538





RECORD   AND   GUIDE





November 9, 1918





Merchant Marine in Reconstruction Period





James   A.   Farrell,   President   of   U.   S. Steel   Corporation,   Says
Economic Warfare Depends on Peace Terms

tion as a belligerent in the war.

"It is fortunate for us," continues the report, "that





TIIE important part the American merchant marine
should play (íuring the reconstruction period in
this country after the war, and the vital neces-
sity for a definite national merchant marine policy to
assure American shijíowners of being able to compete
on even terms vvith foreign vessels, vvere emphasized
in a report of the Committee on Merchant Marine read
vesterday at the lifth aiinual mceting of the National For-
eign Trade Council, held iii thc lîiltmore Hotel.

James A. Farrell, president of the United States Steel
Cor])oration and chairman of the Council, presided at the
meeting.    Tn his address he said that our sui^reine duty





one of our greatest contributions to the war will also
render a most valuable service after peace has been re-
stored. We are building the ships vvhich will be the
most eft'ective agency in the permanent solution of these
great after war problems. The extent of this service,
however, is contingent upoii the adoption by this Gov-
crnment of a definite maritime líolicy, which will per-
mit the permanent retention and operation of these ves-
sels under the American flag. This important matter
should be taken up by Congress at once, to enable our





was to see to it that the ternis of iieace should render im-     shipowners and others interested to make the necessary
possible the continuance of conditions sought to be cor-     arrangements to take their proper place in the world's





rected by economic warfare.

"If the terms of peace are satisfactory," Mr. Farrell
said, "there will be no need for economic warfare. If
they are not satisfactory, economic warfare will be im-
possible. With an adequate, just, and final peace we
can go forward in confidence to meet and solve the
numerous problems certain to arise from the coniplex
and novcl conditions iiaturally flowing from the cata-
clysm that has overwhelmcd tlie vvorld during tliese four
years."

The report of the Merchant Marine Committee, which
is composed of James A. F;irreII, P. A. S. Franklin, and
Robert Dollar, was adopted unanimously by the Coun-
cil. It contended that ships vvould constitute the first
factor in our great task of reconstruction, no less than
they had constituted the first problem of our participa-





commerce.

The committee reconimends curtailing the construc-
tion of wooden ships as soon as possible, in view of their
inefficiency under normal conditions and the trans-
formation into barges of the surplus steamships over
those which can be operated economically. The engines
and other machinery thus made available could be util-
ized in steel hulls.

The committee states emphatically tliat unless this
country's national maritime policy is founded upon the
principle that those operating vessels shall be assured
of conditions which will enable them to meet the com-
petition of all other maritime nations upon an equitable
basis, the large merchant fleet which is now ours will
cither be transferred to foreign registry or rust out a
useless existence terniinating on the scrap-heap.





Great Coal Saving in Manufacturing Plants





THROUGH the co-operation of the industrial
power plants, which have thus far put into force
the standard recommendations of the United
States Fuel Administration to promote efficiency in the
use of fuel in povver plants, the department announces
that a saving of seven million tons annually has been
eft'ected. That is to say, in the first six months from
the announcement of the national program, three and
one-half million tons have been conserved, at the same
time maintaining maximum production in the factories.
The largest savings have been in the following states:
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania. Connecticut, Illinois, New
York, Missouri, Michigan, IMinnesota and Wisconsin.

Some industrial plants vvhich have adopted the
standard recommendations and kept systematic records
report a fuel saving as high as 25 per cent., and the
average is estimated between 10 per cent. and 15 per
cent. This large economy is effected at practically no
expense to the plant ovvner since the recommendations
treat primarily of proper methods of firing and manage-
ment in povver plants.

A Fuel Administration campaign comprehends volun-
tary service by engineer inspectors, lectures to fuel con-
servation classes in educational institutions, addresses
before public meetings, explanations of the program to
power plants owners, and various forms of printed mat-
ter and posters.

For the efficient execution of the program of indus-
trial conservation, under the plan developed, the engi-
neers of the country have been mobilized through the
professional societies and the operating engineers and
firemen, and as a result there are today fifteen hundred
volunteer engineer specialists and povver plant men or-
ganized by states, inspecting power plants, classifying
them according to their operating efficiency, and aiding
the work of rapid development. As a direct result of
the operation of this plan, it is estimated that the total
annual saving throughout the country will be about
twenty-five million tons of coal without reducing the
output of the factories. Special printed material, in-
structing the output of use of fuel, has been prepared by
the United States Fuel Administration and may be ob-
tained free of cost upon application.

The campaign has been organized in consultation with





the State Administrators, the Bureau of Mines, and the
Committee of Consulting Engineers of the Engineering
Council, which represents the four national engineering
societies. These íour societies have contributed largely
in supplying expert advice of engineering talent; special
relations have been formed between the Fuel Adminis-
tration and the National Association of the Stationary
Engineers, the International Brotherhood of Stationary
Firemen and Oilers, the Laundry Owners National As-
sociation, the Portland Cement Association, and other
national bodies who have given full co-operation to this
national plan.

Realty Boards' Legislative Program

AT a meeting at the Real Estate Board rooms this
week a sub-committee of the Board's legislative
committee and a committee from another real
estate organization, plans were outlined to bring about
concerted effort at Albany this winter on legislative
matters by real estate interests.

In the past a numbcr of organizations sent repre-
sentatives to Albany claiming to represent real estate.
Sometimes the different representatives were in sharp
conflict and the members of the legislature were unable
to determine which of them correctly presented the
views of real estate people. This winter it is hoped
there will be community of thought and effort and
united action. Only important measures will be con-
sidcred and on these all vvork will be concentrated and
;i small committee charged with carrying out the wishes
of the combined organizations.

The Real Estate Board's complete program with full
cxplanation of the reason for and object of proposed
legislature will be ready for presentation to the mem-
bers elect of the Legislature in a few days.





W;ishington Market, thc first of New York's markets
)n the West .Side, was originally called "Bear Market,"
)ecause bear meat was first sold in it.





William and Beekman streets were named after Wil-
liam Beekman, who owned most of the section now
known as "The Swamp."