New-York tribune., 1922-07-30

5000 Increase in Rates i'm
Week Recalls War Booms;
Empty Vessels for Return
Voyage Cuts Grain Costs
soardR ResumesC Chartering
six Government Ships Are
Placed; Congestion Ham,
pers British Shipments

chsrtering of six vessels yesterday
sr the Shipping Board at II shillings
). or about s30s ton, for the move
-,ut of British coal 60 the United
estes. and also the information that
..sce was offered for grain on the re-
am voyage as low as. 11h cents a
10 pounds, showed the upset in ocean
Isipping caused by the sudden develop
sssts in the coal situation.
The scramble for steamers in the last
usk brought about an increase of
10 per cent in coal rates, recalling
ae spurts recorded occasionally dur
sr the war boom. Chartered rates on
sntish boats rose from I to II shill-
sn. The Shipping Board figure ad-
uneed from 7/6 to ii shillings.
Around ninety vessels have been
,ssrtercd for the transportation Of
,osl during the present movement, OF
.his number the Shipping Board fixed
s,.y and the British about forty. It
probable that some were not re-
ss.sd from abroad and the number
ess,dingIy may be higher. Space has
s.s provided for approximately $780,
~ tons Of coal, due to arrive in
lugast and early September. The
rsatest problem at the moment is not
lat Of obtaining q sufficient supply Of
Hs.s. but o. the physical difficulties
.. handling the shipments. Facilities
il Welsh and Scotch ports for load
sg coal are limited, and there is
,iisus question whether adequate ac-
trnodations can be found for the
sTs number of ships.
Rush Is Diminishing
The rush for coal shows some signs
4 diminishing temporarily. due to un-
4nsnty as to loading, the develop
.snts in this country to expedite min
.gand to end the strike. and the real
sation that the boom at best will be
i sert Another factor is the rise in
i As price of coal in Britain for ex-
prt In the last week quotations ad-
sneed from 80 TO "A shillings, or from
i $50 to $3.50 a ton, including cost,
isarancc and freight costs.
Dealers and shippers estimate that
Importation Of coal will be profitable
NJ the next six or eight weeks at
,sst, even with an early termination
Il the rail and mine strikes. Orders
iready placed cover the greater part
/ Il this period and there is some ques-
ton whether deliveries can be made
3 II present contracts within that pc
) ,oi. For this reason it is believed
hat the peak of the rush is about
passed, unless it becomes evident that
tie strike is to be prolonged.
A feature of the ocean shipping SIT
ustion is the fact that as the charter
rate for coal from Great Britain to the
3 United States has advanced, the rate
4 on grain for the opposite voyage has
tisilen, When coal is unloaded here
tere will be d large number of empty
sps in August and September seeking
4 Nrn cargoes. In consequence the
i nn rate, which for several months
b lowered around the pre-war level
/ ftn the United States to the Cont
! mt of 13 to II cents a 100 pounds. is
~ quoted as low as II y to II cents
IL next month.
Among some brokers there are pre-
etions that it will fall to 10 to II
/ ants. These figures are we'll below
|ae minimum rates in 1918. and are
/ iso below the cost of transportation.
|Ssamships are able to accept ship
cents at such figures only because
hey do not wish to return in ballast.
Grain Rates Depressed
The grain rate is further depressed
g the inability of the railroads to as
Nre prompt delivery at United States
/ atlantic ports on account Of the rail
4 strike. number Of shippers at pres
'nt prefer to route their cargoes by
| vsy Of Montreal or Gulf Of Mexico.
The vessels chartered yesterday by
hs Shipping Board were the Sagarche,
COrtOn Springfield, MorristoWn, East
en Leader and independence Hall,
They are now in European service.
The increase in coal rates in the last
teS days has not been as great as dur
Ing the British strike last year, when
the United States sent about 100000
tons to the British Isles. At that time
The increase was from Is to % shil-
lrss The table given below compares
he present full cargo rates with 1921
nd the pre-war level from the United
States:
Present 1921. Pre-war.
ssmted kngdoa ... $50 $6.25
West ualy 42b E25 81 so