Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-07
U.S.. HAS ,6S6 SHIPS
FOR SALE, BOARD SAYS
People Unwilling to Buy Idle
Tonnage in Large 0uanti-
ties, lasker Explains.
by Associated Press to Every Evening.

by Associated Press TO Every Evening.
Washington, Dec. T.--Growth of
United States shipping in foreign
trade, establishment OF extensive pas
senger services in the North Attain
tic. the Pacific and 10 South America,
and s,abilization OF the governments
shipping venture on n strictly bus.-
ness basis, are pointed To aS the years
outstanding achievements in the sixth
annual report of the Shipping Board.
Altogether the Shipping Board has had
during its career 3,4i4 ships totaliing
about 19.59s,9o0 dead weight tons
These were obtained from various
sources. Some have been sold. and
many are now tied up idle. The re-
port shows that Notwithstanding de-
preston in shipping, there were at the
close OF the fiscal year on June 80,
1922, approximately $4,000 men engag-
ed on vessels OF the American mer-
chant marine and a larger number
of longshoremen employed in loading
and unloading. More than $4,000, 900
annually has been saved in the reduc-
ton OF marine and longshore wages
OF Shipping Board vessels s,one. Re
were tDftN'I after AlFlkNf'
and negotiations ranging from IS TO
2S per cent.
During the last Hscal year. the re-
port says, there were 37,sl2 arrivals
and departures Of vessels engaged IN
foreign trade aggregating so,23l 900
long tons of cargo. or this total So
per cent moved In American bottoms
In relative efficiency indicated by the
relation e load to desdweight ton
mage the American percentage war
S7.s per cent compared with 36s per
cent foreign. While American ships
used 2s2 lightweight tons to move
each ton OF cargo, foreign vessels used
214
Recountng the difficulties which had
been encountered IN the Boards ef-
fort 10 dispose OF i;s idle tonnage. the
/ report says Il found tha; no one was
willing 20 buy in large quantities. n
anything IKE fair price. under pres
ent conditions. At the cloee OF N,
/ fiscal year the effort 20 find buyers wa.
continuing, but the hoard still had foi
sale 1856 vessels, totaning 1o.s0e.l
I deadweight tens. or these .25s wcr.
steel cargo ships and 225 were wooder
/ cargo ships. while the remainder wer,
Z Of various steel. wooden, compost,
/ and concrete types.
The immediate prospect se not sav.
/ orable 20 the early disposal OF tn,
/ feet" the repor; declares.
During the year. the wooden fee
was reduced by 23s vessels. and th'
cost of the upkeep Of the fleet Wa
]
cost still stood. however, az an annua
average OF 1919 per vessel
The amount received from sale q
outlying projects" belonging TO IN,
Board during the year was sl.s54. .75o
representing a return from propert,
which had been given a present fai
value" OF s2.1l3.so0. The report say.
that 'in accordance with agreemen n
made with the Office OF the chief GO
ordlnator," sales and transfers wer
made al prices 10 per cent below
present fair value" Sales from rea
estate brought in an additional <S.0es,
722. Notable among the economic
recorded was a reduction Ct s1,043,O7
in salaries through reduction Of IN
personnel OF the maintenance and re
pair department by 42s employees
l. is noted by the Board that m
year saw completion OF the war-tim
building program, the last ship buil
On government account, the Wester
World. having been delivered on Ma
Q. The total number OF ships deliver
ed during the year was % as com
pared 20 2iS in 1921 and ! 1.002 in 1872
A summary OF the amount OF con
merce borne in American bottom
during the year showed that Shippin
Z Beard vessels handled 4.3l3,9l3 cars
tons OF imports and s.s34. .3s1 care
J tons Of exports. operating throug
? forty-three United States ports. II
, total tonnage CT the American me
chant marine was fixed at 27.7Si.o'
, deadweight tons, compared TO 27.53s
4s4 = year ago. OF this total, 1929
81 tons was employed at the end
the 1922 fecal year in foreign trad
compared with l6.si9.s43 at the end
the previous twelve months period.
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