The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-11
GREAT LAKES COMMERCE
METHOD ~ oPER ALTON FOR TAN
ULArING STATISTICS.
business Carried During the
Present season Greater Than In
Any Previous Year - Increased


shipping at the Large Ports.
Special Dispatch TO the Post bftelliscncer.
WASHINGTON. sept. i0,-Tho commerce.
Of the great lakes IS making its highest
and most elaborate record In the year 1900.
Not only Is the business carried on the
lakes greater during the present season
than on any other occasion, but, for the
first time. its details are being accurately
measured and the facts presented from
month TO month 10 those interested.
The very rapid growth In the commerce
Of the great lakes. which has been meas.
urcd only at one or two points, aud that
In a fragmentsry way. has for many
years suggested the Importance of SONS
method by which the details Of this enor-
NOUS commerce could he measured and
the shipments 20 and from each % the
great ports Of these lakes recorded
For several years the war department
Official at the Saut Ste Marie canal has
made an accurate record OF the shipments
through that paSsageway. which connects
Lake Superior with the lower lakes. and
statements have been made from time 10
time of the tonnage Of vessels passing
that point. But, aside from this, no den-
mite Information has been had regarding
the commerce of the lakes as A whole or
OF the business Of the various ports In the
various articles entering into the business
OF that great highway OF commerce which
connects the producing with the manufac-
turing and consuming sections OF our
country
In 1870 the matter was seriously taken
up by the bureau OF statistics Of the treas
ury department. an. q system devised by
which this Information could he obtained
showing the receipts and shipments OF
every port In all of the important articles
entering into the commerce OF the lakes,
and AT the beginning u the present sea-
son this system was put into operation,
and Is proving effective and satisfactory
TO all interests
shipping NJ Lake Ports.
The statistics Just compiled. ana witch
form part OF the July Summary ~ COM
merce and Finance show that during the
month OF July aSS5 vessels arrived at tho
thirty-Eeven principal ports on the great
lakes. and from the opening Of navigation
up 60 August I the total number ~ ar
rivals was 1891. The proportion Of tho
water transportation interests az some IL
the cities on the xreat lakes IL also strik-
ingly illustrated. For instance. there en-
tered the port OF Chicago during the month
Of July los vessels, or an average of
thirty-six vessels per day. From the OPEN
ing Of navigation. IN April, 20 August /,
the vessel arrivals nj Chicago aggregated
In the July record Cleveland ranked
next TO Chicago there having been 5as
arrivals during the Interim. but for the
season 10 date both Milwaukee. and Ruff
falo outclass Cleveland, the total arrivals
at Milwaukee being 500 and az Buffalo
i.sSh, ms compared with isad arrivals Ut
tered by gi5 vessels during July, and there
were ga arrivals at Duluth, Wis, and fsa
nt West superior, Mich, her sister city
at tho head Of the lakes.
There has been considerable discussion
OF late of the report that the railroads
were taking from the lake carriers a
grain shipments than ever before. u
would appear. however from the latest
statistics that the inronds are less SER
ious than supposed The receipts OF
hreadstnffs at the principal ports on tho
lakes are as follows:
I.,y ,.a s ss nSSar lsp
Wheat. bushels. LiA.es is,it2,go
Flour. tons.......... @,a& GaGs
Corn. hushels.....,.. li,ntsf1 sa.eN.sls
oats. bushels. ...... flis,4A 1s.0t1.x ~
BARLEY. bushels. ESg.a.J 28s7.f1
Rye. bushels ....... 5s4ss ats,iss
The statement Just cornplled also re-
flutes the popular fsllacy that the water
transportation % grain In the great
lakes district constitutes almost exciu.
sively a direct traffic between Chicago
and Buffalo In ,he shipment men, e -four
practically cqual the shipments N each
port this Tar this season having exceeded
10000 tons IN shipment q wheat pu-
luth II far ahead 81 AL other porte, hav-
Ing shipped ieis.ie3 bushels IN July. and
\ as. SO bushels during the season up to
August l. The nclghbofing port u wess
Superior. Wis. stands next 70 Duluth,
having ahipped aii 6t4 bushels during
July. and g. 2sa 6sl bushels during he Sea-
son. chicago hradn TIE list IN corn thiff-
meHts her total far july being 6.t3a,sH
bushels and for the season. gt.f2i &s
bushels In shipments N barley aud Data
Milwaukee leads while in shipmeUts IL
rye. nuinfh hold. FIRST rank Although
originating ~ numerous different ports.
the great bulk ~ the lake grain trafs
canvrfFve ~ iiHHai0 as point ~ hie4
charge fnr Instance. ~ the igTtsH1
bushels on wheat received ~ aif lake
ports. iAfl7 4li htIehels were consigned 20
puffHin, which port alHa received agTs 1ass
a,fa . a.a ffa
els - r1fn arriving ~ aN psrth Tho iron
GRE trafflc " branch ~ lake traffic IN
ghish The Efeatapt Interest r. felt this
year ~ an parsons connected Rfth the
Iron and steel industry Thus Gar this
season the total fecsifyte ~ iron are fogt
up se1.es9 toms 80 ~ toms brfus Pc
~ettea III AshtRhuia ff214sg sons %
Cleveland. ana t5ttes tons az South
chieegq. during ne feaeen, @t'ie 10
rrinripai ports ~ sbipmenf wete Te9
Harhors with ITO 30 toms ana pulufh.
with GO H11 tons