New-York tribune., 1922-08-14
50 u. $. Ships
Rushing Coal
From England
Half Million Tons TO Come
This Month by Shipping
Board Vessels, Declares
the Marine Association
Employment for 1000
Gives Profit To she Govern
rnenf and Jobs TO Hum
dreds of Skilled Workers

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13-America's 8
ships are meeting the coal strike
emergency by rushing 100000 tons of
British fuel for the great utilities com
pahies--gas, electric and fractional
the moment most needed and more
than fifty government-owned vessels
have been chartered for this trade,
Gays statement issued to-day by the
National Merchant Marine Association.
More ships will be ready, if needed.
Putting these ships into service, it
was pointed out, not only gives profit
to the government, but gives employ
ment to hundreds Of skilled workmen
ahhore and many hundreds Of Ameri-
can officers and seamen long out Of en-
ployment, due to world trade depres-
sion.
When his first efforts to settle the
coal strike failed, President Harding
called Chairman Lasker, Of the United
States Shipping Board, and j. Barstow
Smull, president Of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation. 1t was indicated
there was immediate need of OO000
tons Of coal month and it was sue-
gested that some Of the governments
idle ships might be used to get it.
Crowded With Ship Brokers
Lasker and SmuIl agreed it could be
done, but at loss unless the ships
could be chartered for something near
the prevailing time charter rate, in
this instance about seven shilliugs a
ton.
Following the White House con-
ference" the statement reads, "Mr.
Smull teiephoned TO the manager Of the
Emergency Fleet in New York that
the Shipping Board was ready to char
ter vessels for the import coal trade.
That word was spread among the ship
ping men in New York, and when Mr.
'Smull arrived there the next morning
the place was crowded with shin
brokers. Let Mr. Smull tell the rest:
The place was a bedlam. Every
one in New York wanted ship to
bring in coal. We let two or three
go at seven shillings, held off a bit.
and Let some others go at seven and
SIX Then some went at eight shil-
ilngs and even eight and six, but the
net result was We signed up enough
charters to bring over practically all
the 100000 tons in month.
THAT isn't all by any means. The
rush to get Shipping Board ships to
bring in coal spread, and before the
week ended there were thirty or forty
British ships rushed into this special
trade, so that instead of only 500 600
tons coming in, there will be nearly
million tons within the next month
enough to help great deal until our
mines are producing again and our re-
serves built up.
1t was lively while it lasted and it
SHOWS just why we need our own ships.
yuo 81 ~
ment to bring in British coal to meet
our emergency, except a few scatter
ing, small cargoes of SPECTATORS
Inc rush to charter coal ships is
proving just as stimulating to the
American Merchant Marine as was the
shipment of the Russian relief grain"
the statement continues. at will be
remembered that Congress, in line with
a suggestion made by the National
Merchant Marine Association, provid-
ed that the grain bought with public
FUNDS and sent to the starving Rus
slams be carried in American bottoms
That clause in the appropriation meant
work for hundreds of American sea-
men in dozens Of American ships at a
time of world trade depression with
thousands of seafaring men 'on the
beach
Idle Fleet Well Kept Up
"The idle feet from which the YES
sells are drawn has been kept up so
well that virtually every emergency
coal ship will be on its way before the
end of the month. At least forty men,
all told, will be required to man each
of the fifty-odd ships, so that more
than 1000 will find immediate employ
ment. The wage scales per ship aver
age about $4,000 month, SO that more
than S150,000 will be distributed among
make only one round trip.
"The. only limitation Of the amount
Of coal that could be brought from
Great Britain to meet the American
emergency is, the loading machinery or
tipples On the other side. This ma
chinery ran down terribly during the
World War, SO it is doubtful if Great
Britain could handle more than 2,000,-
regular coal trade, which, of course,
would not be sacrificed for the tempo
rary needs of the American market"
Mr.. Smull said the Shipping Board
feet was amply able to supply as many
vessels for the coal trade as the occa-
sion demanded and up to Great Brit
aims extra export capacity. To meet
the present demand several ships now
in commission have been taken off
their regular runs and will be replaced
as fast as the reserve vessels are made
ready for sea. In this way ships al
ready are loading coal for the United
States and will arrive loaded even be-
fore the balance Of the coal begins to
load