The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1922-08-03
Steamers Are Carrying More
Passengers This Season Than
Any Time Since 1914.
STEERAGE SHOWS BIG LOSS
First and Second Glass Passengers
20 Per Cent Greater Than Last
Year-channel and German
Ports Most Popular.

/ than last year, DuI there Is cOnSlu-
cradle drop in the third class The
monster class ships, including such
liners as the Majestic, Mauretania,
Paris, Homeric Berengarla, AQui-
tania, Olympic, are booked heavily for
the summer trade. The one-class
cabin ships are also proving to be ex-
tremely popular III nearly all cases,
however, space can be obtained and
many Of the companies declare that
their medium-size vessels are suffer
ing from the widespread belief that
1t is difficult to obtain accommodate
tons to Europe.
The notable increase in passenger
traffic to Europe this season reaches
the high-water mark for eight years,
but there is not the same congestion
that was felt Immediately after the
war. The difference is due to the fact
that the transatlantic route is served
now by more and bigger liners than
at any previoas time in history. Tie
present year is remarkable for the
great number of new liners put into
service. The advance in traffic has
not kept pace with the gain in ton
mage.
The current season presents several
unusual aspects. Enforcement OF the
United States immigration law re-
stricting the entrance of aliens to )
per cent Of the nationals Of each coun-
try here in 1910, has thrown the
steamship business into turmoil In
past years the ship lines relied upon
the steerage as the backbone of their
services, with the first and second
cabins as important incidentals. The
situation is now reversed. The inn
migration law has brought drastic re-
ductions not only in the incoming, but
also in outgoing traffic.
No Chance for Cut in Rates.
There seems to be no chance for
further decreases in rates this sea
son. Most of the lines have virtually
completed their bookings for the next
two months, including return trips,
and while numerous vessels will sail
partly full there is no disposition to
cut rates In an effort to stimulate traf-
fic. The outlook for next spring is
different story.
Officials Of several lines, who were
interviewed on the status of the pas
senger traffic, were obviously embar-
raised in making the fitting reply.
They were torn with the desire to
say that their ships were sailing near
ly or entirely full as against the GER
tainty that such statements would
aggravate previous optimistic fore
casts, which have resulted in dlscour-
aging much desired business, The
compromise usually was that 1--WE are
doing big business, but prospective
travellers can be accommodated"
The heaviest traffic this summer is
flowing to German and Channel ports.
More space is available on the Medi-
terranean and Liverpool vessels. This
is due partly to an inequitable distri-
button of tonnage.
Official figures on traffic from United
States ports show that 28800 first
class passengers have sailed this year,
up to May a. against $4,000 for the
same period last year; $4,000 have
sailed second class, compared with
80, 200 in 1921. Steerage business
shows the great reversal resulting
from the restriction of immigration,
with only 10000 leaving this country,
against 115,40O last year.
Travel to U. S. Runs Behind.
Travel from Europe to the United
States for the season is far behind
that of last year, and not until late
summer, when American tourists be-
gin to return, will the trend turn.
arrivals have been 1880,
against $4,000 last year; second class
have been $1,000, against $500; third
class have been only 1851, compared
with 210,700 in 1921. The discrep-
ancy this year is due in all three
classes to the immigration law, which
was not in effect in the spring Of
1921. Many incoming aliens use first
and second cabins as well as the
Storage, 1t is the belief Of the steam
ship men that this act has cut Off |
what would have been a new record |
for transatlantic passenger business.
The figures given here do not include
sailings from Montreal, which are an
important factor.
The International Mercantile Ma
rine company, including the White |
Star, Red Star and American lines,
reports a considerable Increase in
business, especially on It's monster
ships going to Channel ports. The
American line vessels to, Hamburg are
sailing full, carrying four times as
many passengers as last year. Con-
siderable space is available on the
Red Star line and the White Star
services to Liverpool. Bookings from
Montreal and Philadelphia are far
ahead of last year. Business is well
up to expectations
The most favorable report was re-
ceiyed from the United States lines
operating shipping hoard vessels
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