The Washington times., 1902-09-15
Remarkable Increase in
Seven Months Ended
With July.
LARGE GAIN OVER LAST YEAR
Freight Receipts at 144 Ports Show
s5,7Is,sa6 Tons Received as Against
1s,seI,a57 for Corresponding Months
In 1907, Increase of 3o.6 Per Cent.

Al l9Ol, luClcdSc VI SO.O 4 CI SChl.
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 m,nth of
July. and the seven months ending with
July.
The chain of Great Lakes which
stretches from New York at the east to
Minnesota at the west, transports a
large proportion Of the products of a
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 expon-
country.
This is accomplished By the figures of
the Treasury Bureau of Statistics, which
show that the total freight receipts at
IA receiving ports on the lakes were
25, 718,S26 net tons in the first seven
months of the year. compared VITA 1S.-
S91. .257 net tons in the corresponding
months of last year.
Tabulation of Reports.
The statistical measurement of trade
on the Great Lakes has been greatly de-
veloped 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 $500 to
5000 supplementary manifests is re-
ceiyed at the bureau each month dur
ing the season. These manifests are
Immediately tabulated in such a man
ner 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 pub
lished in the Summary of Internal
Commerce" 144 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 a much
heavier tonnage movement than last
season. The total freight receipts for
the first seven months of this year were
Is, 71S,S26 net tons, as against Is, ,S91 PSI
net tons to the corresponding date last
season. This increase is at the rate
of 306 per cent over the received tom
mage last season.
Heavy Shipments of Ore.
Shipments thus far this season have
amounted to 26.S76,0 COG net tons, those
Of last season being 1858. 1874 net tons.
The most conspicuous gains have been
made in the shipment of ore and min
erals not including ccal, this seasons
total amounting to 1887, ,912 gross tons,
against only 9.0S3, ,9S2 gross tons in 1901
gain Of 47.3 per cent. Coal shipments
increased from 3,670.S71 net tons last
season to 4,652. 1923 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 37,413
vessels arrived with tonnage of 81, ,0S7,-
S76 tons registry, and 37,79S vessels /
cleared, of 35,7S6,701 tons registry
Doubles Foreign Trade.
This is more than twice the registered |
tonnage of both foreign and American
vessels engaged in the foreign trade of
the country, for the same period of time.
The foreign trade engaged 2,174, 1854 tons
of sail, and 1903. .967 tons of steamships
of all nationalities to July 81, 1902, max
ing total of 16,269,921 tons The com
bined registered tonnage in the foreign
trade at New York, Boston, Philadelphia.
Baltimore, New Orleans. San Francisco.
and Puget Sound for the entire year
1901 was 1s.ssS,s0s tons entered, and
Is, ,4S7, ,246 tons cleared, or somewhat
more than half the total tonnage report
ed for the Great Lakes during the seven
months of 1902.
Further analysis of this enormous to-
tai shows that fourteen ports each re-
port arrivals and clearances of a million
tons and over. Five ports-Chicago,
Duluth, Cleveland, and Buff
falo-each show clearances of two mil
lion tons and over. The combined ar
rivals at these five ports was II, 421 ,099
ons and the clearan IL s55 5Aa fopc |