Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-03
OPTIMISM IN BUSINESS
A Fine Sample From the Ocean Side.
Running an American Fleet--The
sesqui. ui.centennIaI-our Record
Road Building
BY GEORGE NOX Mccain


by Lloyds as AA1.
Not every captain Of industry today is
viewing the business outlook through prim-
rose colored glasses. L.
President Stebbns Is so viewing 1t.
He imparts confidence and radiates hope
fulncss when he talks about our commercial
and industrial future.
Besides, as the master mind of a great
coastwise maritime corporation he speaks
with knowledge of the subject. He is In
touch with all the great centers of popula-
tion east of the Mississippi.
The outlook for our business future Is
gradually Frightening he says. "Our line
is increasing gradually its tonnage at all
the ports from Boston to Jacksonville.
THE horizon is much clearer today than
1t was last spring. The percentage of in
crease Is little larger every month. 1t is
very hopeful sign.
If as a Nation we face the situation
with confidence have not the slightest doubt
that the beginning of the new year will find
us in much better shape than we are today.
Talk about business depression should
cease. Let us talk about business revival,
and then square our efforts to harmonize
with our words
The business world needs few more
gospclers of the new dispensation of the
Stebbins stripe
uB. VAN SEWER is the antithesis of
IL. the sailing master beloved of Clark
sea.
lie isn't bronzcd and bluff. He lacks the
rolling gait of the sad sea dog. He is
minus the piercing eyes made humid by the
spray and spume and spindrift tossing
Waters.
His easy manner. Nuiet intonation and
generally professional air is that of Il cor
poratiOn lawyer or chief of n manufacturing
concern rather than the executive head Of
one of the largest of our fleets of American
steamships.
He Is superintendent of the Merchants
and Miners Transportation Company, of
which Mr.. Stcbbins is the head.
There are fourteen steamships sailing
under its house flag.
There are hundreds of sailors and ships
officers, thousands of passengers and hun
drcds of thousands of tons of cargo for
which he is in way, responsible every
year
He can tick off, with the accuracy of n
train dispatcher on the Pennsylvania Rail
road, the whereabouts of any ship Of the
fleet at any hour of the day.
That Is. of course, providing wind and
wave and machinery are attending strictly
to business
ITO \ landsman there is always more or
i less mystery about ocean travel and
those who go down to the sea in ships"
In way, and to experts like Superin
tcndcnt Van Sewer, the handling of fleet
OF steamships Is u very prOSulC uIalT. II \
all part Of u days work.
The vessels traverse definite lanes or
routes. Their speed under normal condi-
tions is accurately gagged. Their wireless
keeps them in constant touch with the home
office on land and sister ships at sea.
Express steamers run with the calculated
regularity of the Twentieth Century Limited
or Pennsylvania hicr.
They vary less than an hour in their ar
rival at a given port. Bad weather some-
times delays the schedule. Rarely does il
wreck it save for the time being.
"What is the greatest obstacle you en-
counter in the operation of your ships?' I
asked
Fog was the immediate reply.
1T is the one thing that every seafaring
man breads. 1t cannot be guarded against
nor overcome.
Rough weather is to be expected at times.
Careful seamanship, however. and the vari-
Gus appliances for the protection of life and
property at sea are coming so generally into
use that even the menace of fog is mini
miZcd.'
In spite of the remarkable advances in
aviation. the establishment of air mail
routes, aerial express service between con-
tincntal cities and the conquest of the sky
Mr.. Van Solver is of the belief
that it will be n long time before aerial
commercial freight or express systems are
THE sesqui- centennial is inching along.
/ In spite of rather than because of official
conditions the people themselves are mos-
tening their palms and taking hold of the
proposition.
The Order of Independent Americans is
q present and conspicuous example.
Next Tuesday evening the order will hold
a parade in honor of the sixteenth annual
session of the State Council.
Incidentally, it will also celebrate the
passage of the Compulsory Flag Display Bill
in this State.
Leading men of the order like Edward
l.. Krueger. William A. Pike and Edward
Wilson. with hundreds of the fraternity in
local councils, have staged a spectacle that
will prove an inspiration for the exposition.
The councils of the order in Philadelphia
are behind it.
\ number of floats portraying some Of the
great historic events in American history
are to form u part of the imposing demon
stration.
1t is far sighted planning like this that
will keep the scsqui centennial idea before
the people.
uERE is another instance from another
II angle.
1t is an idea worthy of honorable mention.
Whoever in the Philadelphia Real Estate
Board conceived it, he has the satisfaction
of knowing that he is leading the file.
There is being sent broadcast by thou
sands q seven-inCh device, consisting of
two covers and an Enclosure, shaped to rep
resent the Liberty Bell.
1t opens from the bottom. There is just
enough printed matter inside and out to
tell its story.
Among the catch lines there are two that
stand conspicuous on the cover of this
unique souvenir:
"Philadelphia, the Mother City of the
United Statcs,' and philadelphia, the
Glad Hand City of America"
Inside are twenty folded chromotypes of
Philadelphia scenes, its principal buildings,
streets and the port.
1t is effective, unusual and attractive.
THE fact has already been published that
l. Pennsylvania during the last year has
completed more miles of cement highways
than any other State in the Union.
This class Of roads Is intended to outast
the life of the bonds that were issued for
their completion.
L.. - lLnc Enrn l,nI L