Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-13
COMMERCE ON THE LAKE.
Figures for Past Year Show De-
crease in Some Respects.
COal, Lumber and Pulp Wood Fell on
More Towing Power Needed
Ice Shipped south for First
Time Since 1890.


lY.) Chronicle. covering the amount
of business done by the Champlain canal
for the past year. show that more tow
ing power is needed on the lake, that the
shipments of coal. lumber and pulp wood
decreased slightly, that ice was shipped
south for the first time since 1880 and
that the shipments Of merchandise increas-
ed over six million pounds
| Although the lumber shipments were
only 100000 feet more than last year the
total cleared at the whitehall office this
year coming from Canada, New York
and Vermont amounted to 90,63352o feet,
while last year there was cleared e5,1gO,-
SIS feet.
The pulp wood shipments this year
were less than last season on account
Of the number of boats being contracted
| for the lake trade, and this work took
the boats that formerly were engaged in
carrying pulp wood from Three rivers.
Canada, to Fort Edward until late in the
season, when the contract for the lake
shipments had been filed. Work on this
contract was rushed but the time was
short and in consequence the canal ton
mage was somewhat less on this partl-
cular item. Last season 5000 cords were
cleared at Whitehall while this year only
1850 cords passed on the canal. The diff
ference of 1850 cords would amount to
about one hundred and nifty loads or that
number of boats. The hay trade picked
up some this year and shows an increase
of over ten million pounds, the shipment
being 1896 tons
COAL TRADE LESS EACH YEAR
The coal trade or property consigned
to ports in Canada, New York and Yer
mont. was less than last year, on ac-
count of the large shipments which went
by the way of Oswego, Lake Ontario
and St Lawrence. A few figures will
perhaps surprise some, and there should
be. an effort made to hold this trade as
it is the most important item Of freight
on the whole Champlan canal. This
season only 112,7O0 tons of coal were ship
ped of which 5000 tons were anthracite
and 1900 tons bituminous Last year
14s,oo0 tons passed this port. 124.Ooo tons
being anthracite and 900 bituminous
The usual shipments for this one Item
average from $4,000 tons to 100000 tons
during the season. So it can be seen that
instead Of holding this trade It appears to
be growing less each year.
ICE, IRON ORE AND MERCHANDISE
south there was shipped from Ticonder-
oga by way of the Champlain canal g,
1920 pounds Of ice for New York city.
This is the first ice shipped from the lake
on the canal since the great ice season
of 1890. Iron ore shipments suffered this
year owing to the scarcity of boats when
only 10000 tons passed on the canal, as
against Ct. COO tons last season. The ship
from last season OF over six million
pounds and thu same Increase can be
credited to stono, lime sand and cement.
SCARCITY Or TOWING POWER.
|, Although the above is n good showing
for the Champlaiu canal under the condi-
tons which existed all through the sea-
son. there should be something done
whereby the tonnage on the Champlai n
canal would be doubled from that of last
year The carrying capacity of the canal
: has not been taxed since the ice season
OF 1890 and the real obstacle has been the
lack of power for moving boats. 1t Is a
fact'that every year boats have lost one
round trip and in some cases two trips
for the season on account of the scarcity
of towing power, and unless some one gets
BUSY the same conditions VIII most likely
{ follow year after year,
The total tonnage of cleared and lef,
freight passing tho Whitehall office TO,
\ the season of 1896 was as follows:
Freight cleared All 500 tons, valued al
, $4,15O,956 of which 1871, 456 tons was through
freight. The total of left freight amount
to 4oS, i29 tons, valued at s3,267, 713 of whic-
, Is 22S tons was through, the balance, go,
206 tons being way. Last year the freight
! cleared at Whitehall was 800, $40 tons. val
! ued at $37sl,713 and the freight left was
, $40, 491 tons, valued at sS,l77.260. While
. these figures in total show an increase Of
r over 22,00O tons for this year, the excess Is
3 credited to the increased shipments o.
. merchandise, stone, lime. clay and Ice
l Boatmen looked for a big Increase in lum
be coal and pulp wood. but these item.
were all short of last year.