Evening star., 1925-04-09

Japan INSTRUMENTATION. 3,S42 200
france S,4oo,ooo
Germany -,soo,Vou
Italy ......... ....-.. G,oSS,VVo
Holland ........-..... z,ooo,VVV
Germany had gone UP to fifth place,
Japan from fourth to third, France
to fourth place. But Great Britain
had increased her lead over the United
States from 100000 in 1920 to 3,149,-
600 tons in 1924. If idle tonnage was
taken into consideration Great Brit
aims lead would show up much
larger.
Britain Builds Heavily.
Look at the Ships under construc-
ton. On January 81, 1924, of the
worlds total of 2,440,O00 tons, 81 per
cent. or 1,S95,000 tons, was being
built for Great Britain. The United
States, so ambitious 10 years ago, was
building just $1,000 tons, or a little
over per cent of the world total
and about one-fifteenth Of the Brit
ish. Germany was saying little. but had
under construction $4,000 tons, near
Iy four times as much as the United
States. In three or four years Ger
many will take her place as one or
the big three of the worlds shipping.
Probably the bulk of the huge sums
which the United States Government
spent on shipping should be consld-
cred not for merchant marine de-
velopment, but largely as war ex-
penditure.
"It will not be an easy task for
America to obtain the position she
deserves in the worlds shipping, de-
clares w. Averell Hartman, the
Young chairman of the board of d.
rectors of the United American lines.
Young Hartman recalls the dyna-
mic figure of his father, E. H. Harrl-
man, but he is of larger frame. He
is youthful in appearance, but ma
ture in statement.
Doubts Rotorship Value.
viii the F1ettner rotor ship, in
your opinion, tend to reVolutionlze
shipptng?" 1 asked.
1T iS new" he replied. TT is being
tried out now in Europe. Technically,
it is interesting. Possibly 1t Will
help meet some of the problems for
the small or medium sized sailing
vessels, but in my opinion II VIII
hardly do more than that, for 1t VIII
not affect the activities of power
vessels
what is ahead for American ship
building?"
more to build a new vessel in Amer
lean shipyards than in foreign ones.
Wages are substantially twice as
high here as in other countries. The
official figures on the American ship
building activities are enlightening.
On January l, 1924, there were 2l,l5o
workmen employed in the great
ocean shipyards OF the United states.
One year later the number was l5,-
ee9 a reduction of 25 per cent. Amer
lean shipbuilding, in the next few
years at least, must rely on the Navy,
the protected trader of the United
States, on special purpose ships and
on Diesel conversion. The yards
must turn to economy of operation
and the development of non-marine
products"
Asked of Basic Facts.
Then what are some of the basic
facts the public ought to know" he
was asked.
THAT is a big question. At the be-
ginning of 1925 there were 1,074 pri-
yately owned American ships, with
an aggregate gross tonnage of $685.
600. including tankers. OF these, 941
were active and 1873, representing
only per cent of the total privately
owned tonnage, were idle. The Gov
ernment-Owned vessels numbered
1,243, of 6,1o9,0oo gross tons. OF
these, SS5, having 3.So3,000 gross ton
mage, were idle. That is about 70 per
cent of the total. The ships in oper-
alton, we are told, cost the Govern
ment about $35 100000 a year.
You have asked me to be frank
and 1 will be. We are not as yet
great shipping people. Our foregn
trade, while large and growing
larger, is not relatively big in pro-
portion to our domestic trade.
Urges Defining of Routes.
But I believe the vast majority of
the people are in favor of a mer
chant marine for at least two rea-
sons-to prevent economic isolation
when other nations might be at war
and to insure US a sufficient number
of vessels to act as auxiliaries to our
military forces If our own country
should be at war"
"Then what stops. in your opinion,
must America take to develop and
maintain a merchant mariner"
-Four distinct steps. First. certain
trade routes should be clearly de-