The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-07-21
Steamers Are Carrying More
Passengers This Season Than
Any Time Since 1914.
STEERAGE SHOWS BIG LOSS
First and Second Glass Passengers
20 Per Cent Greater Than Last
Year-Channel and German
Ports Most Popular

New York.-Passenge traffic to Eu-
now well under way, is the heaviest
since 1914. The number of tourists
going abroad in first and second class
quarters is about 20 per cent greater
than last year, but there Is consid-
cradle drop in the third class. The
monster class" ships, including such
liners as the Majestic, Mauretania.
Paris, Homeric, Berengaria, Aqui-
tania, Olympic, are booked heavily for
the summer trade. The one4cluss
cabin ships are also proving 10 be ex-
trcmely popular. In nearly all cases,
however, space can be obtained and
many of the companies declare that
their medium-size vessels are suffer
Ing from the widespread belief that
It is difficult to obtain accommodate
tions TO Europe.
The notable increase In passenger
traffic to Europe this season reaches
the high-watcr mark for eight years,
but there Is not the same congestion
that was felt Immediately after the
war. The difference is due To the fact
that the transatlantic route is served
now by more and bigger liners than
ut any previous time in history. The
present year is remarkable for the
great number Of new liners put into
service. The advance in traffic has
not kept pace with the gain in ton
mage.
The current season presents several
unusual aspects. Enforcement of the
United States immigration law, re-
stricting the entrance of aliens to 3
per cent of the nationals of each coun-
try here in 1910, has thrown the
steamship business into turmoil. In
past years the ship lines relied upon
the steerage as the backbone of their
services, with the first and second
cabins as important incidentals. The
situation Is now reversed. The i'm
migration law has brought drastic re-
ductions not only in the incoming, but
also in outgoing traffic.
No Chance for Cut in Rates.
There seems to be no chance for
further decreases In rates this sea-
son. Most of the lines have virtually
two months, including return trips,
and while numerous vessels will sail
partly full there Is no disposition to
cut rates In an effort to stimulate traf-
fc. The outlook for next spring is
different story.
Officials of several lines, who were
interviewed on the status of the pas
senger traffic, were obviously embar-
rassed In making the fitting reply.
They were torn with the desire to
say that their ships were sailing near
~ or entirely full, as against the GER
tainty that such statements would
aggravate previous optimistic fore
casts, which have resulted in discour-
pging mucff desired business. The
compromise usually was that 1--WE are
doing a big business, but prospective
travellers can be accommodated"
Tie heaviest traffic this summer is
flowing to German and Channel ports
More space is available ON the Medi-
terranean and Liverpool vessels. This
is due partly to an inequitable distri-
button of tonnage.
Official figures on traffic from United
States ports show that 2S,S00 first
class passengers have sailed this year
up to May "a, against 23,00O for the
same period last year; $4,000 have
sailed second class, compared with
10000 In 1921. Steerage business
shows the great reversal resulting
from the restriction Of immigration.
with only 10000 leaving this country.
against 115,400 last year.
TraveI't 10 v. s. Runs Behind.
Travel from Europe to the United
States for the season is far behind