The New York herald., 1921-04-17
STRIKES A DRAWBACK
Indications That Exporters
VIII Follow Suit if Changes
Are Not Made.
PIERS MINUS RAIL SIDINGS
Philadelphia, New Orleans and
Charleston Getting Trade
se' From This City.

4 Costly and inadequate shipping and
terminal facilities have caused the
swedish Tobacco Monopoly to abandon
the port Of New York almost entirely
as base from which to export tobacco
to tfe Swedish ports OF Stockholm and
Gothenburg. Philadelphia, New Or
leans and Charleston are tho ports
most favored now by this exporting
organization.
This shift OF base is only one more
illustration of the vital need Of New
York to extend and improve her port
terminal and transportation facilities
it she does not desire to see great
proportion Of her ocean borne COM
merce gradually absorbed by other
ssaports.
The importation OF tobacco into Swe-
den Is q Swedish Government monopoly.
Operating for export only, the United
States Office Of that organization Is To-
Gated at 1876 Broadway. 1t supervises
the export from United States ports Of
about 1000 tons Of tobacco q year, Of an
approximate value of s2.000.000. In
ls19,when the demand for ships to carry
had to- do the best they could almost
regardless Of cost, the greater part of
this export trade was shipped out Of
New York harbor.
But-not pound Of II has gone from
New York now in many months. During
1890 about two-thirds Of the total guam
tity sent to Sweden was shipped from
Philadelphia, with the remaining one
thlrd divided about equally between New
Orleans and Charleston. In the current
year. according to the American repre-
senfatives OF the Swedish Tobacco Mo-
noDoly. fully one-half Of their total ex-
port OF domestic tobaocoeS will be
shipped from the port of New Orleans.
Tho other half will be divided between
philadelphia and Charleston. with New
York shipping virtually none OF It
Thar6 are several reasons why the
port OF New York has lost this export
business, and the same reasons which
have caused a change of policy on tho
part OF the Swedish Tobacco Monopoly
arc doubtless influencing and win con-
tinte. Ito influence other exporters to
transfer their business to other ports
unless there be a speedy and radical
ping facilities Of the metropolis
Transportation conditions In New
York last year were made particularly
difncuit by the strikes OF tho truckmcn
and the stevedores. which for a time al
most paralyxed freight TRAFFIC. THIS con-
ditiCu alone alienatsd much commerce
from che port Of New York. Further
more, with the exception of the Bush
Terminal development and tho plant OF
the New York Dock Company, this
port has little or no terminal facilities
now available that can compete with
cities which havs railroad trackage con-
necttnx trunk lines directly with their
ocean ,pters, and extensivs and convan-
lent warehousing and storage facilities
In connection Herewith.
Whatever rail-borne freignts destined
for export may arrive in Manhattan
snsnt be transported to ocean piers by
trucks, and the cost of trucking last
year. In tho opinion of many extensive
shippers, became well nigh prohibittve.
II the merchandise for expert arrives at
the New Jersey terminals, then the
heavy cost Of lighterage oesomes an
equally important factor. In addition to
ali thia warehousing and storage facili-
ties in~this port are notoriously inade-
Quates and costly.
Macy. shippers from New York, fur
thermore complain that they suffer be-
causessof the strangle hold maintained
upon all steyedoring. lightering and
cooperege operations by union labor or
ganizations Tobacco for export, for In
with a. nicely attained only by expcri-
ence. But labor organizations hero will
not permit tobacco shipper to put his
own experienced men on that Job. even
though he be content to pay the union
wage scale. In Philadelphia and New
Orleans shippers say, union restrictions
are not 30 ironclad.
IN Philadelphia" said representa-
tivv OF the Swedish concern. 'railrt ad
sfdMgc IN most instances run directly
down TO tho ocean piers. But, whether
they do or not, our cargoes there are de-
livered either by rail or by trucks on
the piers and are even uuloaded by the
railroads. Tho freight charge includes
all transportation, and our only extra
expense is for recoopering. We nave no
traoking or ligtterage to pay at ex-
orbitasyt rates, and we have the privilege
OF storing our tobacco OF the upper
deckseof the sheltered piers Themselves
seNew Orleans as shipping point IN
our 1iue of commerce presents some ex-
traordinary advantages. In the irst
plaos all the docks there, except those
Sasukgng to tho Illinois Central Rail-
rceAs are directly under tho control OF
m New Orleans municipal dock board,
which apportions pier spare TO arriving