The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-02-22
MARINE NEWS.

two tugs being engaged in the work.
But the current toward Lockport was
so great that the hawser parted and the
boat swung around and blocked up the
river, acting as dam. The tugs were
unable to move her until the drainage
trustees had closed the canal gates and
| the current had subsidized.
Captains and engineers of steam craft
| will find it necessary to learn new sig
| nails as the United States board Of super
vising inspectors have changed the code
of signals between the deck and the en-
| CINE room. The change is in the signal
to back strong which is now four whistles
or four bells. The rules had it one long
whistle or four bells, but it was ignored
and the two whistles or bells, the ordi-
nary backing signal was used for back
ing strong.
The business of the lakes is something
tremendous. The total freight traffic
through the Sault canal for the year
1899 was 25 $50, $40 tons an increase of
over A, 600, 600 of the tonnage of the year
preceding. The season lasted for z
months and the average monthly freight
| traffic was 1924, 146 tons. By far the
greater part of the freight passed
through the United States canal. The
vessel passages for the season was 20, 300
an increase of almost 1000 over 1898
Practically all the freight was carried
by American vessels, but the Canadian
vessels carried majority of the passen-
gers.
The value of the freight carried is es-
timated at 1881 1864, $50 and the amount
paid for freight transportation was $21,-
$50, 7O7. The figures for transportation
are exact. The average cost per ton was
81 cents. The value of the freight is al
most four times that of 1887 and just
about double that of 1893. The value of
the iron ore exceeds that of any other
commodity and is over $52, 600, 600. The
maximum traffic for one day was 207,
962 tons, on August 7. The largest car
go was carried by the tow barge John
Smeaton which was $3.50 tons.
When one reflects that this is the
through traffic of single lake he must
be lost in wonder when he calculates
the commerce of the whole chain of
lakes. The highest estimate givensof
the possible business of the Nicarauguan
canal is 100000, and it is estimated
that this canal will cost $l45, 900, 0O0.
The Sault canal has actually done over
four times as much business in one year
as the highest estimate of the prospect
i've business of the Nicaraguan canal.
This shows clearly the duty of congress
toward lake improvement if there be
justification at all for the construction
of the inter-oceanic canal.
Cities on the upper Great Lakes have
great future in store for them If they
are so situated that they can take ad-
vantage of this lake traffic. The Pilot
has always contended that the growth
of Manitowoc to a large city depends
more upon it's lake interests than upon
all other considerations. Hence the ne
cessity of unwavering devotion to our
harbor and the Importance of improve
ment to the full extent of our ability.
AN action against the Home Insurance
Company of New York was begun on
Saturday last in the municipal court and
it's local agent, A. j. Endress was cited
to appear. The insurance law requires
that all policies in places having fire
department must be countersigned by
the local agent. 1t is charged that the
Home Insurance Company has issued
policies in this city not signed by Mr..
Endress and hence the suit
THE ladies of the Aid Society had
what in municipal court parlance is
known as "a rendezvous which in
plain language was cinch party-at
Georges Hall on Friday night from
| WHICH tuey CledIeu @oo loi CHbiiN'oic
purposes. The prizes were distributed
as follows, the order of mention indicat-
ing the degree of proficiency in winning
whether by foul or fair means
Miss Emma Brown, Mrs. John Franz,
Ernst Seeger, Mrs. Cratic, Mrs. J. Biegel,
John Staudt, Mrs. G. Alter, Mrs. DR..
Kemper, and last but not least, Louis
KunZ.
THE Young Peoples Dancing Club
will give a Poverty party at the Opera
House in this city on the 9th. The
party will be what its name indicates,
in matter of dress, but not in quality of
enjoyment Rags will be supreme. The
lady most ragged will be the belle of
the evening The wife of the Irishman
who said my wife didn't have rag to
her back when married her. Now she
has lots of EN- would be in her element
in this party. Its purpose is charitable.
THE social democrats, the party or