Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-27
Startling Jump Recorded In Value
Of Nations Vessels Since 1885,
Value IS NOW s5oo,Ooo,GGO
Atlantic Coast and Gulf OF Mexico
scano Where Mos. of American
Tonnage operates-areat Lakes
Ships Valuable.


Startling increase in tonnage and
value of water craft OF the United
States Is brought forward In the COM
pletion of the compilation of the last
census of this industry, taken for
1906. The value of active craft had
Increased since 1889, when they were
valued ut s2O0.OOO,0O0 to $1,000 900
when the census was taken. Ferry.
boats in and around New York harbor
carried sixty,three per cent. OF the
$3.50 100000 passengers transported
by this class OF vessel. Coal Is the
| most important item OF water freight
transportation. The busiest canal in
the world Is st. Mary's, connecting
| Lake Superior anu Lake Huron. All
| American vessels or craft of Ave tons
net register operated on the coasts
and inland waters of the United
States, Puerto Rico and the Hawaiian
Islands are included in the statement.
except those engaged in fishing and
stationary wharf boats and house
boats used largely for residential pur-
poses.
| ut HidNloAiCS CONtT ot,bEl uCllNt
craft, with an aggregate gross ton
mage of 12.S93.429. and 1,762 idle craft,
with an aggregate gross tonnage of
1926. In 1889 there were reported
30,4S5 active craft, with an aggregate
gross tonnage of 8,359,l35. and 1,490
idle craft, with an aggregate gross
tonnage of 233.639. or the active craft
the value increased from more than
$780, in 1889 to more than
$780, 100000 In 1896. In the same pc.
Rod the gross income increased from
about S162.000,000 TO about $295, O00,-
600, or so per cent; the number OF
employees from about $4,000 to about
$4,000. or 23.S per cent. and the
wages pnid from about 100000 to
about s72000.000. or 72.7 per cent.
Where Commerce Is Busiest
BY TAR the largest part of the Amer
lean shipping, 20.032 vessels with an
| aggregate tonnage of more than A.
100000 tons, operates on the Atlantic
coast and Gulf of Mexico. The next
greatest number, 9,622 vessels. with
tonnage OF more than 100000. is
shown for the Mississippi River and
Its tributaries. But so many of these
/ 'N''NA" 'tPCiNtu tiG NhibSloSlDIl
River are coal barges and scows that
In spite of the large number and great
tonnage the value Is only about $23.
100000 and the income only about
s17,OO0,000. The smaller number OF
vessels on the great lakes. 1880, rep
resented value OF more than $780,.
100000 and derived an income OF more
than $65,000,0O0. Shipping on the Pa
cliic coast showed great proportion
ate increase and did business valued
Mt about $49,0O0.00O.
Between 1889 and 1906 the number
of steam vessels increased from 5.603
to 1927. or ne per cent; their ton.
mage, from 1.710.O73 to $4,059,521, or
1874 per cent; and their value, from
Sl3l ,667,427 to $3S6,772,727, or 1874 per
cent. This increase, moreover, was
general on all waters except the Mis-.
sisslppi River and its tributaries,
where the tonnage actually decreas-
cd. The greatest absolute increase
except in gross tonnage, is shown for
the steam vessels operating on the
Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico. In
gross tonnage the largest increase.
one OF 1,379,973 tons-was reported
from the Great Lakes, and resulted
from the recent construction of large
vessels to carry ore and grain.
During the year 1906. according to
tne census. ferryboats carried $780,.
IS76S9 passengers. more than sixty.
three per cent. OF whom were car
RED by the ferries In and around New
! York HarLOr. OF the total number.
3Os.f925S4 passengers rode ON regular
lerryboats and 20.945,055 on municipal
ierryboats. While the income of fer.
ryboats is derived largely from carry.
ing these passengers. in some cases
particularly on the Mississippi River
and It's tributaries, the ferryng az
wagons. teams and cattle and the car
rage of freight are in excess of tbe
passenger business.
Big Jumps in Freight.
In 1889 nearly 3O.00O.O00 NO. ton,
or freight were carried by vessels a,
the United States; In 1906 more than
265,000.000 net tons were SO carried
an Increase OF over ono hundred per
cent. The proportionate increases for
ireignt carried on the Atlantic coast
and Cuff of Mexico and on the great
iakes were considerably larger.
on the basis of tonnage moved coal
IS the most important item of freight
IN inc water commerce OF the United
states. The movement, amounting ia
more than 100000 tons, is compos.
ed chiefly of shipments of hard coal
from railway terminals on the New
Jersey coast for consumption IN
Greater New York, aud of soft coal
from Atlantic ports further south
NeSI TO coal the greatest tonnage Is
for iron ore.
The first census at which the con-