The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-06
OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES.


1t was President Hill, of the Great
Northern railway line, who, a few
months ago called the attention of the
people of Seattle to the comparatively
primitive condition of the existing ar
rangements at that port for the ship
ment Of merchandise. He showed what
the conditions were at Eastern ports, and
outlined the advances which were being
daily made as indispensable to meeting
the increasing demands for improved
facilities in the handling Of bulky
The lesson in this behalf is being rap
idly learned; and nowhere are the neces-
stiles of the case forcing themselves with
more insistence on shippers and ship own
ers than at the ports of the great lakes.
Last year the lake vessels brought down
from Lake Superior something like 49,
100000 tons Of iron ore, as large volume
as was carried for the entire thirty
years prior to 1882. This year a moder-
ate estimate Of the extent Of the ore
carrying In the same direction Is put at
20,000,0O0 tons. The shipments of grain
will show at least corresponding in
crease; while, coming in the other direc-
tion the coal carrying vessels will show
for the present year, owing to the rapid
ity with which the Northwest IS being
settled, big increase on the figures Of
last year.
The proportion of increase represented
here will be maintained, If not advanced
upon materially within the next few
years. When we consider that last
years shipment of iron ore exceeded the
shipments of any two years between 1890
and 1895. we can form a general under
standing of what the demands of the
immediate future in lake shipping will
be on the foresight and ingenuity Of those
engaged in this tremendous industry.
But these demands will be met as they
arise The old methods will go to the
wall, where they have been steadily go
ing for some years. For some time past,
for instance, hundreds of thousands of
dollars have been expended in the con-
struction of huge bins from which iron
ore slips SO rapidly that 1t is possible
to place a cargo of 1000 or 5000 tons
aboard a vessel in three or four hours
At several Lake Erie ports there havs
been recently constructed several ponder
Gus machines which will pick up a rail-
tents into the hold of a ship and return
the empty car to the track, all In the
space of a single minute. For years the
ore shippers have been at their wits
ends to devise some means by which the
huge volume Of their product could be
rapidly transhipped. They have hit upon
what appears 10 be the great desidera,-
tum. They have introduced what Is called
the mechanical ore unloader. 1t scoops
up ten tons of ore at time with It's
so-called clam-shell bucket, and renders
It possible to unload the largest cargo In
a half day.
These are some Of the conditions which
prevail in this grand domain of Ameri-
can commerce and industry. Individual
enterprise is rising to the demands of the
occasion. Mind Is t1iumphing over mat
ter; and science has usurped the place
SO long held by human muscle 1t is
| only when we turn to the work which
is demanded of the public agencies in
this regard that we find ourselves, as a
-
The American people have been de-
| manding clear shipway to the tide
water from the great ports of our in
land seas. The federal government has
practically given no response. The
state of New York has answered the de-
mand with what Is equivalent to a decis-
| I've refusal For the plans adopted for
the Improvement Of the canals Of that
state are in effect a refusal to embark
in the undertaking of ship canal There
is contrast here between private and
public enterprise which may well be
| taken to heart. Indeed 1t is In great
resulting from government inaction that
such serious demands have been made
on Individual energy and ingenuity.
The enlarged St. Lawrence canals, In
| augurated by the Canadian government,
| will be opened the coming spring. They
| will permit the free passage between
lakes and oceans Of vessels not exceeding
260 feet In length The products of the
American Northwest seeking a foreign
| market will take the outlet thus offered
to them through foreign territory, and
courses on our own land. and the task
| will be left to time of demonstrating to
American public authority what q COM