The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-04-01
TIE coMMEacg OF TIE LAKES


VIZ ~ GANA %AAANAH
The commerce Of the lakes is cnor-
nous. The outlet from Lake Superior to.
Lake Huron had always been a serious
obstacle to commerce, in that it was
not deep enough to allow the larger
freight and passenger boats to pass
comfortably through. Locks have been
built at government expense, at the
coast Of many millions of dollars, which
now allow the passage of large boats
and W. mort locks are being built; and
and two more locks are being built
one by the Canadians, and m by the
Americans-which will stin further in
crease commerce. The new lock on the
American side is larger than the old,
and, when completed, will be one Of the
most wonderful pieces Of masonry to
be found in the country. 1t viii allow
the passage of vessels drawing Fl feet
Of water. 1t has cost several millions
Of dollars, and will not be completed for
a year or two.
For many years the great Suez canal
was looked upon as the most wonderful
piece of commercial engineering in the
world, carrying enormous cargoes
through its gateway from the east.
But in this newer land the commerce Of
the lakes has dwHrfed the Suez canal.
The total tonnage of the 500 during the
year 1897 was $500, 600. The tonnage OF
the Suez canal in 1896 was 1000, 900.
This tonnage of the 500 does not by any
means represent the entire commerce
Of the great lakes; it is only a portion OF
II. Hundreds of thousands of tons Of
merchandise and supplies of all kinds
are shipped annually up from Lake
Michigan points through the Straits of
MaclIinaC eastward, which do not pass
through the Sooi and many thousands
more go eastward from points below
the 500 on the other lakes, to be ex-
changed for other supplies for points
also below the 500.
Year after year this immense traffic is
growing, From the great west there
come, to the gateway of the 500, wheat
and flour and lumber and iron ore-au
the natural products from a vast area
of country, drawn to the lake route
because 1t is so much cheaper to move
goods by water than by rail. In re-
turn, the east sends the west vast
quantities Of manufactured goods, and
immense supplies Of hard and soft coal.
The west furnishes raw materials: the
east manufactures these materials and
sends back the products of her fac
tories and mills. There were received
ut the ports Of Duluth and Superior
during the year 1896-that is, during
the lake season |, T75,712 tons of coal.
On the margins OF these lakes. par.
ttcularly on the shores Of Superior.
there are ~ore-bearing rocks containing
iron, silver, copper and gold. The iron
ore is of remarkable commercial value.
and practically inexhaustfble in
amount, immediately tributary to
Lake Superior, in some cases on its
very banks, are iron mines the output
Of which rivals that Of any mines in the /
world, and the supply in sight" as the
miners say, win furnish the world with
iron for centuries to come.
Some OF the lumber which goes east
by way of the lakes is sent away on to
South American points without separa
ton, taking first a journey. of perhaps
several hundred miles, down the rivers
to the mills, then a thousand miles and
more on the lakes to the st. Lawrence.
passing through the Welland canal 10
get to Ontario, and then trying a few
thousand miles of salt woter-a pictur
esque voyage indeed.-W S. Harwood.
in st. Nicholas.