The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-03
Tho Lake Ships.

or all the shipbulldlng ports In the United
States the port Of Cleveland, on Lake File.
takes the lead. In these years. in so far as
the amount of new tonnage put ailoat an
Dunlly is concerned. Many of our readers
will DO surprised by the assertion Of Mr..
HENRY A. GElFFIS, the Secretary OF tho
Cleveland Board OF Control. that the record
OF tho shipyart,s of the port of Cleveland
surpasses that OF the yards OF any Of our
other lako ports, rs well rs that of the yards
Of any OF the ports on our Atlantic sea-
board. Secretary GRIFFIN has sent in two
very interesting letters upon this subject.
In one of them ho gave report Of the num-
her and the tonnage OF tho vessels con-
structed in Cleveland last year: and in the
other he told OF tho extraordinary activity
VI tho shipbuildcrs there at this time.
In tho year 1891 there we're built in Clcve-
land no less than 274 vessels of various
kinds. representing n gross tonnage OF
1882. More than half CT them were
wooden steamships: onc-third OF them
were wooden sailing ships; and twenty
four OF them were iron and steel steamers.
All OF them were built for tho lake trade.
and the builders were kept SO busy through
the year that some of them were unable to
take the new orders sent to them. The
value Of the vessels constructed in 1884, or
that nre now on tho stocks. exceeds by
moro than 40 per cent. the value OF those
that were launched last year. Two OF them
are OF greater dimensions and power than
any steamships that have tloated on our
lakes, and are even superior to the average
Atlantic steamship In these respects. Sec
rotary GRIFFIN gives us u fcw particulars
concerning two OF them: Material, iron
and steel: length over all. $50 feet; total
displacement OF each. 1000 tons; both are
twin-screw. with thirteen 12-foot boilers:
each can carry $50 passengers. cabin and
stcerage tho contract for both fixes the
price at 100000 each: tncy arc to run be-
tween Buffalo and Duluth without stop.
Truly. indeed. we have reason TO DO proud
OF tho now commercial marino OF our in
land seas. Well may Secretary GRIFFIN
rise to enthusiasm as he surveys tho Clcve-
land shipyards. and well may no utter tho
cry with which he closed his last letter to
The SUN: "Hurrah for the great steam
ships on the 1.200-mile waterway between
Buffalo and Duluth! Hurrah for America"
For over seven years the business Of ship
building has been growing rapidly In tho
port Of Cleveland. and it is moro active and
extensive this winter than it ever was at
any past time.
From other shipbul!ding ports on the
lakes We have highly encouraging news.
especially from Detroit. West Superior. Bay
City. Buffalo. Saginaw. and Toledo. We
shall look with interest for the years re-
ports in Il month from this time.
There is good news also from the ship
yards OF several Of our Atlantic ports. in
Guiding those of Bath. Bangor. Chester.
Wilmington, and Newport News. There are
some great ships OF iron and Of wood in
course OF construction at this timo for the
Atlantic and Pacific coasting trade.
1t is well for American shipbulders that
the trade between our sea ports and be-
tween our lake ports is open only to ships
that are built in American shipyards. AS
many rs 1884 steam and sail ships were
launched from these yards last year: and
we feel sure that the returns for 1892 will
show that much greater number have
been launched during the year.