Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-29
Government Has
White Elephant
In Monster Ship
Leviathan, Taken From Ger.
many, Costs More to Oper.
ate Than Returns From
Freight Yield.
By HOLLAND.

MANY of the visitors who are
spending a part of the summer in
New York City appear to take great
interest in the steamship Levia-
than. They frequently spend hall
a day in crossing the Hudson to
Hoboken. so that they may get
near view of this stupendous ocean
going vessel They seem to be more
interested in her size than in the tact
that it is costing the government
great deal of money to keep her III
good condition.
This steamship justihes the curios-
ity which she has stimulated. 1t has
some characteristics of the sentiment
tai and curious interest which the
first visit of the Great Eastern
caused in the United States. Some
|ot those who are familiar with
steamship conditions wonder If the
Lcviathan may not share the fate OF
the Great Eastern. That steamship
was so enormous that it cost more
to operate her than the returns for
her freight made it possible to meet.
She was OIL the point OF being aban-
doncd as a commercial failure when
Just at that time it was found ncccs,
sary to secure large steamer to
aid in laying the Atlantic cable. This
service the Great Eastern performed
and after that was finished it was the
end of her.
Built to Advertise Ability.
srL PH bV
the Germans with the idea that she would
prove to be good money maker. Ger
man pride was stimulated by the success
OF the English ship builders who con-
structed. launched and put into service
steamers that are even larger than the
Great Eastern. The German shipbuiiders,
stimulated by the government and
1t has been reported by the kaiser himself.
undertook to overmatch the English ship
builders. They therefore constructed the
steamer which is now known as the
Leviathan but they did 1T chiefly as an
advertisement setting forth Germanys
ability as a shipbuilding nation.
It's operation never paid and was not
expected to pay Too much capital was
pense Of operating 1t was very heavy. 1t
did tempt persons who were able to pay
large sums for cabin accommodations and
were anxious to cross the ocean in tho
largest and one OF the sWlitest OF ocean
steamships.
Now this appropriately named Leviathsn
IL the possession OF the United States gov
ernment and ore OF the ablest OF the
steamship managers said that the gov
ernmcnt had an elephant on its hands
Private capital might be persuaded to buy
it. but it would probably cost at least
sl2 0o0,0 ,0o0 Experienced steamship man
ayers say. however. that it will never be
used exclusively for passenger and freight
across the ocean. Possibly II her equlp-
ment was so changed that she became an
oil burner she might be operated al
urOfit although that Ia doubtful.
Last Of . Type.
Probably the Leviathan, whether she is
put in service salvaged. even sent to
scrap heap. will pas into tradition as the
last Of the enormous steamers ot "hlcn
the Great Eastern many years ago was tnC
protagonist Not again will the steam-
ship companies build vessels Of the enor-
nous size and the tonnage capacity when
are characteristic OF the Leviatnan. LOT %
it has been discovered that the smaller
vessels are the profit earners, partly be-
cause the construction OF them entails only
reasonable capital investment ana agalN
because of the great economy secured II
their operation.
The Leviathan furnished one OF thu
EN- ba ira ssing factors which are in tht
problem which the government. through
ne shipping board. is now attempting to
,olye In comparison with the situation
Is whole 1t is a trifiing factor. aithe9sn
he government is spending thousanus,
dollars In order to keep her IN perlecl
condition for operation.
The government itself cannot do any
Thing with the Leriathan except to ge'
rid of her on the best terms possio,e
Mr., Lasker, who is taking hold of the
shipping problem with the energy "hicn
s Characteristic of MIR. Dawes. neH
director of the budget, Is presumed to
,e Of the opinion that the establishment
II merchant marine that may com.
,ete in ocean commerce with the metchans
marine of Great Britain VIII depsno
,pon the complete withdrawal OF ths
government from any association in ths
way of business with the operation OF
American vessels.
What Government Must Do.
At present Mr.. Lasker is concerned
bout the disposal Of the ships which
'ere built in war days for the govern,
nent apd also about the best method OF
-ritins off the enormous deficit whtct
g has discovered was entailed by shipping
oard operations in the last IL months
ONE OF the steamship managers are in.
lined to the opinion that ultimately II
i'll be necessary for the government ts
rite off this cost charging II to the ex.
enses imperativeiy entailed by our par
cipation in the European war.
But here are the ships. Many Of them
,uld be put to good use. They may bd
excellent ssryice in ma aintaining and in.
easing American trade with other couD.
les, but It is regarded as beyond questior
lat II such use Is to be made of them ths
must keep its hands off. per-
lifting private capital completely to OWE
nd also TO operate these vessels. Ths
however. aid by certain
gislation which will relieve ship owners
heavy burdens of kind which tn.
Zip owners and operators OF Great
ritain are not compelled to carry.
German cxperimenters have sue
seded in purifying coal gas with an