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the Port of New York so vast that the great ports of London, Liverpool, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Antwerp all could be accommodated there, with ample room to spare. This goes to show the immensity and the possibilities of the Port of New York, already the premier port of the world in all of the great attributes of shipping and commerce.

At Jamaica Bay, just a step from the Atlantic Ocean, there will be every facility known to shipping and to commerce, with rail connections as ample as any to be found not on the mainland of the United States, where industries may grow almost without end, and where a dense population is rapidly developing attractive homes. We ask our readers to keep their weather eyes lifting on Jamaica Bay.

Whole Number 37

JANUARY, 1925

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United States Fleet Corporation

Senator W. L. Jones, Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has drafted a bill to carry out President Coolidge's wishes with respect to lodging power in the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation hereinafter to be called the United States Fleet Corporation to control all vessels, vessel equipment and supplies and other property, except docks, piers, warehouses and other terminal facilities, now under the control of the United States Shipping Board. Hereafter the power and authority now vested in the board for the custody, maintenance, repair, employment, insurance and disposal of such vessels and property would be exercised by the United States Fleet Corporation. This, Senator Jones is quoted as saying, would "end the dual control that exists and make the Emergency Fleet Corporation 17 independent of the Shipping Board so far as concerns operation and dealing with ships," and he said further that under the new plan the Fleet Corporation would be an operating body as to Government shipping while the 19 Shipping Board would exercise all the regulatory powers over shipping in general that it was originally intended that it should have.

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Port News

A. H. Smith Memorial Bridge

Panama Canal Traffic

Channel Improvement in Port of New York

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The Bayside (Long Island) National Bank..

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Certain amendments to and amplifications of the provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, in respect to exemption from income tax provisions of owners of vessels documented under our laws and operating in foreign trade through deductions in net incomes equal to the net earning of the vessels in the taxable year, are made, to 30 apply provided that such earnings are invested in new ships built in American shipyards, this to run for a period of ten years. All of the stock in the United States Fleet Corporation is to be vested in the President.

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It is quite unlikely that this measure will be passed at the present session, in fact, its passage is at least a year away, according to the judgement of experienced legislators.

The great question is whether the changes proposed will benefit American shipping, as a whole, whether they will increase the number of lines and of shipps under the American flag operating in foreign trade, or whether thy

will result in a gradual reduction in the number of lines and of ships in foreign trade under our flag. The bill makes no provision whatever for a direct increase in the number of ships under our flag in foreign trade, acutely necessary properly to balance our fleet.

Our Protected Coastwise Trade Attorney-General Stone in an opinion in the case of the British steamship Voltaire, which carried over 500 members of the Elks from Philadelphia to Boston, there to attend a convention, after which the trip was extended to Halifax, in an effort to evade the provisions of our domestic navigation laws, has decided that the fine of $111,000 should properly be imposed. He declares that the main part of the voyage was from Philadelphia to Boston, and that the extension of the trip to Halifax did not relieve the Voltaire from the penalties prescribed for violating our domestic navigation laws, in this case, a fine of $200 per passenger so carried.

The opinion of the Attorney-General is most commendable. It would have been strange enough had it sustained the owners of the Voltaire in their efforts to find a way to overcome or evade our protected coastwise navigation, a trade that has, since 1817, been wholly reserved for American ships. This constitutes a prohibitively protected branch of the American merchant marine, which marine, as a result, grows and prospers, while our ships in foreign trade, in free trade competition with foreign ships, find it impossible to succeed, except in the rarest instances.

It is unlikely that, for some time to come, other attempts will be made by owners of foreign ships to evade the provisions of our domestic navigation laws.

Our Place Upon the Seas

The Dollar steamship interests have for a year been running a fortnightly round-the-world line of American passenger and freight steamships, and from all accounts the line is a success. Aside from the favorable terms upon which the Dollar interests purchased the ships from the United States Shipping Board that they are now operating, they receive no aid from the United States, they are operating in unprotected competition with foreign ships. And yet these same Dollar interests are ready to buy the ten passenger and freight ships the United States Shipping Board is operating on the Pacific-the Admiral Oriental line from Seattle, and the Pacific Mail line from San Francisco, each to the Far East. It is merely a question of the terms of sale, the Dollars being willing to bind themselves to run the ships for a period of five years on the routes they are now covering. This would indicate that these American shipowners believe they can continue to operate ships in foreign trade in free trade competition with foreign ships-in competition with the British and Japanese subsidized lines now operating in the same trade. It would seem that, in such a case, the Shipping Board could afford to make the terms of sale satisfactory, because of the result that would follow.

James Rolph, Jr., another Pacific Coast steamship man, has just bought two lines of Government-owner freight ships from the United States Shipping Board, and agrees to run them for a fixed period under terms imposed by the Shipping Board. There is no suggestion of direct Government aid for the Rolph steamships.

On the eastern side of the continent we have the Harriman American lines, privately owned and operated, and which are apparently in transatlantic trade to stay. We have a few other lines of American ships, privately owned, operating to the West Indies, Central and South America. It is in the trade with Europe that the greater number of ships owned by the United States Shipping Board are being operated, only one line-the United States Line-being directly operated by the board. There is a belief that in time one after the other of these lines will be purchased, either by their present operators, or other private interests. As the hired operators become more and more familiar with the routes over which they are operating, and as shippers become more and more confident that these lines are permanent lines of American steamships, it is expected that the operators will find ways and means to take over, themselves, the ships they now operate, and thus transform them into privately-owned lines. Adequate protection of our ships in foreign trade could greatly hasten the permanent development of our merchant marine in that trade, but even without protection it looks as if private American interests are beginning to believe they can succeed in foreign trade. Then we would truly begin to occupy our place upon the

seas.

Todd-Built New Morgan Liner

More than 2,000 persons, mostly shipping and railroad men, accepted the invitation of the Southern Pacific Lines to inspect the new steamship Bienville on Dec. 30 at Pier 48, North River. The company gave a luncheon on board the vessel, after which full opportunity was given for inspection of every part of the ship, members of the crew and the shore staff acting as guides for the visitors. The arrangement of the vessel came in for general commendation.

The Bienville, fully described and illustrated in our September issue, an oil-burning, turbine-driven, single screw vessel of 7,916 tons gross, built at the Tacoma yard of the Todd Dry Dock and Construction Corporation, was launched on July 16, 1924, and came around from the Pacific Coast by way of the Panama, one of the company engineers stated, without a single readjustment, even to the extent of repacking a piston or valve stem, and arrived in spick and span condition. The vessel was designed and decorated by A. S. Hebble, superintending engineer of the Southern Pacific Lines, who declares her to be the most economical ship of her type ever built.

The new ship, which was named after Jean Baptiste Lemoine de Bienville, Colonial Governor of Louisiana, who founded New Orleans in 1718, has an overall length of 445 feet, a beam of 57 feet and a height of 37 feet 6 inches to the hurricane deck. Her displacement is 12,200 tons and her loaded draft 26 feet. She has a maintained sea speed of 16 knots and has accommodations for 237 first class and 110 third class passengers and 410,000 cublic feet of cargo space.

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Corporation, to Meet

HE United States Shipping Board, at a meeting on December 22, 1924, adopted the following resolution:

WHEREAS, it is the declared purpose of the Board that in the operation of ships and handling of government property by the Emergency Fleet Corporation, that the Emergency Fleet Corporation shall report to the Shipping Board as to a board of directors exercising the usual advisory capacity in the determination of broad policies and holding the management responsible for results, in the same manner as large business organizations function; and in order more clearly to define this relationship between the Shipping Board and the Emergency Fleet Corporation in line with the Board's desire as above expressed,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the resolution of the United States Shipping Board passed September 30, 1921 as amended January 10th, 1924 be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:

WHEREAS, The Merchant Marine Act, 1920, provides that the power and authority thereby vested in the United States Shipping Board may be exercised either directly by the Board, or by it through the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, except as therein otherwise specificially provided, and

WHEREAS, In the opinion of the Shipping Board, the executive and personnel organization of the Emergency Fleet Corporation is equipped to efficienctly exercise through the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation various administrative powers and functions, thus making it possible for the United States Shipping Board to devote its attention to study and determination of the broad and constructive questions of policy relating to the maintenance, development and encouragement of the American Merchant Marine, under the powers and duties imposed upon the United States Shipping Board by law.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That it is the sense of the United States Shipping Board that neither its Chairman nor any member of the Board should hold any office of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, and that no member of any department of the Shipping Board should hold any office of the Emergency Fleet Corporation unless the Shipping Board and the Board of Trustees of the Emergency Fleet Corporation concur.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the power and authority vested in the Shipping Board by the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, shall be exercised by it through the Emergency Fleet Corporation in the following matters, and to the extent and in the manner hereinafter provided:

1. The selection, employment or removal of all officers and employees of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and their compensation shall be under the control of the Board of Trustees and/or officers of that corporation in the manner provided for in the By-Laws of said corporation, provided, however, that the salaries and other compensation of the officers and of the Trustees shall be subject to the approval of the Board, and provided further, that the selection, employment or removal of such attorneys as are engaged in handling construction claims or litigation arising from the same shall be subject to the approval of the Board.

2. The management, operation, maintenance and repair of vessels. 3. In accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, the Shipping Board will determine the trade routes to be served. The Emergency Fleet Corporation will make such disposition and allocation of the vessels to serve these routes as will insure efficient and economical operations.

4. The completion or conclusion of any construction, or reconditioning work upon vessels which has heretofore been or may be authorized by the United States Shipping Board.

5. The sale of vessels on terms and conditions laid down by the Board and at such prices as the Board approves.

6. The operation and sale of housing projects, real estate, railroad and other similar property, as approved by the Board. 7. The operation and sale of dry docks as approved by the Board.

8. The custody and sale of all other property and materials. 9. All accounting for the Emergency Fleet orporation. 10. The insurance of vessels and other property in its custody; and matters pertaining to such insurance.

11. The management and physical operation of piers, and pier warehouses and terminal facilities owned by or assigned to the Shipping Board.

12. The leasing and rental of offices, warehouses, docks and

storage facilities deemed essential by it for its business and for its terminal facilities.

13. The disbursement and expenditure of all moneys arising out of operations, or otherwise in connection with the delegated powers; also moneys arising from appropriations heretofore or hereafter made by Congress for the use and expense of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, as allotted by the Shipping Board, subject to the limitations of any or all acts of Congress pertaining thereto.

14. The settlement, including payments or collections, of all matters arising out of the above mentioned powers before or after the date of this resolution.

15. All matters incidental to any of the foregoing powers, including the negotiations, preparation and execution of contracts, charters, bills of sale, leases, operating agreements and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of such powers are hereby conferred upon the Emergency Fleet Corporation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an accurate record shall be made of the proceedings of every meeting of the Trustees of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and a summary thereof be transmitted to the Chairman and each Commissioner of the Shipping Board. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the voting power upon the stock and the control of the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation shall remain with the United States Shipping Board, according to law; and the President and each of the Trustees of the Emergency Fleet Corporation shall deliver to the Secretary of the Shipping Board their several qualifying shares of stock in the United States Shipping Board Emergency Flet Corporation, duly endorsed in blank for transfer; and the officers of the Emergency Flet Corporation shall deliver to the President of the Emergency Fleet Corporation their several resignations for acceptance at his pleasure; and the President and Trustees of the Emergency Fleet Corporation shall deliver to the Secretary of the Shipping Board their several resignations for acceptance at the pleasure of the Shipping Board.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That in passing this resolution the United States Shipping Board declares that it is its policy to delegate to the Emergency Flet Corporation, all power, authority and control essential to the full and efficient operation by it of all lines at present operated or which may be hereinafter authorized, and the full performance of all powers and authority hereby delegated. All vessels, whether active or inactive, are hereby placed in the custody and care of the Emergency Fleet Corporation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That nothing herein contained shall be construed as a transfer of title or ownership of vessels, docks, or other property, real or personal, belonging to the United States; the possession and control by the Emergency Fleet Corporation of any vessels or other property delivered to it under this resolution shall be solely that of an agent, with limited powers. All contracts, and agreements made by the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation shall clearly show that the same are contracts and agreements of the United States Shipping Board acting through the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation as its authorized agent.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The right and duty of the Shipping Board to exercise any and all powers of supervision and control vested in or imposed upon it by law remain in full force and effect.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That all resolutions, general or special orders or office memoranda of the United States Shipping Board heretofore passed, inconsistent with the resolution of January 10, 1924, as amended hereby, are repealed, insofar as they conflict with the provisions of this resolution.

Important American Fisheries Menaced Commissioner Henry O'Malley made his annual report to Secretary Hoover recently, covering the work of the Bureau of Fisheries in the Department of Commerce for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1924. The report discloses the critical condition of many of our important fisheries, the inability of these branches to meet the heavily increased demands for service, and the interest of the American people in having these fisheries rehabilitated that they may serve to the fullest extent as a source of food and recreation without endangering the future supply.

Henry C. Wiltbank, several years Secretary of the National Merchant Marine Association, a well-known newspaperman, who has specialized in marine matters, announces his resignation in order to operate the Shipping and Foreign Trade Research Bureau, at room 831 Munsey Building, Washington, D. C.

The Army Engineers recommend an expenditure of $71,604,980 for improvement of rivers and harbors during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926.

Jamaica Bay and Rockaway Inlet are newly charted in a new edition of Chart No. 542, obtainable from the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

The American liner President McKinley arrived in Seattle on Dec. 12, at 7:25 p. m., carrying 15 carloads of raw silk, which were loaded into a special express train and arrived in Chicago in 58 hours and 41 minutes, arriving in New York Dec. 16.

The concrete tanker Moffitt rammed the steamship W. M. Tupper in the Delaware River last month, causing the Tupper to return with dented plates, but the Moffitt being uninjured, proceeded on her voyage.

The fuel conservation committee of the Shipping Board, of which Captain C. A. McAllister, vice-president of the American Bureau of Shipping is chairman, claim to have effected a saving of $2,500,000 by their methods the past year.

Piracy in the Port of New York, says the Commercial, has become a very serious matter, bandits being able to strip ships in midstream of valuable metal parts. New York City's police force has been appealed to for better protection.

The annual overhaul of the steamship President McKinley was awarded to the Todd Seattle shipyard, at a cost of $128,559, as compared with the estimate of $169,316 by the Bremerton Navy Yard.

On Dec. 20 France signed the international convention for the regulation of maritime ports throughout the world, 26 states having already agreed. Some people who would like this country to be in the League of Nations fear discrimination against United States shipping, as a result of our non-participation. Rot!

The Shipping Board plans to spend $1,000,000 in reconditioning the five ships of the Admiral Oriental line during the present winter.

The Maritime Association of the Port of New York on Dec. 29 sent Mayor Hylan a petition signed by 160 steamship companies, underwriters, warehousemen, towing, ligherage and other marine interests asking for more adequate protection of merchandise handled in the harbor.

The Atlantic, Gulf & West Indies Steamship Lines announce net October income at 457,444, before depreciation, and for the ten months ended Oct. 31, $3,268,882.

The ferryboats Murray Hulbert and Edward Reigelmann were launched at Tebo's Yacht Basin, on Dec. 27, in the presence of a great throng of city officials. The Todd Shipyards Corporation will build three more ferryboats at its Tebo basin.

Plans for a 13-mile highway, part of which will run through a roofed cut, starting from the New Jersey entrance of the Holland vehicular tunnel, the exit of which highway will be in Newark and Elizabeth, have been approved by the New Jersey State Highway Commission. It will cost $12,000,000.

The Ford Motor Company has announced plans for the construction of waterfront facilities adjoining its new assembly plant in Newton Park, a suburb of Norfolk, which is to be made into an export center for motor vehicle shipments to South America. The plant is to have a capacity of 90,000 cars yearly. Two of the Ford steamers, the Oneida and Onondaga, recently purchased and reconditioned by the company, are now making Norfolk their base and are employed in the transportation of motor car parts to South America.

The total capitalization of new shipping concerns in 1924 was $58,325,000, which compares with $68,825,000 in 1923 and $67,225,000 in 1922. September was the largest month with $33,365,000. In December no firms were organized.

After an exhaustive series of trials extending over a week the quadruple screw motorship Aorangi, built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company for the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, has come successfully through the tests. The vessel attained a speed of over 18 knots.

The Robert E. Lee, recently completed by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company for the Old Dominion Line, has been chartered by the Ward Line, as an addition to its passenger service between New York and Havanna. The first sailing will be January 24 from this city. She has accommodations for 300 passengers and has an average speed of 16 knots.

The decision of the United American and HamburgAmerican lines to abandon Southampton as a port of call in the Hamburg-New York service in favor of Dover, beginning with the sailing of the Albert Ballin on January 17, has been a hard blow to Southampton. The change was made on account of the increased dues levied by the Southampton harbor board on ships entering but not using the port, consisting of one halfpenny per net registered ton, plus one-fourth of the boomage and light dues.

Linea Sud Americana, a Delaware corporation, with a capitalization of $250,000, has filed papers of designation at Albany. This new enterprise was organized recently by Garzia & Diaz interests.

The steamship Tsuyama Maru, of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, scheduled to sail from New York on January 28, will make a direct call at Nagoya in addition to the regular ports of Yokohama and Kobe.