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AAA cl HNN 0000 HAT the recent conference of | allied leaders at Paris may have some important effects on steam- ship affairs is thought more than possi- ble, especially since the statement was issued that the British mercantile ma- rine would be rehabilitated to meet the urgent requirements of France, Italy and Russia. The latter coun- tries for the past five months have been vigorously complaining of the burdensome freight rates that they were being forced to pay to British steamship owners, while the British government, exercising its prerogative, has, for its own use, put limitations on the rates of freight that it pays. This constant reiteration of complaints that England should put its mercan- tile fleet to the use of all of the Allies is thought to be the basis of the im- pending change. It was recently as- serted that England would probably take over every steamer under its con- trol and would regulate their activities in such a way that they would be cen- tralized on war transportation mainly. It .was pointed out by this shipping man that hundreds of British steamers were under charters to American ship- pers, these charters not expiring for six months, a year and longer. How- ever, the British government has the power to force a British ship owner to cancel such charters and it is the loss of such chartered tonnage that is expected to create a maelstrom in the shipping world. ¢ Probable Effect on Rates With the British tonnage under rigid government control it will be natural that the premiums on neutral tonnage will soar to still higher levels. American, Norwegian, Dutch, Swed- ish and other neutral vessels will find hundreds of shippers demanding ton- nage that will be required to fill the void created by the withdrawal of the British merchant marine. During March freight rates main- tained a steady upward movement. Quite a little chartering was done in grain cargoes from Montreal to the nference Arot ‘control Wldlddddla G A Review of the Charter Market on Coasts and Lakes—Pointers for the Men Who Get the Business <a Ises Interest other side for loading in May. To a larger extent the grain trade is under of the. British government which supplies its requisitioned steam- ers for the transportation of grain. Thus the freight rate on grain to England is inclined to be easy. zag RG, other countries, however, the rate is very firm. In flour cargoes there is a very firm market, as high as 120s being offered for April loading north- ern range to French Atlantic ports, while early in the month a number of steamers were fixed at 110s. The improvement in freight move- ‘ment to South America has been one of the bright features of the shipping world. Neutral tonnage is finding numerous offers to take cargoes to South America, especially coal, and as high as 105s has been paid for steamers to take coal from Virginia to. the -River Plate, while to «Rio Janeiro $20 per ton is the market. Cunard Buys Five Ships Announcement of the purchase of five steamships, with a total tonnage of 31,- 087 tons gross, by the Cunard Line was recently made by that company. The ships will be used to carry freight be- tween New York and Great Britain. Officials say the ships already are in its service, and are all of British register. The ships and the new names they will be given by the Cunard Line are: ANGLO-CALIFORNIA, renamed VANDALIA; ANGLO - BoLiviAN, renamed Vz«novia; Den oF AIRLIE, renamed ‘VALERIA; DEN or OciL, renamed Vatopra, and Luceric, renamed VaraciA. The pur- chase price was not made public. ANcLo- CALIFORNIA and ANGLO-BoLivran will sail under their new names. The others will receive their new names at the end of their voyages. The steel steamer CHARLES BEATTY, owned by the Volunteer Transit Co., Cleveland, has been sold to a southern sugar firm with offices in New Or- leans, through a New York broker, for approximately $100,000. She will 180 Ce ee NA be operated between New Orleans an Cuba in the sugar trade. The steame is now laid up at Ogdensburg, but is expected to leave for the Atlanti coast early this season. She will be refitted for salt water service before leaving for the coast. Brarry was built in Toledo in 1902, and her ca- pacity is 1,800 tons. She is 204 feet — in length, 40 feet beam and 16 feet deep. q Organizes New Fleet Plans of the new Garland Steam- — ship Corporation, which was recently | chartered with a capital of $1,900,000, — are not entirely completed yet, but — it has been decided to operate a regu- lar service between some Atlantic port, probably Baltimore, and Eng- land, and between a Pacific coast port and China. The company has already bought a fleet of five steam- ers, and two of them are now if operation, while one is being altered to meet the requirements of the com- pany’s business. Efforts will prob- : ably be made later to add other ves- | sels to the fleet, but no steps in this direction have yet been taken. The ships which the company has acquired include CaroLina, until re- cently operating under the name SOUTHERNER, JAVARY, JUSTIN, formerly a United States government collier, and two other ships. CAROLINA, after loading a cargo at Baltimore consisting of general freight and tobacco, recently sailed for Liver- pool. Javary, a small boat, which has been used in the Pacific trade, recently sailed from Tacoma {fof Shanghai, carrying cigarettes and gem eral cargo. Justin is being OVGm hauled to prepare her for the trade and will be placed in service as soon as alterations are finished. It is said that a regular service will be maintained to England and China, and that the advisability of entering on other routes is now under consid- eration. It is the intention of the company