The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-03-07

We are indebted to the Detroit
Post-for the following article on the
fleet of our Lekes. II will be read
with interest by all who have watch
cd the rapid increase Of this branch
Of commerce for the past ten years,
and who look upon il as one. of the
great leading sources of personal
wealth and national prosperity in the
future. The Post says:
Below We present a comparative
statement of our lake marine, the
number of sidewheel steamers, pro-
pellers, tugs and vessels, their ton
mage and an approximate estimate of
their value for the years 1856, 1861,
aud 1866.
The valuation is IN goM and at The
minimum rate. Fifteen per cent
might safely be added and not bring
The property above fair cash value.
Especially is this true Of the estimates
for the years 1861 aud 1866. BY ad.
ding the percentage named to this
minimum valuation, we have as the
result, taking gold at 80 currency
valuation for 1866 of over TWEEN.
TY SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS :;
A large number of harbor tugs, scows
and other small craft are not included
in the statements, which in the ag.
gregate would add considerably to
tho tonnage. 1t will be observed
that from 1856 to 1861, increase was
merely nominal, that being period
attended with great depression in our
marine Notwithstanding we have
had Sc eral unfavorable seasons for
crops since 1861, the increase in this
great interest since that year has been
large, amounting to 623 in number,
163, ,954 in tonnage, and $1,000, ,440
in value. 1t is still advancing with
giant strides, and closely identified
as it is with the prosperity and pro-
gress of the Great West, who shall
define its limits in the future2
In the statement for 1856, no esti-
mate for tugs is included, as prior to
that year their number and tonnage
was quite small, but the practice of
towing through the rivers soon be-
came general, thereby creating de-
mand for that kind Of property, when
large and powerful craft were built
exclusively for the business; and now,
we think we might safely challenge
the world to produce a feet of tugs
which are the peers for beauty, speed
and power of those employed in our
lake and river service. Ten years
ago there we're running between Buff
falo, Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit a
number of the finest sidewheelstean-
ers in the world. At the present
time not one Of them is in existence.
The facilities for rapid transit afford
ed by the different lines of railway
competing for the traffic, compelled
them to abandon their routes, and
they were finally dismantled and their
ihulls converted TO other uses. The
tonnage of sidewheel steamers dur.
ing the past ten years has decreased
almost 80 per cent. Propellers, on
the other hard, have grown in public
favor, showing material increase in
number and tonnage since 1856. In
the markets for the carrying trade
] they arc the fayorites. The trans.
portation of merchandise and rolling
freights by the lakes is done almost
Exclusively by them, and during the
summer mouths they are largely pat
ror lied by the travelling public.
On our lakes as 10 other parts oi
the world, sail vessels predominant
largely over the steam craft, aud the
Increase in numbers and tonnage il
sailing vessels has been the largest
and from present appearances tha
branch Of our marine bids fair to re
tain the hscendercy. The use of bar
ges on cur lakes aud connecting riv
. ers. is comparatively new feature il
the transportation business. During
two or three years previous TO th'
Inspiration Of the Reciprocity Treaty
considerable amounts Of grain from
the Western lake ports, found IT
way to Montreal market, and TO obvi
ate the necessity Of lightering, and Il
avoid the numerous delays and haE
. yards ipcident to'the passage Of deel
! laden vessels down the st. Lawrenc
81 River. it was arranged to diseharg
tha vessela ab KiDnaton and transhil