San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-31
WATERFRE|GHT =
HAULING To SET
A RECORD MARK
Shipyards Fast Turning Out
Vessels to Meet
Demands.
RATE PROBE TO START
Coal Crisis Has Passed;
Current Demands Are Be-
ing Readily Supplied.
RATE PROBE TO START
BY j, c. ROYLE.

Copyright 1928. by The San Antonio Light.
New York, Jan. 31.-More American
freight will be transported by water
this year than at any time in history.
Already preparations are under way for
tremendous volume of business, al
though some of the inland waterways
will not be open to navigation for weeks
TO come.
One of the first moves in this cam
paign for freight business was the an.
nOuncement from Pacific coast ports,
of a voluntary increase in wages 10
crews and officers of coastwise vessels
which will mean the addition of $780,
900 TO the payrolls of the ship owners
into effect Thursday and is the second
raise granted within the last six months.
Similar advances are forecast for crews
of all TRANSATLANTIC vessels.
Shiryards along the Great Lakes at
Buffalo. Cleveland and Lorrain, are
busy conditioning vessels for the sea-
son on the lakes during which it is ex-
pectcd a record volume of coal, iron
orc and grain will be carried. The
Michigan and Minnesota mines are ac-
lively engaged. and steel demand is
such that the furnaces will gulp every
pound of iron ore that can be hauled
to them this season. The metal trades
are in the market for copper and the
Michigan producers of that metal are
preparing to fill the demand without
delay.
The commission, appointed to investi-
gate an alleged combination Of vessel
owners on the Upper lakes. for the pur-
pose of increasing freight rates from
Port Arthur and Fort Williams, TO the
detriment of the western Canadian grain
grower. is prepared today TO begin list
work at once. according TO authentic in
formation from Montreal.
The inquiry will include investiga-
ton of the rates between Duluth, Mil
waukce and Chicago, 10 eastern, lake
ports, as compared with prevailing
rates on grain 10 such ports by YES
sells controlled. or dominated, by the
alleged combination Of interests con-
trolling lake shipping, sailing from
Port Arthur and Fort William.
I'VE have reason TO believe that such
combine exists" said Premier Me-
Kcnzie King today, "and we propose to
go after it and any others which oper.
ate TO enhance the cost of living and
in restraint of trade"
II is charged that the lake carriers
in question, Disseminated against Ca
madam ports in favor of those on the
American side. In support of this. 1T
is inStanced that last year, Of the 2jO,-
100000 bushels Of grain exported by
Canada. 12S.000.O00 went by way Of the
United States. II is stated from Mon
treal that the scope of the commission
is such as to permit a comprehensive
report, as il is realized that rates from
Port Arthur and Fort William, TO
Georgian bay ports might be hig her
than to Buffalo at times without i'm
plying discrimination against the Ca
madam route.
The success which attended the ship
ments of steel by river barges by the
Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, the
Carnegie Steel Company, and others IN
1922. has resulted in orders to build
hundreds of new barges. for operations
over rivers Of the Middle West and
South. The inter-plant traffic of the
large steel companies alone will require
formidable fleets and will attain vol
ume never before known.
The New York state barge canal will
be more extensively used than last year.
and the shipment of coal TO New Eng
land from south Jersey ports on Barne-
cat bay. will be continued with in
creased tonnage. So strong is the COM
petition among industrial employers for
steady, competent, trained workers,
that scores of the big companies are
freely loaning their workmen money
enough TO construct homes of their own
in the vicinity of the. plants at. which
they work.
This is giving impetus TO the build.
ing construction movement. The rates
charged by the employers for. the most
part do not exceed 6 per cent.