New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-14
BIG LAKE SHIPS.
A REVOLUTION IN THE CARRYING TRADE
PREDICTED.
DANGEROUS COMPETITION WITH THE ATLANTIC
CoAsTING TRADE EXPECTED-FRoM THE
LAKES TO THE OCEAN

LAKES TO THE OCEAN.
Chicago. May 10 (SpeciaD.-Curreut develop
ments indicate the beginning of a new and inn
portant era in the carrying trade Of the Great
Lakes. Transfers of vessel interests Immediately
preceding the closing OF navigation last fall. and
iurther transfers and new construction since in
dictate the passing OF the independent vessel
owner as complete as the passing of the small
schooner of twenty years ago. More than this
the strongly intrenched and interviewer ship
building and iron and steel interests will reach
out for the Atlantic coasting and transatlantic
carrying trade, and will also attempt the con-
struction OF vessels in competition with the
shipbuilders Of the world At no point on the
sloDe is IL possible TO assemble as quickly and
cheaply ali that enters into the construction of
a modern vessel OF any type as on the Great
Lakes. Iron ore, all of the finished material in
iron and steel down to the smallest item, lumber
of every conceivable sort and skilled labor in
the greatest profusion the chief advantages
which, combined, make it possible for the Great
Lakes to enter into direct competition with the
greatest shpbuilding centres of the earth. All
these natural advantages have been seen and
awaited CT by the strongest aggregatons of CAPT
tai on the continent, and the first steps in the
plans which these interests have laid have al
ready been taken. The first step will be the abso-
lutte control Of the lake carrying trade. which in
itself is OF the first commercial Importance The
next step is the reaching out for the coasting
trade of the world and the construction of the
vessels 10 carry on that trade
Until the canals connecting the Great Lakes
with ndewater enlarged beyond their pres
ent capacity, which of necessity must be a num-
Der of years hence the great interests mentioned
cannot go beyond the control of the lake carry
ing trade and the construction of vessels which
can be utilized in the greater number of ports of
world sir of
great majority OF coasters
That the first step is practically ACCOMPLISHED
is evidenced by the fact that the Rockefeller
fleet more than two-thirds of which has been
gathered together since October of last year
could at the present time make a freight rate
that would be profitable but that would bank
rUpt or drive out of business all vessels not of
similar type and capacity. This would mean
stripping of the lakes of all vessels below GER
tain tonnage and working capacity which would
simmer the active lake tonnage down to the big
fleets controlled by the various combinations
within the iron and steel trade and the lake
hhes having railroad connections, these. too in
terWoVen financially with the big iron and steel
fleets. The Bessemer Steamship Company (the
Rockefeller fleet has sixty. vessels of the
largest class. nearly all of which are owned out
right, and the few others chartered for the pres
ent season. The capacity controlled exceeds
that which can be used in ore carrying for the
company by about 100000 tons or eCual 10
fo.oOo.ooo bushels of wheat-about the quantity
shipped from Duluth last year Among the
other large fleets whose vessels are in COM
petitive class with the Bessemer boats are the
following: Bessemer Steamship Company Brock
efeller feeD. 60; Minnesota Steamship Company
Federal Steel Company, %; American Steam
ship Company american Steel and Wire Com
pany), -; Pittsburg Steamship Company Gear
negie feeD. s; National Steel Company, >; Mu-
tual Transportation Company, 4; Republic
Iron Company On. a. Hanna & Coz, g. and
Cleveland Steel Canaboat Company, 20.
The last item of the above list consists Of
boats on the Erie Canal. They are, of course
OF small capacity as compared with the other
vessels, but they nevertheless form an important
link in the commercial chain between the Great
Lakes and the seaboard.
The completion of the chain of Canadian
canals whereby vessels drawing II feet
OF water and with length all of less than
26O feet can get to the Atlantic and vice versa
has led the interests above referred to to give
great deal of attention to the questions
which the situation has developed. It turns out
however, that a Canadian syndicate has had
built and is about completing a fleet of five yes
sells in England which will be ready TO enter
into the traffic of the Great Iakes-between
Canadian ports-during the present season The
nrst vessel. the Gargantua. will arrive at Mon
teal during the early part of June. The others
will follow fast as finished The dimensions
Of these boats are 243 feet length, SO feet beam
~ feet J12 inches moulded depth and a gross
tonnage Of LBS tons. All will draw II feet
when loaded TO full capacity but at the close of
navigation on the lakes they will be taken to
the Atlantic loaded below ii feet
The American interests meanwhile have with
In a few weeks closed contracts for four vessels
OF Nelland Canal size, which the pioneers
Of the type which the great lake interests Will
introduce to ocean commerce as dangerous COM
petitors Of any coasters afoat Their type
Is such that they enter direct into harbors
OF shallow water, where the present carriers
now use expensive lighters and waste valua ole
lime in loading and unloading. The combination
wall be big carrying capacity on light draught
OF water By the advantages above described
IN the assembling Of the materials and
Skilled labor at the lowest possible cost and in
the shortest possible time il is possible that on
The Great Lakes viii be built the type of vessel
that Will regain for America the prestige in The
merchant marine that she once enjoyed if not
in fact give her the advantage over all others
in the worlds markets Work this new type
OF vessel viii begin at early day at the West
Superior yards Of the American Shipbuilding
Company. A b. Wolvn. of the American Shin
building Company is the president of the COM
pary which has given the contracts for the new
boats, and il is understood that w L. Brown |
president of the American Shpbuilding Com
pany. is responsible for the leading features and
details of the new vessels
The entrance OF five of the boats of the Bes-
semer Steamship Company into the Chicago |
grain carrying trade last week caused a decline |
of one-half cent in the corn rate to Buffalo, and
sent cold chills down the spinal columns of mis-
ceianeous vessel owners. If any considerable
part OF the iron ore tonnage should be diverted |
TO the carrying OF coal and grain il is conceded
that the effect would be disastrous to the gen.
eral carrier.
shippers working for lower Ia tes while the |
vessel owners. rather than recede from present |