The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1921-07-02
MANY VESSELS
STILL ARE IDLE
Recent Visitor to important
Ports Found That Only
Tankers Are in Demand.
RIGID ECONOMY IS NECESSARY
Prospects Of Revival In Trade Are
Reasonably FaVorsble--crews on
American Freishters and Oil
Tanks Are Well Fed.

New YOrk.-Worldwide retrench-
ment has affected no class OF the In.
dustrial community more than the
men (and women) who go down to
the sea in ships" Ships haye been
laid up in every important port have
visited, from United States of Amer.
lea to Britain, Holland, Belgium,
Egypt, New Zealand Australia and
even South Africa, where the Durham
whalcrs seemed to be compelled to
take a rest. Business as usual" has
only appeared to be available to the
oil tanks and at TampiCo quite re.
| Gently have known vessel to wait
much over week before being able
to take oil aboard.
1t Is quite clear that those who di.
rect the destinies Of the worlds ex.
change of commodities have realized
the pressing need for peace, retrench.
mcnt and reform" and the curtailment
Of the wages of seamen. masters at
| arms, quartermasters, engineers, oil.
erS, water tenders, wipcrs, trmmers.
stewards, cooks, and assistant stew
ards is only symptom of worldwide
| necessity,
When war broke out $50 month
for an able seaman and SIT month
for an assistant steward would he
| considered acceptable. Before the
war terminated, with the signing of
the arnistice, stewards had in Britain
most active leader in Joe Cotter
and his efforts on their behalf led TO
the assistant stewards receiving ell
per month from the shipping cOmpa
MES and 6 as bonus from the Brit.
ish government, roughly $50 per
month, while In the United States
messmen obtained $40 per month, add
ell to which they were paid Sl.5O a
day while in port, In the shape of
Overtime-that is, on days other than
those associated with arrival and de-
parture.
Held Up for Days.
At that time every available vessel
was in requisitlon and bargcs were
more valuable than battleships. !
have known ships held up for days
because they could not obtain barges
for their cargoes. " 1915 Great Brit
ain owned S,675 vessels of 1926, 70J
tons, and had In 1920 so far recovered
: from her stupendous war losses to
possess vessels of lS,11l,0O0 tons In
| 1914 she employed 295,653 seamen Of
various grades. thousands of them be-
Ing Lascars and various Asintics. Ger.
! mans, Swedcs, Norwegans and Rus
slams. What they total today none
/ can compute.
In addition to the actua! monetary
reward general conditions have i'm.
proved to surprising degree, in con.
fOrmity with recognition OF the BRAY
cry displayed by all scamen working on
allied vessels during the war. Some
years ago travelled TO South Africa
on II boat belonging to the Union
! Company OF Britain, and during the
| greater part Of the trip we were
compelled to drink condensed sea
| water, while fresh bread twice per
week was regarded as luxury. Sail.
Ors Jared as best they could on salt
beef or pork and hard biscuit. The
Introduction of refrigeratlng plants
has altered that, and sympaIhizing
with the seamen, the British board
OF trade evolved compulsory sched-
u'e OF foods. This was in operation
for some time after war had been de,
! Clared.
! Americans Liberal.
The shipping board ard American
shipowners generally have been ex.
tremely liberal in their trea ,ment Of
! their sailors, and have seen, on an
oil tank of the United States, petty
officers, scamcu, Hremen and wipers
sit down to dishes Of as good quality
and as well cooked az not so well
| served) rs could be obtained in a first.
class hotel In New York.
| Subordinate hands on American
frelghters and oil tanks are better
fed, in the main, than those on liners
crossing the Atlantic and going from
Britain to distant ports, while in most
cases accommodation Is much supc
riOr on the former classes OF vessels
II Is satisfactory to know that pros
J poets OF revival are reasonably ia
vOrable. But whatever the outlook
| II Is clearly recognized that to HI
! VrOiitably engineered the shipping Of
the world must be run on u basis OF
rigid economy and supcrlativr eff
| cIency.-Gcorgc Laval ChCstcrtOn In
! Nayy NnrL IIarall