Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10
u. S. TRIES TO BUILD UP
EXPORT COAL MARKET
Government Is Hoping in This Way to
Solve Recurrent Problem
of Industry.

country $50 per ton cheaper than 1t
Is produced in Great Britain.
Now, with a better coal and the cost
$50 ton less than in Great Britain,
why Is 1t that American coal has been
kept out of the foreign market, Rep
resentative Robson asks. j.
Under present railroad rates, we must
pay about $3.50 per ton to get coal to
the seaports, while In Great Britain,
the rates are not over 70 cents per
ton to British ports, and furthermore,
England has subsidized her merchant
ships and this gives British ships an
advantage over American ships.
Representative Robsion reminds his
colleagues that we built a great many
ships during the war. We now have
several hundred Of these ships, owned
by the Government, tied up in the vari-
Gus bays and harbors of our country,
deteriorating and becoming worthless.
About $50 of these would be suitable
for carrying coal. The purpose OF the
81 100000 appropriation for the Ship
ping Board Is to recondition these ships
and put them in the coal-carrying
trade and pay whatever loss may be
sustained in competing with Great
Britain in shipping coal to- foreign
ports.
Six Ships have been put into condi-.
ton. or are being reconditioned. Two
of these have already been loaded with
American coal and have sailed to for
eign ports and those behind the effort
feel that with additional funds avail
able before June 80, 1880, between 20
and 80 ships may be reconditioned and
put into service.
In answer to those who argue that
the Government will lose some money IN
this attempt to build up foreign coal
trade, Mr.. Robson says: Yes, during
the past fiscal year our Merchant Ma
rine under the Shipping Board handled
about 8,5O0,000 tons Of farm, factory
and forest products, with "A loss OF
something like $14,000,000. He figures
that for every ton of product shipped
from the farm, the factory and the
forest the Government lost on an aver
age about $1.67.
The loss on our coal shipments will
not amount to that much, he promises.
He calls attention that the ship carry,
ing coal to foreign ports will, whenever
possible, return loaded The first coal
ship we sent out has secured return
cargo of 5000 tons Of ore at rate OF
So per ton and the loss on this shipload
of coal to the Government will be con-
siderably less than 81 ton.
We have potential market for our
coal in the West Indies, Central and
South America and also In the Medi-
terranean. These Mediterranean ports
are almost as near to American ports
as to the British ports. The West Indies
and Central American ports are nearer
to us than to British ports. g.
The United States has had very
small foreign coal trade while Great
Britain has built up foreign coal
trade of something like $4,000, 900 tons.
There is a potential market for Ameri-
can coal and coke Of upwards Of 3d.
900 900 tons.
American railroads have given rates
to our seaports on other products for
foreign shipment. A movement Is now
on foot to have them give a rate on
coal for foreign shipment. If this rate
is secured and proper unloading facili-
ties provided in those foreign markets
it is believed by those who have studied
the situation closely that the American
industry can compete with British coal
in these foreign ports without any aid
from the United States Government.
But it is essential at this time that
the Government, through our Merchant
Marine, should help to build up our
foreign coal markets and this win go
far toward inducing the railroads to
give the rates on coal for foreign ship
ment and In getting suitable unloading
facilities In those foreign ports.
Other Economies Possible.
Other economies may be effected.
With the soft-coal industry in distress
as at present and thousands of miners
out of employment and their families
needing support, there Is an opportunity
for q real humanitarian service which
will help others to help themselves.
Every ship loaded with American
products of whatever kind means more
employment for our people, more re-
turns on capital invested. Whatever
helps any one industry is bound to help
every other industry In this country,
Representative Robson insists.
There Is potential market for about
30,000,000 tons of coal and coke. he
summarizes, and we produce not much
more than 100000 tons Of coal. 1t.
is the surplus that breaks down the
market. In 1927 the British coal min
ers went on strike and that enabled the
United States to have an export mar
ket for about 19,000,000 or 10000, 900
tons Of coal. Even that took up the sur
plus and resulted in strong coal mar
ket throughout the year.
The building up of q foreign coal
trade will help many, Representative
Robson concludes-it will bring busi-
ness to the railroads and work to the
railroad men and to those who are EN-
ployed on our ships and will help every
industry in the country.