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364 people must depend more or less on London. In view of the large number of thefts in transit, the insurance companies are planning to exact separate theft policies, a move which has the sanction of the steamship oper- ators. Port troubles have worked havoc with ocean shipping and the end of Cargoes the labor demands is not evident. . The port of New York has been the Now Being hardest hit, and ships have departed Sought partly loaded while from one-fifth to one-third of them have been clearing in ballast for southern ports to pick up cargoes. The movement of coal and grain has been held in check by the lack of cars to bring the material to the seaboard. Southern coal, ports have been filled with idle coal carriers and_ rates have been gradually declining. Baltimore to Rotter- dam has paid recently $18.25, and the Atlantic range to west Italy $20, although some fixtures have been. effected at higher figures for prompt boats. A moderate business has been done with South America and the rates have held firm at the recently advanced level. Shipping -board tonnage seems to have swamped the River Plate market and some steamers that expected to get 250s from Buenos - Aires to the continent sailed to Rio de Janeiro in ballast, where they secured cargoes of ore for New York at from $9 to $10 per ton. The general European trade has been below normal and few vessels have been taxed to capacity, while cargo shipments outside of grain, flour and coal have been practically unknown. The entire trade with foreign nations has been unsatisfactory. Flour from the northern range has made 120s for Trieste. On the net form of charter, New York to the French Atlantic has paid $17. Orders for tim- ber have appeared in the market, with fair rates offered from gulf ports. Cotton has continued to S] Over if the liners at $1.50 to $1.75. per 100 pounds to Liverpool-Manchester, and 90 cents to $1.25 to Antwerp-Rotterdam. Petroleum to Japan, China and Australia has been quoted at 75 cents from New York. An American steamer has been chartered for six months at $7. A few short-term charters on British steamers have been taken on this side. The time and trip charter market has lacked activity. Charter conditions in the north Pa- cific are somewhat complicated at i. - Rate the present time. A general feeling exists that freights are due for a Changes tumble but thus far the market has - Delayed held up fairly well in most direc- tions. In some instances, business is being held back in the belief that rates are soon to be lowered while the condition of affairs in Japan has had a generally depressing effect upon the market. Altogether, the situation looks rather uncertain and both shippers and operators are doing buSiness with extreme caution. A large amount of foodstuffs sound and Columbia river ports to Europe where an urgent deman and wheat. The Grain corporation up its affairs but it still has a large on hand. Private operators are the situation and consid for the near future. shipping board vessels is held at Puget awaiting shipment d exists for flour is trying to wind amount of flour preparing to meet erable tonnage has been taken Recent charters include five which were taken to carry THE MARINE REVIEW ~ July, 1999 flour to Alexandria, Egypt, following three simi] cargoes already dispatched. .While the jae demands of this trade have been met, addi tonnage for Alexandria, July and August loadin nal being sought at $30 per ton. Exporters are offer: : $35 per ton for flour to Constantinople "8 while for South Africa can obtain $27 per ton for tee 'Tonnage for Great Britain and the north of Europe is in demand and while the flour rate has not yet been stabilized, it is understood to have ranged i $20 16 $25. per. ton. Exporters are anticipating a heavy movement of wheat from north Pacific ports to Great Britain and Europe during the coming fall. This means the re. version of the trade to its former custom of ship- ping the unmilled grain rather than the finished prod- uct, which custom was reversed during the last three years while the Grain corporation was in contro! In the lumber business, a vessel hag been taken for railroad ties at $46 Lumber from British Columbia to Great Britain. This rate is regarded as Movement considerably below the basis being Is Active paid for lumber for which the reg- ular liners are asking $60 per thou- sand. An order for 56,000,000 feet of ties has been placed on this coast and additional tonnage to move this cargo 'to Great Britain is now being negotiated. The coastwise movement of lumber is extremely active on a basis of $9 to San Francisco and $10.50 to southern California. To South America lumber rates have slumped slightly, it being reported that tonnage has been taken for lumber at $32.50 as against a recent going rate of $35 to. $36. To the Hawaiian islands, lumber rates remain firm at $16 and $18 while to the Orient, lumber is being moved in large quantities at about $37.50. It was expected that this rate would drop because of heavy offerings of space but so far shippers have been unable to get better price except in a few instances where it "is reported that steamers have been taken on at a basis of $35 per thousand feet. . The flurry in Japanese banking and business cir- cles has resulted in a general contraction of business with that country. Extension of letters of credit has been refused and in some instances orders have been cancelled. With ample steamship service on_ the route, Operators are now soliciting cargo and abun- dant space is available for all shipments offered. Despite this fact, the rate to the Orient is still on a $12 basis for weight cargo, although it is reported that one firm has offered to: book freight at $10. The decision of the shipping board to permit con- ferences at the various important shipping centers of the country is hailed with delight by ship opet- ators as it will permit them to meet unexpected conditions as they arise. The general effect will be to stabilize freight prices and with differentials estab- lished for each port, none will have a marked advan: tage over its competitors. Railroad transportation -- difficulties ' which seemed so detrimental to m& Boston's rine shipping from the port of ee Exports ton in the early part of May nae actually been the cause of much in Increase creased export tonnage during the past few weeks. New England man ufacturers finding it impossible © ship by rail to New York for export have been forced to turn to Boston for an outlet. This has