SHIPBUILDING

crease was 12,852 tons. In the case of Norway, on the other hand, the 1920 production was less by 18,723 tons than that for the previous year. As already mentioned, a considerable tonnage was built in the United Kingdom for Norwegian owners. The total figure for the Scandinavian countries included four vessels, of between 5000 tons and 5600 tons each, launched in Sweden, and three motor vessels of between 5900 tons and 7150 tons launched in Denmark. The total tonnage of vessels fitted with internal-combustion engines launched in Denmark was the largest for any foreign country, with the exception of the United States, and amounted to 24,352 tons in the aggregate.

At the end of the year there was building in France 397,000 tons, an increase from 293,000 tons on October 1, and in Holland a total of 450,000 tons, compared with 424,000 tons in the previous quarter. The gain of 130,000 tons by these two countries, however, was offset somewhat by declines elsewhere. Italy's share declined only 2000 tons from 365,000 to 363,000; but the aggregate building in the British Dominions was reduced from 213,000 to 186,000 tons and other nations also lost ground in the final quarter of 1920. UNITED STATES VESSELS BUILT AND DocuMENTED IN 1920. The Bureau of Navigation of the Department of Commerce reported that during the calendar year 1920, 1758 merchant vessels of 2,831,343 gross tons were built in American shipyards. American shipbuilders also built 25 vessels of 29,382 gross tons for foreign owners, making a total output of 1783 vessels of 2,860,725 gross tons for the 12 months. During the calendar year 1919 the corresponding output was 2338 vessels of 4,213,891 gross tons for American and 25 vessels of 44,250 gross tons for foreign owners, a total of 2363 vessels of 4,258,141 gross tons. Of the 1920 output, 617 vessels of 2,557,032 gross tons were built of steel, a decrease of 299 vessels and 1,012,792 gross tons compared

with 1919.

The following details of vessels built and officially numbered in the United States in 1920 were reported by the Bureau of Navigation, Depart ment of Commerce:

Atlantic and Gulf Num- Gross

dustries of iron and steel and their products was $3,223,144,000, of which shipbuilding was approximately 2.75 per cent. The estimated value of the annual output of the iron and steel industries in 1920 was $6,500,000,000, of which shipbuilding was approximately 15 per cent.

In 1914 shipbuilding, with a total value of output of $88,682,000, ranked 58th among the industries of the United States. The construction under way in 1920 placed shipbuilding in about 15th position, surpassing such manufacturing industries as leather, furniture, chemicals, paper and wood pulp, agricultural implements, sugar and silk.

In 1920 the shipbuilding industry was again being placed on a basis of private construction and operation after war conditions. In the spring of 1919 shipyards were again permitted to accept orders for private account, and by July 1, 1919, contracts had been let for over 100,000 gross tons of steel ships. By July 1, 1920, the tonnage under construction or contracted for for private account had increased to approximately 1,700,000 gross tons.

The steel merchant tonnage on Dec. 31, 1920, under construction for private account (approximately 1,500,000 gross tons) was over six times the average pre-war output of steel merchant vessels (235,000 gross tons annually), and was approximately three and one-half times the greatest annual output prior to the war (450,017 gross tons of steel ships in 1908).

Accordingly in 1920 there was a condition not before realized since the beginning of the war. On Sept. 1, 1920, there were under construction in the United States 2,463.314 gross tons of steel merchant vessels. Of these. 1,438,498 gross tons were for private account and 1,024 816 gross tons were for the United States Shipping Board. On Sept. 15, 1920, there were under construction for private account steel vessels aggregating 1,449,859 gross tons. This was practically the same as the private account tonnage under construction on July 1, 1920, new orders having replaced the tonnage delivered. The figures for December 31st are given later in this article.

An examination of statistics on shipbuilding

Total

280

19.003

AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING. Considering American shipbuilding in more detail, it must be real ized that since 1914 it had advanced in rank from the 58th industry in the United States to 15th. In 1914 the total value of the output of the in

for the years 1900 to 1915 inclusive will show that the total tonnage of steel merchant vessels under construction at the beginning of each fiscal year was practically the same as that turned out during the latter year.

business increased during the year but fears were expressed that legislation to restrict immigration to the United States to be passed by Congress aight interfere with this seriously.

The great revival in shipping represented heavy investments in marine transportation not only in the United States but throughout the world and the decline in ocean borne commerce due to world conditions naturally developed serious conditions. There were failures of companies that had been organized to purchase or build steamships at the high prices and by the end of 1920 there was little encouragement for an immediate improvement. The accompanying table, condensed from Lloyd's Register of Shipping, shows the gross tonnage of the world's steamers, according to nationality, in June, 1914, 1919, and 1920, the returns covering vessels of 100 gross tons or over.

1. The total American registered, enrolled, and licensed tonnage on June 30, 1920, was 16,324,024 gross tons, three times the tonnage in 1914 of Germany, whose former place as the second maritime power the United States assumed.

2. The year's increase in American shipping was 3,416,724 gross tons, an annual increase larger than the whole world's increase during any year before 1914.

3. The American ships built and documented during the year 1919-20 aggregated 3,880,639 gross tons, an output comparable only to the world's pre-war record launching of 3,332,882 gross tons in 1913 and the British record of 3,808,056 gross tons under construction on June 30, 1920. At the end of December, 1919, American shipyards had built ships (including a small tonnage for foreign owners) at the rate of 4,258,

1,683,000

9,773,000

2,160,000

2,119,000

713,000

306,000

410,000

475,000

631,000

719,000

Under the heading "Other countries" for 1920 are included about 1,000,000 gross tons of former German ships, the allotment of which among the victorious nations had not been made when the table was compiled.

The world's increase in shipping during the year 1919-20 had been 6,400,000 gross tons, or double the increase in any previous year, and shipbuilding was proceeding in 1920 at double the pre-war rate. The increase in shipping since the outbreak of the war in 1914 was 8,224,000 gross tons, while the increase during the six years from 1908 to 1914' was 8,167,000 gross tons. The seaborne cargoes of the world in 1920 as already stated undoubtedly were less than before the war because normal production had not been resumed in most countries, reducing generally the volume of export cargoes. Furthermore, every nation which took part in the war incurred heavy debts which involve high taxes, lessening further its ability to import anything but necessities. Nevertheless, there was tonnage to move all available cargoes but the loss of passenger ships had not been made good. While American steam tonnage has increased by 10,400,000 gross tons since 1914, there was nearly 2,000,000 gross tons less for the rest of the world.

UNITED STATES SHIPPING. According to the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Navigation the year 1919-20 was one of maximum records in most branches of American shipping and shipbuilding not likely to be equaled for years to come. As officially summarized the following significant statements are made:

50,919,000

57,314,000

141 gross tons per annum and at the end of March, 1920, American yards had built steel ships alone at the rate of 3,679,285 gross tons per annum. The peak of annual wooden-ship production, 1,021,020 gross tons, had been reached at the end of June, 1919, and declined to 297,864 gross tons during the fiscal year 1919-20.

4. American ships registered for foreign trade on June 30, 1920, aggregated 9,928,595 gross tons, nearly tenfold the tonnage so registered in 1914. 5. This registered tonnage during normal domestic conditions of trade, control, and production would suffice to carry about 60 per cent in value of the foreign trade of the United States and, in fact, during the years 1919-1920 carried 45 per cent in value of American exports and 39 per cent in value of imports, while in 1914 American ships carried only 10 per cent in value of exports and imports.

6. The increase during the year 1919-1920 in United States tonnage registered for foreign trade was 3,258,869 gross tons, or virtually 50 per cent, and was by itself more than the tonnage under any flag but the British (which amounted to 20,582,652 gross tons), slightly exceeding the total of 3,245,194 gross tons under the French flag, which ranked next to the Ameri

can.

7. The clearances of American ships in foreign trade aggregated almost 29,000,000 net tons, or close to 52 per cent of the total clearances and double the percentage of 1914.

8. For the first time in a third of a century one-half of the officers and crews of American