Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-27
THE WORLDS GREAT PORTS.
Some European Cities Going Ahead "hiie
Men York stands still.


Some European Cities Going Aheau "h''o
N"U York stands still.
Some German merchants, BANKERS
and imperial officials have found
great encouragement i'll the fact es-
tabllshed by figures that, whllc dur
ing the last ten years the commerce
OF the city OF Liverpool has increas-
ed 40 per cent the tonnage of YES
sells arriving at or departing from
the German port of Hamburg has
increased 20 per cent III the same
period, Tho geographical position
OF Liverpool is highly favorable 20
shipping, and the docks of Liver
pool, it is We'll known, have at large
expense made the harbor IL most de-
sirablc one in the facilities which it
gives to vessels of all dimensions.
But recently Liverpool has had to
and mercantile rivalry Of the city
Of Manchester, and the business of
Manchester has been greatly pro-
NOTED by tho Manchester canal.
Tho German government, i'll the
construction of the new Baltic ca
nal, has Disseminated in favor OF
Hamburg, which has increased its
shipping business very largely OF
late years at the expense Of the other
north German port of Bremen. AT
the close on the Franco Prussian war
the tonnage of vessels arriving in
and departing from Hamburg was
! 2,0O0,UCC and of Bremen III the same
/ year 500, 900. Since then the COM
morce OF Bremen has increased
about IS cent and that of Hamburg
500 per cent.
Notwithstanding these great gains
the city OF London still retains it's
remarkable distinction Of being the
greatest port in the world for sea-
going vessels, New York following
not very far behind, but showing
comparatively little increase. The
number Of shirs-steel, steam OF
sail-which leave the port of New
York i'll Il ycar is about 1000, and
moro than tv5o-thirds OF the total
! number OF such vessels are register
ed under foreign flags. New York
has gained OF late years in respect
1 of the umOirnt OF business done with
European lurts, but there has been
] IL inn
volume OF business tkonc with do.
nestle port;, and, moreover, the city
| OF New York has had TO meet very
strong conn clifton from Baltimore
portion Of the shipments of western
grain having Leen diverted to these
ports and away from New York.
The business Of the port of Londop
is very largely Of local character,
London beng n mart OF oOnsunlp.
ton ana lntei change of articles al.
irving from other parts OF England.
Tic four cities of London, New
York, Liverpool and Hamburg stand
at the head of the ports of the
world, but there arc others at which
very large Mercantile business is
/ done, some increasing, but Il larger
number failing to keep up with the
ratio Ui .'owtl III mercantile bust.
ness. Antwerp in Belgium stands
fifth among tho commercial ports Of
/ the world and very near it, with a
volume OF tonnage nearly as high
{ is Marseilles, in France, the chief
port Of the Mediterranean Havrc
in France, lCes Il considerable bust.
ness, chiefly with foreign countries,
in the shipping line, and Stettin, in
Germany, a large business, chiefly
cOastwise. The development Of the
railroad and canal systems of each
port has much to do with its growth
i'll commercial business, and it is
fact usually to DO observed that a
city which il the terminus of a ca
nal retains longer ana better its
shipping trade han a railroad ter
minus. At least this is observable
in the United States. New York
Sun.
Too Much Service on Our Trains.
There is too much service in our
slecl ing ard pallor cars, or perhaps
one should say, too many servants
for the IN ol1lt Of service perform
ed. Either the porter Or the con
ductur might 10 abolished, and the
man who Is left should keep reason
ably Out Of the way. Tho newsboy,
with newspapers, books, fruit and
candy, would not be sadly missed,
although lc might be allowed to
sell hi3 goods from the station plat
form. Flcm that position ho would
be an advantage, and might add to
his list Of wares drinking water
which oHo might feel assured con-
tanned no typhoid germs. The iced
water tank on American trains is
more ard more left unused by wise
travellers. But the transfer agent,
who walks lom car to car to az
range Tor the delivery Of baggage,
will always lie convenience under
our present checking system.
is Morris Iddings i'll Scribner's.
Machinists. Etc.
There are in the United States, it
is stated, 200, coo machinists, 10000
toolmakers, 25,C00 boiler makers,
10, GEO pattern makers, $50, OOO car
pcnters and joiners, 200, OCO masons
and bricklayers, $4,000 contractors
and builders, $4,000 plumbers, gas
and steam filters, $50, 600 stationary
engineers and tiremen, 100, COO loco.
motive engineers and tiremen, 50,-'
900 electric railway and light en-
ployees, SO, OCO cabinet makers, car
vers and oodworkers, 80, 900 civil,