The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-19
Of GREAT LAKES
VOLUME OF TRADE CARRIED
THROUGH sAULT STE. MARIE.
Going Eastward the Vast Western
Products of wheat, Oats, Iron Ore,
Copper and Lumber and Coming

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IA suggestion OF
the extent of the commerce OF the great
inland sea stretching from Buffalo to Chi
oago and Duluth, known as the Great
lakes" is supplied by some figures which
have just reached the treasury bureau OF
statistics, showing the details Of the com
merce passing through the Sauit Ste. Marie
canal This canal, which connects Lake
Superior with Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie
and Ontario, necessarily registers only the
traffic between the single lake. Superior,
with Duluth as its great concentrating and
distributing point, and the chain, Michi-
gan, Huron. Erie and Ontario. with Chi
cage. Detroit, Toledo Cleveland and Buff
falo as the great points OF concentration
and distribution. The commerce passing
through the canal thus registers accurately
the movement between the single lake
penetrating the wheat and iron producing
regions and the chain tributary to the corn,
provision and coal producing and iron man
ufacturing regions.
II is the gateway through which the
wheat, oats, -four, iron ore, copper and
lumber Of Montana, the Dakotas, AInneso-
Ia and Northern Wisconsin and Michigan
move 10 the consuming and manufacturing
sections. While through the same gateway
move in the reverse direction the coal, man.
ufactures and miscellaneous merchandise
from Lake Erie and points still farther
east. All Of the traffic moving between
Superior and the chain OF lakes from Cal
cago to Buffalo must pass through he
American or Canadian canal, which canals
lie side by side, but a few yards distant
from each other. OF the total business
passing through the TWO canals In 1899, IS
per cent. was carried by the Ameri AN
canal. while of the passenger business, IS
per cent. passed through the American
canal
Compared with other Years.
1T is only by comparison of the figures Of
1899 with those of earlier years that the
Importance of this commerce can be real
lied especially as regards its rapid growth.
The actual number of passages through the
canal. by which is meant the total number
of vessels. counting each vessel as often
as 1t passed through the canal. was ao.05S
during 1899 against 9,5Ts In 1889 having
thus more than doubled during that term.
The total freight passing through the canal
in 1899 was % 255. $40 tons. against but T.
6022 tons In 1859. showing that the freight
has increased much more rapidly than the
number OF vessels, thus indicating in some
degree the rapid increase in the size and
capacity OF the freight carrying vessels OF
f, the Great lakes
The development OF grain production Of
| the extreme Northwest, during the decade
| IL indicated by the fact that the wheat car
| ried through the canal in 1899 was SIS 3g7 s25
bushels, and in 1889 1G, 23i S54, while grain
other than wheat" In 1899 was $1,000 sa5 and
| in 1889 but .245 bushels.
The table which follows shows the NUM-
| Der or tons and valuation of freight car
| ried through the American and Canadian
| canals in each wear from 1870 IN 1904.