Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-03-31


been sold for $50, coo. She is spokenof as
being one of the fastest as well as the finest
passenger and freight boats on the lakes.
Some Improvements are to be made on her
after which she viii run on the Cleveland
and Saginaw line.
The City Council of Kingston, Canada,
have indorsed the petition of the Chicago
and Cleveland Boards Of Trade for the
opening of the Welland Canal on Sundays,
and the avoidance of the needless and ex-
pensive delays to which vessels have hereto
fore been subjected on account of the clos
ing Of the canal one day in seven.
1t is safe to predict that there will be no
tug association in Buffalo the coming sea-
son. The conclusion is reached after view
ing the situation from all sides. Many
meetings have been held without any def
mite or satisfactory result. AL tug-own-
ers, as far as known, favor an association,
but fail to agree on the manner in which it
shall be run.
Relating to lumber freights at Bay City,
it is stated that the prospect is that navi-
CATION viii open at least one month earlier
than last year. No charters have been
made as yet. Carriers do not feel disposed
to charter for less than $3.50 to Chicago
and Buffalo, and IS cents on salt to Chica-
go, and these figures may be obtained for
the first cargoes, but carriers have no rea-
son to expect that these figures will be main
tanned for any length of time.
As the time for the opening of naviga7
ton approaches, anxiety regarding the pros
peet increases among those most interested.
The seasons of 1874 and 1875 were as un-
satisfactory as it was possible for them to
be. Freights ruled low, and the amount
of property moved was not equal to the
capacity Of the shipping. Win the season
Of 1876 be any improvement on that Of its
two immediate predecessors? is the ques-
ton which yesselmen are trying to answer
to their own satisfaction. The present
out look is not as bright as could be desir-
ed, but it cannot be denied that the
general prospect is much better than it
was in either 1874 or 1875. Should the
Straits of Mackinaw. remain closed until
about the 1st of May the situation would
be greatly improved.
In any one year there is only certain
amount of business to be transacted. If it
is spread over a season reaching from the
1st of April to the middle of December, the
chances are that freights viii below. Two
weeks added to or taken from season
makes wonderful difference in the gener-
al result. The resumption of navigation
depends largely of course, on the nature of
the weather during the latter part of
March and the first part of April. The
general impression now is that the Straits
will be passable by the middle of April, if
not before. However, should this cold
snap continue few days longer, it will
delay the opening Of navigation materially
There is an immense quantity Of grain in
store at the West awaiting shipment, and
there is also large fleet at Chicago and
Milwaukee and neighboring ports ready to
receive good share of it. The capacity of
the vessels now lying at Chicago is equal to
8, 72O, 900 bushels Of corn, while that of
last years feet was equal to 4, 972, 600 bush
of wheat. This large difference in capaci-
ty is material in making an estimate of the
prospect. On the 18th the grain in store
at that port was reported at $50, 81
bushels, which is only 1884, ,214 bushels
less than was on hand at the opening of
1875.
But there are other important influences
to be considered in calculating the pros
pect. 1t matters not how much grain is
to be moved; if there is moi fair quantity
of lumber, coal, iron, and salt to be trans
ported, the season will not be remunera-
tive one. During the past two years the
iron and lumber trades have been stagnant,
and large amount of tonnage that should
have been engaged in these branches of
commerce were thrown into the grain
trade, and over stocked the market. But
this year encouraging reports come from
the Lake Superior iron country, and also
from the Saginaw pineries. 1t is said that
the aeeumulations of ore which were held
by the Ohio and Pennsylvania furnaces
when the panic occurred in 1873, have
been exhausted, and that new supplies
must be had. The Marquette shippers are
making calculations on moving more ore
this season than in any year since the pan
ic. Cleveland adVices also say that the in
dications are favorable for a heavy iror
trade. The prospect for increased lumber
shipments has greatly improved of late
Early in the winter, it was feared that thl
, log-crop would prove deficient, in conse
quenee Of the scarcity of snow. But re
Gently severe storms have visited the re
. gions, and the lumbermen are reported t.
: be making excellent use Of their opportuni
, ties. Fifty million feet Of lumber hav
been purchased by Chicago parties, ant
are now on the docks at Saginaw awaiting
shipment
The prospect for large movement o
coal is good. The winter has been remark
ably mild; but, notwithstanding this, it j
said that the stocks are nearly exhauste'
at the West. The facilities for shipping
coal from this port are now almost unlimit
: ed, and the magnitude of the movemen
Will only be measured by the capacity o
. the west TO take it. Salt is also an impol
tant item Of up freight from this port, an
: it is reasonable to suppose that the usua
1 amount viii 60 forward. On the whole
/ therefore, there is good reason to hope tha
the season of 1876 will be a great improve
. ment over those preceding it.