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OUTLOOK GOOD Expert states That Conditions Fav- | or the United States Becoming World's Dominant Shipping Power RACTICALLY 50 per cent of America's exports are being carried today in American bottoms. During 1914, foreign vessels carried 91.8 per cent of our exports and transported 85.4 per cent in 1917. These figures illustrate the stupendous growth of the American merchant. marine. Accord- ing to the recent report of Lloyd's, United States shipping has increased 382 per cent in five years whereas the tonnage of England decreased 13 per cent. Japanese shipping increased 38 per cent. The importance of America on the seas is growing daily. No better authority for this is needed than W. R. Grace, the noted export in foreign trade. When returning recently from Europe Mr. Grace said: "No one here realizes the seriousness of the situa- tion in shipping abroad. In England they have not even begun to approach a normal condition. With the labor unrest a most serious question in England, France and Italy, I see no chance for any immediate change for the better, particularly in shipping. Ton- nage cannot be bought or chartered abroad, and in England the government still controls the movement of all its own shipping. To me it looks as if the - United States might well become the dominant power in the shipping situation of the world." The British government requisitioned an additional 15 per cent of space on all British transatlantic ships for, carrying foodstuffs beginning with the first of September. Now the government control 50. per cent of this space. This throws in the hands of the private American operator a greater opportunity to engage in ocean transportation. But not only is the American ship operator gaining the upper hand, but the decline in European exchange is discriminating against British and other foreign marine insurance companies, and there has recently been an increased demand in the market for American policies. Ship- pers are not only refusing to accept foreign insurance unless it is made payable in dollars, but are can- celing insurance already in force where the contracts stipulate sterling or other foreign money. - The situation prevailing today like- wise favors American shipbuilding. Shipyard While it-is true that a lower selling Oidosk price on American-built ships is to nae _. be quoted in the near future, this Bright will. undoubtedly result in consider- _able good. Joseph W. Isherwood, ; the inventor of longitudinal framing, is author of this statement regarding the situation in England: "Few builders will make an out and out contract. Prices in England are somewhat lower at present than they are in the United States, but there Is, unfortunately, an upward tendency in England, 452 orld Charter Market Reviewed by while in the United States the tendency is for a downward price in shipbuilding. The United States will probably give England a hard tussle for supre- macy in shipping in the near future." The crux of the troop movement has passed and but little tonnage will be required by the government for this service hereafter. Approximately 3,200,000 tons of ships have been returned to their owners, and about 400,000 tons will be redelivered during Sep- tember. The government, it is expected, will allocate through the shipping board, most of the German vessels captured in our ports, and they will be operated by private American companies. The IMPERATOR goes to England. Four of the trans- ports, however, will be retained in the New York- Brest service to transport mail and to facilitate the return of first-class personnel. They are the GEORGE WASHINGTON, LEVIATHAN, AGAMEMNON and AMER- 1cA. The shipping board has announced that the South American passenger service will be started with vessels smaller than those designated earlier. The first ship to be used will be the Moccasrn, for- merly the German liner Prince JoacHIM. |. She measures 8000 tons deadweight and is capable of making 12 knots when loaded. She is considered a first-class vessel. With more tonnage at their disposal the American lines are spreading out, More planning to engage in new services. i: Eight American lines have planned ines ; : services to Germany, touching at Expand Hamburg and Bremen. These are the International Mercantile Marine, Barber Steamship Co., American- Hawaiian, Moore & McCormick, Brooks Steamship Corp., Kerr Steamship Co., Gans Steamship line, and the Pacat Steamship Corp. These lines have already sent some ships to Germany. The first return cargo to be brought from Germany reached New York on Aug. 23, consisting of 181 packages of glass- ware. Tonnage to, "be had' in Germany for the return voy- age, however, is proving ex- tremely disap- pointing. The decline in the mark will un- doubtedly react as an encour- acc men t toward making purchases in Germany, but the fact that the dollar sells at a premium miti- gates against American ship- pers making sales there. The steamship com- panies have . Plan New Lines IHHE time charter market on the Pacific coast, according to recent advices, is weak when compared to the Atlantic market. While shipping men of the Pa- cific coast have been interested in the purchase of a number of government vessels, there is a general disposition to proceed cautiously until the government adopts a definite merchant marine policy. At San Francisco, a movement is under. way to form a popular shipping company for the pur- chase and operation of a fleet of vessels. Seattle capital is also re- ported to be on the lookout for ships and several companies are under organization.