The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-11-28
AMERICAN BUSINESS ACTIVITY.

The phenomenal activity Of the whole |
country is illustrated by some figures, |
Just prepared by the Treasury Bureau
OF Statistics, showing the commerce on
the Great Lakes during the month OF
July and the seven months ending with
stretches from New York at the east
to Minnesota at the west transports a
large proportion OF the products of
dozen States in which are included the
principal agricultural, mining, and for
estry sections of the country. The
measurement of the commerce OF the
lakes, therefore, is an important eN-
ponent OF the business activities of the
country. This is accomplished by the
figures of the Treasury Bureau of
Statistics which show that the total
freight receipts at 144 receiving ports
on the lakes were 25,71S.S26 net tons in
the first seven months of the year, COM
pared with 1881 ,257 net tons in the
corresponding months of last year.
The statistical measurement of trade
on the Great Lakes has been greatly
developed by the Bureau of Statistics
within the past few years. Under the
system of reporting cargo by masters
OF vessels. which it established in the
year 1900, an average of from 1900 to
5000 supplementary manifests Is re-
ceived at the bureau each month during
the season. These manfests are imme-
diately tabulated in such a manner as
to show the amount of business done by
each lake port throughout the month
and year. July is the latest month for
which figures have been published in
the Summary of Internal Commerce,
IA receiving ports and 2l7 shipping
ports being represented.
The end of July usually marks the
turning point in the open season of lake
navigation This year, however, an
earlier opening brought out much
heavier tonnage movement than last
season. The total freight receipts for
the first seven months of this year were
5,71S,S26 net tons, as against 1881, 257
| net tons to the corresponding date last
season. This increase is at the rate Of
30.6 per cent. over the received tonnage
last season. Shipments thus far this
!
tons, those of last season being 1868, 33i
net tons. The most conspicuous gains
have been made in the shipment of ore
and minerals not including coal, this
seasons total amounting to 13,377,9l2
gross tons, against only 9,0S3,9S2 gross
tons in 19O1-a gain of 4I.3 per cent.
Coal shipments increased from 3670,S7l
net tons last season to 4,652S23 net tons
this season. Slightly less than half of
the total freight tonnage on the lakes
consists of iron ore.
The movement of registered tonnage
, of vessels on these inland waters Is re-
ported for the first time this year. In
these reports of internal commerce only
the vessel movement between American
ports is included. In seven months
37,il3 vessels arrived with tonnage of
So, 0S7, SIC tons registry, and 37,79S vessels
| cleared, of 35,7S6,70l tons registry This
| Is more than twice the registered ton
1 mage of both foreign and American YES
sells engaged in the foreign trade OF
2 the country, for the same period OF
4 time. The foreign trade engaged
| 2,17i,95 tons of sail and 1904 967 tons
{ of steamships of all nationalities to July
81, 1902, making a total of l6, 269, 92l tons
4 The combined registered tonnage in tn,
foreign trade at New York, Boston
. Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans
, San Francisco, and Puget Sound for thu
entire year 1901 was lS.s6S, sos tons en-
tered, and 1S4s7,246 tons cleared, o.
> somewhat more than half the total ton
mage reported for the Great Lakes dur
. ing the seven months of 1902.
Further analysis OF this enormou
y total shows that fourteen ports eacl
report arrivals and clearances OF mil
lion tons and over. Five ports-Chica
go, Milwaukee, Duluth, Cleveland, an
i Bufralo-each show clearances OF tw
d million tons and over. The combine
s arrivals at these FIVE ports was l1,i2l,
n 0s9 tons, and the clearances II, 455.5i
h tons.
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