New-York tribune., 1922-04-10
y. S. ShipL Lines
Quit Atlantic
As Cargo Drops
Only United American and
the International Mercan-
tile Marine Now Operate
Own Vessels Across Sea
Carry 5 PC. of Commerce
Ship Board Boats. at Loss
to Government, Transport
10 p. C.. of L. s. Cargo

The decrease in cargoes. decline in
freight rates and increasing compcti-
ton from foreign lines have gradual
~ forced American ship owners from
tie transatlantic liner trade until to-
day only the international Mercantile
Marine Company and the United Amer
lean Lines are operating their own YES
se.s from New York to Europe, accord
Ing to information from steamship
men. Thirteen ships of 157.7o0 gross
tons represent the total privately
owned feet under the United States
:iag now running in regular service.
2 Others have been forced into idleness
O. have entered the coastwise, West
Indian or other trade routes.
The greater part of the trans Allan
tic traffic under the American flag is
now carried by Shipping Board steam
ers' operated at a constant loss to the
government. According to figures given
recently by Chairman A. d. Lasker.
government ships handle 10 per cent
OF the foreign commerce, while private
american vessels carry per cent, and
foreign tonnage, "a per cent.
IN the period of defation in the last
eighteen months the proportion of the
foreign commerce of the country in
American ships has dropped from so to
- per cent, Shipping Board figures re-
veal. Numerous steamship lines.
formed IN the prosperous days during
the war and after the armistice. have
been forced into bankruptcy, compelled
to tie up their steamers, or are now
existing only through their operation
OF government ships
Decrease Has Been Rapid
Private American vessels mako vov-
ages occasionally as cargoes offer. ond
several industrial corporations onerate
feets for the transportation of their
own products, but with these excep-
ions the merchant marine has dwjn
died rapidly.
ine chief reason for the decline is
sIPWn IN comparison of Freight
f&t,s The grain rate from New York
I" Antwerp and Hamburg. which was -
cents The 100 pounds in the depression
OF l"45 and rose TO a maximum of
F--,T' III l|@V, IS now back to 12 cents
Economies in operation have not been
sun icIent to offset the drop in income
"hlch mas been accompanied also hv
qecIease IN She available cargoes.
Other commodities show similar sit
uauon. Foreign steamship lines oper-
ate ~ lower cost than American and
have gradually tightened their hold
upon the ocean business.
Continuance OF the !. M. NJ. ana
ne United American in the trans
Atlantic traffic is attributed by ship
ping men to the fact that most of their
American flag steamers carry passen>
gers as we'll as cargo and that they
haye sufficient capital to weather the
existing depression. Passenger traffic
ls''stiil on a profitable basis and pros
poets for the season of 1922 are en-
couraging.
Sane at Other Ports
review Of the situation at other
ports shows conditions similar to those
prevailing at New York While the
present depression is said by steam
ship men to be the worst in their mem
ory, there are signs now of some i'm
provement. Moro vessels are going into
service and shipments seem to be in
creasng gradually.
The privately owned American YES
sells now in berth services between
New York and Europe are as follows:
International Mercantile Marine Com
pany; Manchuria, Mongo a, st. Paul
aud Minnekahda. of the American Line;
Atontauk and Montana, of the Atlantic
Transport Company, of West Virginia;
Finland and Kroonland, of the Red
Star. United American Lines: First
class ships Reliance and Resolute, now
being put into service; third-class
ships Mount Clay, Mount Clinton and
Mount Carroll.