The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-28
COMMERCE AT BALTIMORE.
Preparing Statistics on the Ports
Coastwise Trade.


BALTIMORE Aug. &-WHIiam r.
stone. the collector OF the port, has
had compiled by the marine department,
under the supervision of Capt. John X.
King, statistics showing the amount Of
coastwise trade At the port Of Baltimore
The collector. in speaking Of the volume
OF business, says.
There is, perhaps. no city on the At
lantic coast that has a greater c0astwise
trade than Baltimore Not less than $500
sailing vessels having carrying capaci-
~ Of from 80 20 500 tons Of cargo trade in
the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
al Of which make on an average not less
than four trips per month 70 Baltimore.
bringing lumber, grain, naval stores, oys-
tiers. fish. and farm products Of every
sort and description from the tidewatcr
counties Of Maryland and Virginia. There
are also about fifty steam vessels cuEag cd
in the same trade. making daily and tri-
weekly trips, having an average carrying
capacity Of 300 tons Of c..s-o; IN addi-
ton there are the seventeen steamships
Of the Merchants and Miners Transpor-
tation Company. trading 10 Boston, Prov
idence, and Savannah, with an average
carrying capacity OF 1900 tons. making
weekly trips; also the large feet Of three
and fOur-masted schooners bringing ice
from the North and carrying back coal:
the feet Of lumber carriers from the
South, the ocean barges and steam col
hers. 1t would be a conservative esti-
mate to place the inward business Of this
immense water traffic at 100000 tons a
year. not 10 per cent OF which becomes
matter Of official record, and in the great
published commercial statistics Of the
country Baltimore suffers to that extent
With the view Of placing the port Of
Baltimore in her proper position before
the commercial bodies Of the world, being
conscious Of the manifest Importance Of
this trade. I have been endeavoring for
several years 70 devise some means
whereby this tremendous c0astwise traffic
could be put down in black and white.
Unfortunately. under the navigation laws
OF the United States, comparatively few
vessels engaged in the coastwise trade are
obliged to enter and clear at the custom
house, hence I have been obliged 10 90
outside for assistance.
Col. William II. Love. Secretary Of the
Board Of Trade, has taken the matter up
and is enthusiastically at work. urging the
different exchanges to help the matter
along Governor Smith has written a very
cordial letter promising all the aid and as
slstance I'm his power and directing the
State Wharfuger, W r. Dali, 70 assist
in the work.
James H. Smith. comptroller. was the
FIRST official To see the Importance OF the
suggestion and very promptly offered TO
cooperate. and has directed the city har-
bOTmastcTs TO make a detailed monthly
statement Of every vessel visiting their re-
spective districts 1t is desired 10 have a
report Of the arrival Of every vessel, her
name, tonnage, nature Of cargo, II any.
UDEElklN.
value Of the statistical information thus
sought Will be inestimable 10 the city of
Baltimore. and ! feel that every business
enough 10 give me earnest and hearty sup
port
1t is this spirit alone that prompts me
70 undertake the compilation Of these sta
tistiCs which will go broadcast over the
world, placing Baltimore where she be-
longs high in the rank as one Of the great
commercial cities Of the United States