Baltimore on the High Seas

Booming is Baltimore, third greatest U. S. seaport, where Procter & Gamble recently located their new $5,000,000 factory (TIME, June 16). Last week the birth of a promising infant, Baltimore Mail Steamship Co., was announced.

Controlled by Baltimore interests, the company will establish next June the first direct trans-Atlantic passenger service out of Baltimore since the War. Freight and mail (the company has an encouraging governmental mail contract) will be the most important revenue sources. The company will operate five oil-burning ships between Baltimore and Hamburg, must build others to hold its mail contract. These the U. S. Shipping Board, pleased at Baltimore's maritime enterprise, sold for $30,000 apiece; went further last week and awarded Baltimore Mail a generous loan ($6,540,000 at 3%) to be used for reconditioning the ships.

Potent are the interests behind Baltimore Mail, which is capitalized at $10,000,000. President is Donald Symington, head of Baltimore Trust Co. Operating vice president is John M. Franklin, able son of able Philip A. S. Franklin of International Mercantile Marine Co. fame, and vice president of Roosevelt Steamship Co. This latter company is much involved in Baltimore Mail. With Baltimore Trust Co., it led in organizing the new line, and the mail contract is in its name. Baltimore's two trunk railroads, Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio, are also represented among the line's directors. Pennsylvania has a financial interest, will supply rail connections, will let the new line dock at its Canton Co. Terminal, where about $5,000,000 will be spent on improvements.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.