The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-07-01
BOAT BUILDING FALls6.)FF
Great Lakes Shipyards Overdid the
Business Last Year. - 4

Il
DULUTH, MINN.-shipyards of the Great
Lakes, now that they have about completed
the vast tonnage of steel ships ordered for
this years delivery, are casting about for
more orders to fill their emptying berths.
These orders do not come with any great
freedom just now in fact, there appears to
be among most owners a general hanging
back each one waiting for another to move.
= But. few are bold enough to order ships at
A wholesale. ~
,AtSthe BEGINNING Of 1902 there were under
way at lake yards forty eight ships, valued at
about Sill 900, 600 and OF capacity for $780, 900
Gross tons per cargo. Most of these had been
contracted for during last summer. and al
most all of them are now out Of the makers
hands and at work on the lakes. To take
their place at the yards there should be as
great q tonnage for the coming year. so lar
very little OF this has made its appearance
A contract is closed for the building Oh ten
! steel ships of Welland canal size. to cost
about 81, 900 5000 and to have combined ca
pacity for $4,000 tons. and another contract
for about the same number of larger size, Is
in builders hands for figures. "a few splendid
6,OO0-ton freghters, and some ships Of special
design, Including one immense steel car
ferry to cost 100000 and to carry "a train or
two OF loaded freight cars across the lakes
without breaking bulk. have also been or
dered, while some passenger ships are under
way. u
Reaction Next Year.
Present indications do not promise any
great activity among lake yards for another
year The trouble Is that shipbuilding was
Va overdone last season. All tho ship-owning
individuals along the lakes saw % chance TO
get more vessels and sell out their old ones,
and thought they saw great increase IN ton
mage to be carried in 1902 over the preceding
year. There is increase In tonnage. put
Iar,x f1,A,
not recollect. the fact that Mr.. Rockefeller tled
up large part Of his whaleback feet during
most of the year before, thus diminishing the
seasonal capacity Of the United States Steel
corporation fleet by 100000 tons.
Indications are for total traffic through
the Sault canals this season OF more than
80, 900 900 tons, of which about half will be
iron ore This is an increase Of more than B
per cent over last year But the corn trade
from Chicago is dead, and corn has been by
far the chief of the grain crops in point OF
shipping No vessel owner could have pre-
dtoted an opening of the season a month ear
lier than usual, and this single item added Is
per cent to the capacity of the fleet.
New Field for Effort.
The ten ships that are to be built on the
lakes for Welland canal service will open
new field of business They are by the
American Steamship company, of which A.
q B. Wolvin of Duluth is manager They are
designed for general trade, but will doubtless
be planned especially for moving steel and It's
products to European ports They are prob
ably part of a gigantic plan at the back OF
which is the United States Steel corporation,
TO aid in the maintenance OF American steel
in foreign markets. These ships will carry
EXPORT steel from interior American ports to
tidewater at QueEec Montreal. and will
pass through the st. Lawrence and Weltand
canals OK the Canadians, and will there con-
meet with steamers already built to make the
transatlantic voyage. The first OF these latter
is the Minnetonka, recently built on the lakes
In sections and put together at Montreal. The
ship is now registered from Duluth as port
of hail and though sailing the ocean, will be
managed from here. A companion vessel Will
soon be IN commission. and she is now being
taken down tho lakes in two parts.