The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-07
GROWTH OF u. s.
SHIPPING IS NOTED
IN BOARD REPORT
Establishment of Extensive
Passenger Service by Amer
lean Vessels Shown.
Venture Stabilized

Growth of United States shipping in
foreign trade, establishment of ex-
tensive passenger services in the
north Atlantic, the Pacific and to
South America, and sterilization of
the governments shipping venture
on strictly business basis, are
pointed to as the years outstanding
achievements in the sixth annual re-
port of the shipping board.
Reviewing at length the functions
of the board since its inception to
carry forward the nations tremend-
Gus efforts to transport food, troops
and supplies overseas during the
war and the various changes in pol
icy incident to the armistice, the re-
port shows that the existing boards
functions relate not only to the
physical running of ships, but range
over the entire field of nations
merchant marine. Labor, port ia
cilities and commerce are discussed
in detail.
Ala IN FORT Development
The board the report says, "is
required not only to aid in the de-
velopment of ships and shipping
companies but also to assist in plan
ming the Improvement and develop
ment of ports and transportation ia
cilities in connection with water
commerce.
Altogether the shipping board has
had during its career 3.444 ships,
totaling about 19,baS,o dead weight
tons. These were obtained from
various sources. Some have been
sold, and many are now tied up idle.
The report shows that notwithstand-
ing depression In shipping there
were at the close of the fiscal year
on June 80. 1922. approximately 5o.-
600 men engaged on vessels OF the
American merchant marine and
larger number of longshoremen en-
rloyed in loading and unloading.
More than sia.00o.e0o annually has
been eaVcu IN The reduction of
marine and lopgshore wages of ship
ring board vessels alone Reductions
were effected after strikes and ne
sotiations ranging from Is to 20
per cent.
The policy of the board regarding
making wage Establishments Is de-
clared in the report to be based
wherever possible upon collective
bargaining which has resulted In al
laying as far az possible the dis,
content and resentment which usual
ly follow wage reductions"
Recount Difficulties
during the last fiscal year, the
report says. there were 1892 ar
rivals and departures of vessels en-
gagged in foreign trade aggregatlng
S0,231 900 long tons of cargo. OF
this total So per cent moved in Amer.
lean bottoms. In relative efficiency
indicated by the relation of load TO
deadweight tonnage the American
percentage was 379 per cent, com
pared with BOA per cent foreign.
While American ships used 2.62 deal
weight tons to move each ton of
cargo. foreign vessels used 2.74.
Recounting the difficulties which
had been encountered in the boards
effort TO dispose Of its idle tonnage.
the report says Il found that no one
was willing to buy in large guam
titles. at anything like fair price,
under present conditions. AT the
close OF the fisceal year the effort TO
find buyers was continuing. but the
board still had for sale 1885 vessels,
totaling 10.S0e,f72 lightweight tons.
OF these 1885 wer steel cargo ships
and 225 were wooden cargo ships.
while the remainder were of various
steel wooden, composite and con-
crete types.
The Immediate prospect Is not
favorable 70 the early disposal Of the
feet" the report declares. First
and foremost comes the necessity for
legislation. Even with this legisla
81 NJ n
private hands. II 1t is to be accom-
plished as part of the building UP Of
the American merchant marine, must
be a slow process.
Buy New Tonnage
Perhaps one of the most favorable
factors that viii help in the gradual
working out of the problem Is the
fact that a large percentage OF the
worlds tonnage is now over is years
Of age and is approaching that period
when the cost of maintaining the
highest classification becomes so Sc
rious q factor in operation as 10
Influence operators TO purchase other
tonnage rather than to pay the heavy
cost Of keeping up older vessels.
While a much greater percentage ,f
foreign tonnage is approaching the
age when II will be desirable to re-
place ii with new tonnage, than is
true In the case of American yes
sells. the difficulties Of the present
situation are largely caused by AN
excess Of world tonnage and any alb
sorption. whether in this market or
in foreign markets. tends to remove
this excess and to establish higher
values for all vessels.
The increase in value Of the ves-
sells due to the demand that will
come in the next few years as a
result Of the growing age OF the
worlds tonnage should however.
more than compensate for the cost
of upkeep during the period that
must elapse Before these factors be-
come controlling ones"
During the year, the wooden fleet
was reduced by 23s vessels, and the
cost of the upkeep Of the fleet was
reduced by SAL, 900. The mainte-
an annual average OF 1919 per YES
sell.
Few Transfers Made
The amount received from sale OF
outlying projects belonging to the
board during the year was 1885,
750 representing return from
property which had been given a
t'present fair value OF se,112.600.
The report says that "in accordance
with agreement made with the o.
flee of the chief co-ordinator." sales
and transfers were made at prices
Is per cent below present fair
value" Sales from real estate
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