The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-13
The Northern Pacific Railroad to En-
gage in Lake and Ocean
Transportation,
Rates TO Come Down 10 Duluth as
One Result Of the New
Venture.
\ Zig >hipSard "a be Established on the
sound 10 Hulid Ships FOR the
Company.

81. PrI, March L. Special. III. c.
Davis gencral agent of the Northern Pa
ciiic. LETT ~. Paul this afternoon for tho
Pacific coast upon an important mission.
For some weeks past Davis has been in New
York looking mp and making n study of
navigation matters, with especial reference
10 Lake connections with his road at the
head of Lake superior This he has done
under direct orders from President Oakcs.
Interviewed os the representative of Mr.
Odkcs. hc said; "Ihe Erie has withdrawn
from the Lake Superior Transit company
and will hereafter run no boats on Lake
Superior, II will, however continue its
line ol express steamers 10 and
from Chicago aud Milwaukee. The Lake
Superior Transit company's feet
has heretofore been made up of
steamers of the Erie. Pennsylvania
and Vanderbilt systems. The Erie
being foo, loose, will interchange business
with all lines from Duluth. Tho result of
the withdrawal will be greater competition,
and NJ consequence. reduction in rates.
The outlook now is that rates 20 and from
Duluth will he the same ms are in effect to
and from Chicago. The Northern Steam
ship line can probably handle freight IA
cbeaply as any regular line OH the lake. and
should do good business nj iair profit.
The Northern Pacific people have thought
Of putting a line of boats ON the lakes ever
since the inception of the road. They have
however, not takon any active interest in
lake transportation up 20 the preseat time,
decming il best 10 await the development
of methods of handling freight cheaper
than any heretofore known. The time has
now evidently come, for the parties who
control the Northern Pacific also control
the American Steel Barge company. As is
well known. this company has recently
located It's plant nj West Superior. where
il will build more tonnage each year than
was ever built On tho whole chain Of lakes
in the same length Of time. Some time in
June II will commence launching twin
screw steamers of economical construction
and large carrying capacity, and not Inter
than the opening of the season in 1891, vii,
bo transporting freight between all lake
ports and the hend Of lake Superior al u
cost very much lower than has ever been
drenmed Of.
With the exception of Ericsson's applica-
tion Of the screw as n mems for propelling,
II is an entirely new departure of the Steel
Barge company in marine construction and
is the greatest stride yet made in choapon-
ing transportation 10y water. In addition
TO connection with the Barge company on
the lakes, n line will be built nj once on the
Pacific coast. where il will be used in trans
porting cuul 10 domestic and lumber 10 for
eign markets, whence the boats will return
with any cargoes Offering.
The object of MIR. Davis trip 10 the coast
is tu arrange for location somewhere on
Puget sound for a ship yard for the barge
company The yard is 10 he of such pro-
portions that anything can be built from
nnptha YACHT 10 The largest ship atloat.
| II will however. ho mostly used in CON
siructiug and repairing the barges of the
company. With the enormous amount of
capital back Of the scheme, IL may be safely
said, says Davis. TINT within five years theso
bonita will solve the proben of reaching
| the markets uf the world with American
products NJ IA minimum rate. II IL. he sHys
financially the greatest transportation com
pany ever organized.