The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1893-02-17
About Navigation.

TICoNDnRoGA, N. Y, February, 1893.
Dear Str-COntinuing further on the
subject of International Commerce, we
have, to submit our fourth letter.
The Canadian tonnage of the lakes was
at the end of 1891 little less than 40, 900
tons. the number of vessels 1900, showing,
in rough way, about One-tenth the num-
Der of vessels with one-fOurth the capacity.
1t is interesting to note that vessels en-
ployed in lake traffic average higher
carrying capacity than American vessels
on the seal board. The comparisons are as
follows: Sea-board tonnage; sailing vessels
average 128 tons; steam vessels average 299
tons; lake tonnage, sailing vessels average
258 tons, steam vessels average 428 tons
The large capacity steamers are much
more numerous on the lakes than ON the
sea-board; note comparisons Lakes; 272
vessels averaging from loOO to $500 tons,
total tonnage, 439, 100 tons; sea-b0ard and
navigable rivers emptying into the ocean:
207 vessels averaging from 1000 to $500
tons, total tonnage BOB, 694 tons.
Total average tonnage of steam and sail
ing vessels on the lakes, $40 tons; the same
vessels on sea-board average 1866 tons.
These comparisons illustrate in a marked
degree, the vast extent and Importance of
the lake traffic.
Ship building on lakes is great industry.
At Cleveland; Detroit, Chicago, West Bay
City, and West Superior, there are ship
yards for building steel vessels which
would compare favorably with yards on
sea-coast devoted to the same purpose
There are smaller steel ship yards at Buffa-
10 and Toledo. At Port Huron, Milwaukee
and West Bay City, there are large yards
building wooden vessels, There are large
dry docks at Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit,
Port Huron and West Superior The King
Iron Works, Buffalo, make a speciality of
propeller wheels and are said to carry a
larger stock than any other yard in the
United States. Cleveland, Ohio while it
may sound strange to say so, is, according
to statistics, the second point in importance
in the world in the manufacture of ships.
The Clyde in Scotland ranks first, and
Cleveland ranks second. In Cleveland
there are very extensive works, the Globe
Iron Works, Cleveland Ship-building Co.,
the Cleveland Forge & Iron Works, and
others.
The writer had the pleasure few years
ago, of going all over an iron vessel in
process of construction in the yards of the
Globe Iron Works. He can testify from
personal observation to the great speed and
economy displayed in this yard in the con-
struction of iron vessels. The construction
was all done by piece-work, the rivets be-
ing done at so much per hundred. During
the season just closed, the Globe Iron
Works built two vessels for the United
States Government for the lighthouse
board, one of these to be used on the Pacific
Coast, and one on the Atlantic Coast.
They also built an ocean yacht, which
shows that their work is not confined to
lake traffic alone. They also built the
Marlposa to run between Buffalo and
Duluth, with a carrying capacity of 1000
tons and sixteen feet craft. The Globe
Iron Works extend for 400 feet along
Cuyahoga River and have space enough to
build four ships at once. The REGULARITY
of their construction is that all vessels are
built parallel with the water, and are
launched side-wise.
1t is safe to say that vessels for lake
built after this time will |
average very much larger than in the past |
Yours very truly,
G. b. HAEFoRD.