Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-27

i
other foreign countries during the
past year and foreign flag ships were
"haefb!ddin2 both the Shipping Board
/ Vessels and those Of independent
american operators with tho result
mat tn" greater portion Of these car
goes were carried by foreign ships
me reason for this dinercntial is
10 DC round in the higher cost of
snip construction In American vards
The higher cost OF operation OF Amer
lean ships due to the maintenance
of higher standard OF wages, aid
given by government to foreign ships
and many Items that viii not at
tempt now To discuss. The Amer
lean ship must. therefore. he opc-
rated at a great loss or IL must 20
out OF business. unless this dincrcu-
;!al IL iaCt by subvcnt!on direct or
Indirect. permitted BY congressional
action.
What Is said with REGARD To cereal
exports Is applicable to practically
an other commoh!ties. whether "x-
ported or imported. aud ia order to
show what ii means ana has meant
TO America | win cali attention TO
these hSuros
The values Of commodities ex-
ported by sen from the United states
FOR 100 years beginning with 1921.
Vas. according To data obtained from
the Department OF Commerce and
the statistical department Of the
United states Sh!rri'g Board .SG
G2H.oTG.sl; while tn" imports for the
sam. period amounted ia sG2I14.iO2.-
$50. making the total commerce In
foreign trade by sea lis.S03.lTs,3So
~ this total. vessels under tn. Amer
lean Nag carried only ;"5.G3l.3s2..
or about - per cont leaving - per
cent carried by alien bottoms. AS
The British merchant marine repre-
scuts about - per cent % the foreign
tonnage engaged In this trade. It.
therefore. IS evident that their par
ticipation Ia our commerce would
amount to about IS per cent Of tho
total amount. or tJ6.5iJ.2Os lGi.
Nnst Ur,cnurs.
In order TO obtain some idea OF IA.
vast amount OF revenue derived from
tE!S business by ,hc carriers thereof.
and 10 present IA comprehensive pie
ture o. the amount or money! that
wcnt out Of circulation Ia the United
states and into the Golfers o! foreign
companies during ih!s i00-ycar pc
Rod II is assumed that an amount
equivalent to % per Ccut Of the total
value was paid out for freight In
sucanc". banking. etc, To foreign in
teicsts all such payments going into
foreign hands. represents 50 much
revenue deducted from tn. resources
Of this country and retards to that
extent the expansion OF our shipping
Industrial. commercial and aYricultu-
raj interests On thIs basis u IL aD-
parent that while the American
owned vessels through their partiCI-
patton In our commerce. Of cen
tury "Erned ;or American interests
SSyO7. S+5.I5i. the foreign Interests
sol, 4 In mt ~
2'2si?.llS This, IL The aggregate.
IS n Tremendous Indictment against
the apathy Of oar interest ia our
overseas transportation in ships %!
American nationality - becomes
more forcibiS apparent when IN" fact
Is considered that from 1921 10 1857
an Average OF so per cent OF our
American lotions. while since the
War Between the states our partici-
patton has steadily declined 10 an
AVERAGE for the period OF ~ per
cent. and the outward flow OF Am"ri-
can dollars has steadily increased
The increase in volume Of our
commerce since 1914, aud the great
appreciation In values OF commod!-
tie. moved in com hiuation with tn"
growth OF tonnage under tho Amrri-
can flag has tended To produce tenn
pnrary stimulation uf American ship
ping. which has stopped 10 some cN-
tent the oUtwH'd flow OF r"Nvnu"
this is arpArcn: from "A review al
the commerce for SIX years from
p-c.Inhcr II. 1916. 10 December 81.
1926 Ia this period tine total com
uerCc by sea WAS siT,62G.itiAlo. OF
this amount American nag vessels
carried Sl2.I2s, G3e.i3 or abcu; ~ per
cent OF the total. On the other hand.
the foreign faS vessels carried So
igI.05i.319, or about - per cent c'
the foreign countries Great Britain
carried the lions share. viz. slc.-
Tii.3s7.72o. or about IL per cent az
the total commerce Applying the
factor or % per cent for transporta-
ton and other charges, we lind We
have enriched british shipping inter
csts in only seven years with ST.
g62.Si6.e3O and other foreign coun-
:res to the extent OF S3.?2i. ii3.iio,
"a total outgo Of SS.SIi.26O.3i3. while
on the same basis our American tom
mage retained in thc counts S3."%2,-
Iu7. sos. or approx imat"iy but - per
cent of the total revenue accrued
from the carriage OF our commerce
during n period that was memorable"
for high freight rates ana an enpE-
NOUS demand FOR our products.
Foreign Countries Enriched.
do not think il Is an exaggerated
statement to say tnat ibTclBt lHNN'
ests were enriched by the carriage OF
American commerce, exports ana I'M
ports. TO the amount OF s2S,@?2.?i''-
lis. as stated. IL is hard to realize
the immensely OF these figures. put
IL one will stop TO think that from
the foundation OF the republic to the
present time. there has been cXpend-
ed by the Federal government for
the Improvement OF rivers and har-
bors and canals. exclusive OF tn.
Panama Canal, only S!,03G,079,202
and for the construction Of the
Panama Canal S479,S51, 33S.oS, in
GLIDING it's fertilization. amounting
in all to Sl.5l5.331.lil.33 we begin
to realize what an immense amount
of money the American people have
maid into the Golfers OF foreign PEG
pies. and to Whit extent enriched
thcm. why In only seven years. rs
stated above. we have enriched for
elgn shipping interests in the sum
of SS.S14. 26O,3i5. almost enough to
pay the debts OF the allies 10 the
United States. We begin now To real
lie how much 1t would mean to
America IL this money could be OK
pended amongst our own people The
total outgo for account OF tho car
riaGc of American cargoes in foreign
bottoms for the whole time covered