Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-23
PASSENGERS FOR ABROAD
CRY FOR ACCOMMODATION
Supply of Ships Not Sufficient to
Take Care OF Great Tourist
Crowds
IBy Associated Press

NE w 1Olth, august SZ.--TnC So
gan OF ships! ships, and still more
ships!r SO effectively used during tho
war TO speed up Americas shipbuild-
Ing program as Il defiance of tho sub
marine campaign still Is heard in
American seaports. 1t comes. how
ever. not SO much from those having
freight or transit as 1t does from
those who desire to make trips to
foreign shores OH business or pleas
ure.
Steamship accommodations for all
lands. despite more than u doubling
of pre- wartime tariffs. and rigid re-
premium: Representatives in New
York and other terminals Of passcn-
gcr-carrying lines say that all avail
able accommodations are booked as
far as three months ahead. The un-
fortunate business man faced with
the need of making an unexpected
possible cancellations OF previously
engaged passage on the part OF some
one who at the last moment Is pre-
vented from sailing.
1t was recently said by tho head
of large line in speaking OF tariffs.
that in 1914 man could purchase n
hotel accommodations for trip half
way around the world for the same
sum that he Is now compelled 10 pay
for Il onc-way ticket from New York
to Il mediterranean port.
Records of departures and arrivals
as kept here by the Steamship Mems
Association show that despite the
very apparent rush. travel is only
about half. as to number of passen-
gers. what it was In 1914. In May
and June OF that year there sailed
10000 persons. of whom more than
100000 were classed as third class.
In the same mouths Of 1920 the out
$4,000 were third clurS,
or incoming passengers in one
month Of 1914 there were 1O5.1oo per
year showed 45.l20 persons arrivals.
" Ship supply Depleted:
The rush this year and the DIM
accounted for by the fact that there
Is needed ships, ships and more
ships" Of the passenEer-carryiing
ravages of the war. is greatly de-
pleted. Tho North German Lloyd and
the Hamburg American Lines. which
centDge of the transatlantic travel,
do not exist. In addition. many OF
the big liners OF allied flags are gone.
the entire prewar fleet of another
victims; Other ships were OF a nee
essity laid up Tor periods Of more
than ycRr for recondltioning due to
their accommodations having been
ripped out with axes to make them
into troop carriers An example OF
recently was returned to her pas
senger carrying trade.
Merchant Marine Prospcrn.
The outlook OF the American Mer-
chant Ma ne passcnger-carrying
trade, however. is very bright. ship
ping men say. The United States
Shipping Board is giving encour-
adequate 10 demands OF the service.
The International Mercantile Marine.
Company has added to its American
dag service line to Hamburg with
two OF Americas best ships making
regular runs therein. Recent an
company, the American ship and
Commerce Corporation. has made a
working agreement with the Ham
burg American Line for It's former
trade routes: This company an
ships OF more than 100000 tons In
cluded in It's service will he several
passenger lines. Another new com
IHr,;., TSs ,s,niy 0rEanized, is the
pany, to which has been allocated mr.
teen OF the largest German passenger
liners, INCLUDING the presidential snip
George Washington, America, Mount
Vernon. and President Grant, all we'll
known liners prior to the war.
passenger service 10 South Amer
lea with hve steamers now in opera
ton was instituted by the Shipping
Hoard. A number of new passenger
liners now under construction viii
soon he ready for ALLEGATION among
the various American companies 4
line OF passenger ships to Danzig was
recently formed and It's first ship, a
former German liner. Is now at sea
Prevailing rates recently quoted
show that first-class ticket can be
purchased from New York to a Brit
ish port at prices ranging from 5000
up to $5.o00-the latter for the choice
suites. TO France the tariff ranges
from 5000 to Sl.400. depending on the
ship and the berth. Italy az dctsti-
nation requires an expenditure OF
from SEQ up, and to Scandinavian
countries from $500 to- $500. In addi-
ton war tax OF IS is collected on
each ticket.