New-York tribune., 1921-02-04
Il IL h / Nations
Now Compete for
Chile's Sea Trade
Panama Route Is Factor in
Increasing Ship Service;
Difficulties in Getting
Freight Grow Greater

Eight countries are now con,na4;x,,
Tor the ocean carrying trade of ch;,e
aho the question is, advices from that
country say, where is business ia coms
from TO keep all these lines occunied
oeiore the war, it is stated. Chile,s
trade with foreign countries was con.
med to few large lines, such as
tne Pacific Steam Navigation COMPANY
ehe Guif Line, the Kosmor and the Ro-
aand lines and the Toyo Kisen Kaisha
"hiie the coasting trade was restricted
to the Chilean Company, the South
american Steamship Company and
number of small steamers run bv Chill.
cans ~ Wy Shii-
Even before the war a change was
ceming IN regard to the route used bvi
steamers bound for the west coast Of
south America. The Panama Canal was
oeginnlng TO make itself felt. The Pam
anna route was shorter than the old
route via the Straits. of Magellan by
seme 5000 miles, and trade with the
United States had assumed very large
proportions; consequently it was i'm
feratiye that nearly all steamers should
use the canal.
AT present the greater number of
steamers come out by the canal and
without exception return to Europe the
same way. The journey having now
heen shortened so much it was only
natural that other shipping companies
should be interested in the west coast
markets and although the Kosmos and
Roland lines have not yet recommended
business their places have been more
hxr Tl,D
many different countries.
The United States has four steamers
of the Grace Line running regularly be-
tween New York and Valparaiso and
the boats are well patronized, chiefly
by Americans.
The Japanese line, the Togo Kisen
Kaisha, keeps this coast in touch with
Sar Francisco and Japan, and there
are besides Danish line, French
company, Swedish company, a Bel
sian company, an Italian company, the
Weir Line, making the round trip
Europe, India and the West Coast, and
finally Dutch line, which has Just
started, its boats running from Java to
Australia and Chile and travelling up
the West Coast as far as Callao in
Peru. The Swedish company has only
three steamers on the run at present
of about 5000 tons each (all motor
boats), but their present intention is
TO augment their feet with steamers of
5000 tons.
"Where is the business to come from
fcr all these lines?" says report from
Valparaiso. "Is Chilean export and i'm
port trade reinforced sufficiently by
passenger traffic to guarantee success?
This seems doubtful. Steamers were
arriving from Europe even in last Oc-
tober far from we'll laden and in order
to get freight for the return voyage.
were going to northern ports to load
nitrates, with the risk Of being held up
ty strikes.
'sAnethen factor to be taken into
account is that the importation of coal
into Chile has been greatly reduced,
because almost all the nitrate works
new use petroleum instead.
"Although first class passenger steam
ers would never in any case have car
ried coal as freight, all steamers now
have to rely on general cargo. and, as
this is limited there cannet possibly
be encouragement cargo to go around,
It will be interesting to see what Will
happen when the German steamers get
again.