Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-02
VISIT TO IMPORTANT
PORTS SHOWS MANY
VESSELS ARE IDLE.
Prospects OF Revival In Trade Are
Reasonably FavorabIe--crews on
American Freighters and OH
Tanks Are Well Fed.

Tanks Are Well Fed.
New York.-Worldwide retrench.
ment has affected no class OF the In.
dustria community more than the
men (and women) who "go down TO
the sea In ships" Ships have been
laid up in every important port | have
visited, from United States of Amer
lea to Britain, Holland Belgium,
Egypt, New Zealand, Australia and
even South Africa, where tue Durham
whalers seemed 10 be compelled TO
take rest. business rs usual has
only appeared to be available to the
oil tanks, and at TampicO quite re.
Gently | have known vessel to wait
much over a week before being able
to take oil aboard.
1t is quite clear that those who d.
rect the destinieS of the worlds eX-
change of commodities have realized
the pressing need for peace reirench-
ment and reform" and the curtailment
of the wages of seamen, masterSat-
arms, quartermasterS, engineers, OIL
ers, water tenders, wipers, trimmerS,
stewards, cooks, and assistant stew
ards is only a symptom Of worldwide
necessity.
When war broke out 500 month
for an able seaman and Sl7 II month
for an assistant steward would be
considered acceptable. Before the
war terminated, with the signing of
the armlstice, stewards had in Britain
a most active leader in Joe COtter,
and his efforts on their behalf led 10
the assistant stewards receiving ELL
per month from the shipping compa-
MES and t3 as a bonus from the Brit.
ish government roughly S56 per
month, while in the United States
messmen obtained $40 per month, add.
ed 10 which they were paid $50 a
day while in port, in the shape Of
oyertime-that is, on days other than
those associated with arrival and de.
parture.
Held Up for Days.
At that time every available vessel
was in requisition, and barges were
more valuable than battleships.
have known ships held up for days
because they could not obtain barges
for their cargoes. ID 1915 Great Brit
ain owned S,675 vessels Of 1925, 705 |
tons, and had in 1920 so far recovered !
from her stupendous war losses to |
possess vessels of lS.111,0o0 tons. In |
1914 she employed 295,653 seamen of |
various grades, thousands of them be- |
ing Lascars and various Asiatics, Ger |
mans, Swedes, Norweglans aud Rus
SLAMS. What they total today none
can compute.
In addition to the actual monetary
reward general conditions have i'm.
proved to surprising degree, in con-
f0rmity with recognition of the BRAY |
cry displayed by all seamen working on
allied vessels during the war Some
years ago ! travelled to South Africa
on boat belonging to the Union
Company of Britain, and during the
greater part of the trip we were
compelled to drink condensed sea
wafer, while fresh bread twice per
week was regarded as luxury. Sail
0rS Jared as best they could on salt
beef or pork and hard biscuit The
Of refrigerating plants
has altered that, and sylnpathizing
with the seamen, the British board
of trade evolved a compulsory SEIZED.
ule Of foods. This was in operation
for some time after war had been de.
clared.
Americans Liberal.
The shipping board and American
shipowners generally have been ex-
tremely liberal in their treatment OF
their sailors, and l have seen. on an
oil tank Of the United States, petty
officers, seamen, tiremen and wipers
sit down to dishes of as good quality
and as well cooked Qf not so well
served) as could be obtained in first.
class hotel In New York.
Subordinate hands on American
freighters and oil tanks are better
fed, in the main, than those on liners
crossing the Atlantic and going from
Britain to distant ports, while in most
cases accommodation Is much supe-
rl0r on the former classes of vessels,