Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-11-21
BY TELEGRAPH.
LAKE NAVIGATION.


CIxvxIAxp, Ohio, Nov 20.-Tne season
Of lake navigation just closins has been IN
scme respects the meet unsatisfactory TO
vessel owners 10 ten year.. IL opsned Win
fssss 1t panic level aed comparatively little
frvigas in siehs The very heavy iron ore
shipments OF last year ard The lessened De-
msnd caussd BY the shutdown Of the shen.
aaso AMI MAhoning Valley furnaces had
CON oinsd 70 leave m ,antains OF ore unsoi
ON The Lake Erie docks, estimated TO De
over go COO tons on Ap'is l.
So hopeless did the freight situaflon ap-
pear that the principal vessel men combins d
and sarsed to keep their boats tied up Ia
port for q month, and m vas nearly June l
before much business vas done T1e col
lapse Of tie GRE trade freed gfaia rates
dSvn to m unprecedented point, wheat
ncsusiiy having bsen brought dovn from
Chicsg, TO Buffalo zoo miles. for cens
bushsl, . figure probably never sqaaled IN
American history And rarely in the OCEAN
carry ing trade.
L.bcf troubles further complicated mat
tsrs early in the seasen, and io~ water has
been the source Of the greatest annoyance
md loss ali GUNNER. Early in the season
il vas ten inches or more below normal IL
has bses falling steadily ever since, owing
10 the light raiafAll over the bssia drained
by the chain Of lakes, until IL is now 20
inches bsios the usual level u this season
Of the year. This has meant smaller car
aoss On all except trsff; Coz faed to Lakes
Michigan ard Hu'o7 p, such, for example,
40 tie ore trade from Escapabs to Chicago,
spd consequently reduced prodo.
Few vessels will mske over or per
c. mt this year, vbiie many will not much
more than pay expenses Blu, for the great
spu-t in grain rates durii the last few
weeks, when cents . hush-l has been paid
for carrying wheat from Dulaih to Buff 10.
aud ore rates have been forced up some
what to corrs s2ond, the margin OF prod
would have been t;iil narrower. The sea
son will close with stif rates, and The re-
SUIT will BE- mach better for the season.
oontrsc,s this winter than were The condi-
t,ons last fall, when the season ended with
the bottom ont Of freight rates and al out
look that forscast,d the dresry opening
this year.
The output of the Lake Superior iror
mines this season 10 much below that Of
last year. The tremendous boom OF the
past i've Yeas cu!miDsted last year, ~heo
then the product rescned QUO ,UoO tons,
snd . reaction was to have bsen expected
1t came, and the mice owners congratulate
themselves on having escaped IS easily a
thsy have. Net~ithstsnding the overpro-
due lion Of 1889 and 1890, the GU put thi.
year will reach nearly 6 100000 tons Of
within SOC, 900 tons Of 1859. ard as large
product as that of 1883. What is still
De ter, the general conditions Of lake com
merce the season through have united tc
Keep the supply wishia the demand, 50 thai
todsy no, 5000 tons Of ore remsin unsoid
on The lake cocks, aud odd lots that have
been left over for several years have beer
disposed Of.
The present high rates 10 the grain trade
will contribute 10 maintain this condition
which is the best evidence Of brisk sea
son On the lakes next year. The heavy
srain crop is certain to leave grain b )ldni
over in good quantities. next spring and the
ore situation 10 IS favorable as could BIT
asked. There never was better illustfs'
ton Of the old saw that . bsd beginning
makes good ending than lake navigation
fhta