipa-
raise which is nine days shorter than
existed one year ago. As soon as the
army returns our American transports
We will have weekly service from New
York to Valparaiso on fine passenger
lines through the Panama Canal.
Good service between Valparaiso and
Seattle. with calls at all important Pa
oil hat
cisco and New York will be assured and
American lines already established In
this field will be supplemented where
required. Finally and most important
there will be a line from New York to
the ports OF Brazil and the River Plate.
II Is hoped to have the ships specially
designed for the South American trade
and equipped with the conveniences and
Injuries which the long trips in tropical
seas require
The fourteen ships under considera-
ton for these trades are OF about $4,000
gross tons with lightweight OF about
10000 and with accommodations for
about 900 first class passengers. Being
combined freight and passenger ships
they can carry miscellaneous cargoes
and will afford just the Accommodation
needed for the coffee merchant of Brazil
New York or New Orleans and who
wishes to travel on the same ship
with It.
Before the war the best ships in
direct service from the United States to
the Eastern ports OF South America made
only fifteen knots, offered only fort
nightly sailings and took twenty-four
days for the trip from New York to
Buenos Ayres. Compare this with the
service TO be expected in the immediate
future. Three magnificent ex-German
liners, the Mount Vernon. the Won
Steuben and the Agamemnon. are to be
remodelled for South American trade.
These ships make 23ha knots. 90 that the
rip from New York TO Rio de Janeiro
can be made in ten days and that to the
Argentine capital can be made in four
teen days. There will thus be a saving
OF at least months time on the round
trip. as compared with the present or
prewar service.
"A very important benefit that will
flow from the improvement of shipping
connections with South America will be
IN the mail service. Poor mail facilities
in the past have proved a serious handi-
cap in the way OF increased trade re-
lsuons between the United States and
Latin America.
Hopes for More Frequent Mails.
1T is hoped thai our Congress viii
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