The Detroit times., 1911-01-19
SHIPMENTS HEAVY,
BUT MANY BOATS
LOST MONEY
Tonnage Far in Excess Of Cargoes
offered and Season Proved Disap.
J pointing To Independent Owners,
Says Lake Carriers President.
Declares Opposition To Open Shop
4 Has Practically Ceased and Praises
Welfare" Plan.

The annual meeting of the Lake
Carriers association was called to Or
der by President William Livingstone
in the convention hall of the Hotel
Pontchartrain shortly after 10 O'Clock
Thursday morning. There were up
wards OF 200 members OF the associa
ton In attendance, a much smaller
gathering than In years gone by
When most of the vessels on the great
lakeE We're owned by individual par
ties. Within the past few years many
boats have passed into the hands OF
large corporations, which, as rule
send only one representative to the
Lake Carriers meelI.
!, The annual banquet On the associa
ZION will take place in the Hotel
Pontchartrain this evening. Con
gresham w. E. Humphrey, of Wash
ington, will be the chief speaker
Gov. Osborn and Senator Smith, OF
Michigan, are also expected to be
present and deliver addresses.
The Lumber Carriers association
completed its annual convention In
the Hotel Normandie, Wednesday az
ternoon. During the session the mat
ter OF raising freight rates on the
lakes was discussed at length, but
no action was taken. 1t was pointed
out that the increased cost OF load
Ing and unloading at the different
ports had greatly lessened the profits
OF the vessel owners. The board OF
managers and other officers of the
association will meet later to deal
with different matters affecting the
lumber carriers.
= Upwards of 100 Of the Wis ing YES
selmen were guests of William Liv-
ingstone, president OF the Lake Car
riers' association, at a theater party
in the Detroit Opera house, Wednes-
day night.
:, President Livingstone. in his an
nual report, said in part:
The year has been a singular one
throughout and disappointing in the
.extreme 10 the independent vessel
owner. though the shipping interests
owning vessels, have probably profit
ed somewhat more than usual, owing
10 the improved dispatch which they
enjoyed through the voluntary sub
traction OF independent tonnage. and
the consequently greater proportion
OF freight which their vessels carried
The year was a practical reversal OF
conditions obtaining in 1909.
80 scarce were down cargoes in
proportion to Tonnage offering that
grain on April 20 was taken at the
profitless rate OF one cent. During
the last week of April the carriers
were waiting at both ends OF the
route, though the actual volume OF
freight moving was the greatest IN
the history of the trade, and this In
spite OF the fact that the whole traffic
had 10 be handled through the Cana
dian canal exclusively, with conse-
uuent handicap. The demand for wild
tonnage was slight, indeed, and to-
ward the end Of May 1t became ap-
parent that something would have Ia
be done. Vessels were In one an
.other's way at both upper aid lower
docks.
"At a general meeting OF the indie.
pendent vessel interests, held In
Cleveland. in June, 1t was concluded
TO withdraw 20 per cent OF the ton
mage for 30 days, and during that
+, month about 40 vessels went into the
ordinary. The volume OF freight NOV
ing. however, was still continuing TO
break all records. We're 1t not for
this incontrovertible fact, Some com
fort might have been derived from
Nhe situation.
after July /, however, the pace be
gan TO slacken. Furnaces grew re-
luctant to take ore, and a kind oil
fCoptinued ON page III