Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-23
EDWARD CHARLES WESSELHoEFT
On the Merchant Marine

TNHAr the American merchant marine
l. service offers unusual opportunities. to
Young Americans. both with regard t" their
own advantage and as a means Of becoming
OF service to their country in time OF need,
is the opinion Of Edward Charles Vessel
hocft. formerly instructor in navigation for
the Shipping Board and now head of 10"
Philadelphia School OF Navigation.
"Thc economic advantages Of large and
efficient merchant marine to any country.
says Mr.. Wcasclhoeft. ARE 50 many and 50
apparent that it is unnecessary to recount
them. In time of peace fleet Of merchant
vessels. fast and we'll equipped, provides the
means of transportation for the products ot
that country. while in time Of war th" NAVAL
advantage lies decidedly with tn" nation
possessing such fleet.
.'In the United States. the recent war
enormously stimulated interest in naval
affairs. 1t brought great number of ar
tive young men OF alert mind into the naval
service. many of whom decided at the close
OF hostiliticS 10 follow The sea. They coult
not be taken care Of in the regular nav
and 50 sought the merchant marine.
''ThC iinaItriul opportunities offered bl
the merchant marine are excellent. Ia"E
vessel must "arry foUr officers. Il captain
and three mates. All Of these must be- nnNl-
gators. and before th"y can secure th"ir
licenses they must pass an cHamlnation b.
rhe Board of Federal Inspectors. These
examinations ar" severe. and II man must
know the business thoroughly before he can
hope to pass them.
'"rho opportunity lies in thc chance of
becoming the master Of q vessel. u Is Il
! postiou Of great responsibility, and il can
BE- attained oRly through merit and ability.
Pull and Influence are words virtually
! unknown in the ,'rukunt marine service.
Practical Experience Required
But the passing Of the examination l.,
! l,ot the only thing required to become III"
! officer Of vessel. Every candidate mus
! spend at least two years in active service
~ "A seaman before hc can qualify rs Il third
| matC Then he must spend at least ono
! wear as third mate. one year rs second mate
| aud one year Ns first mnlc before he Is
! eligible fDr cuptainry. so that he must
! have at least i've years 81 practical rA-
! pcricucc before he can GCCOHlr Il master, 40
! matter how brilliant an examination h" may
hCYC passed in tn" principles Of navigation.
1T is rarely indeed that II Young Innll
! becomes captain. even in the minimum Of
| tive years demanded by the law; The own
rrt of vessels worth something like 81 900.
: 900, TO cay nothing of the cargo and the
fact that the captain IS responsible for the
! lives Of passengers. want to Enow Il good
! bit about II man before they intrrat him
! With this responsibility. This i one Of III"
! ,oaIn reasons why pull will never get Il
, l..un the mnstcrshp Of Il vessel: thc stake
vi issue is too high and disasters are too
j Can"nsiyr for the owners to take any CJnnccs
i! their officers.
america AS IA Naval Nation
''TAc history OF the American "!cr, hGlnt
marine is glorious one. We urc by ma
turc = maritimr nation, although we have
largely forgotten it. This and the fact OI
Ne enormous interior OF the country, to.
! rcrhrr with the equally important fact that
0ihcr lines have in the past offered Grculrl
urcuniary rewards than The sea, urcouul
! .or thr state into which the merchant ma
! 1.inc OF the country had tullcu prior 10 tht
| war.
! ''Rut II thc new merchant marine make;
! good and offers compensation Sufficient t.
competc with other lines, it will get the IncI
! easily enough. II offers great opportpni,
! ties not only 10 the men who officer unC
man the vessels, but to capital as well. 4
| rho cupiluliatS would only sec II. The Boz
| t|,ng that could happen to all c0nccrnc,
would be- for private capital TO take I'll,
vessels now lying idle of the hands Of IT.,
Sniupins board and put them into cOrnmis
lion MS merchantmen.
"hr he carly days Of the Republic ecu
Going was lucrative business. In thoSC
LAYS II muster, who was generally bari
n,yncr and sometimes sole owner uf IT,
vessel, could make enough in five or six .yuy-
npeg TO retire aud i've IN comfort. and often
IN lusury. VITA the Capitalization Of ta5i'
taI, however. thcec conditions passed as r..