The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-12
ARE SCARCE
AND RATES. HIGH
Large Movement of Ameri-
can Ore is Principal Fac
tor in Conditions.

Winnipeg. Sept. 12.-Boats are very
scarce and rates are going higher.
This. is the story from every man with
grain to ship and vessel agents con-
firm the tale. The easons for this
scarcity are not far to seek. For sew
tons to the American fleet because
trade was dull inc owners found diff
ficulty in keeping the boats probably
employed. On the Canadian side,
while the wheat crop has, been increas-
ing almost 100 per cent annually the
boat building has not increased more
than 10 per cent.
This year., a phenomenal experience
for a presidential year. there has been
trade in the United States, more es-
pecially in the steel trade and the
demond for iron ore has risen by leaps
and bounds. The movement bids fair
to surpass the record year of 1907,
when As, 200, 900 gross tons of iron ore
were carried down the lakes. The
movement up to date is equal to 1907
for the same period and the demand
for ore tonnage is keener. Last year
the movement of ore was only 31,O0O.-
600 tons for the whole season. Not a
little Of the activity in the ore trade
is due to the keen demand for struc-
tural steel in the Canadian west. Ore
is an all yea cargo and therefore al
ways takes precedence over wheat.
Next to a heavy r trade the big
gest factor in the boat shortage has
been the strike in the hard coal mines.
This has curtailed the movement of
coal during the summer season in a
very marked degree and neither Du-
luth. Fort William nor Port Arthur
have the usual or necessary compile
ment Of coal on their docks and every
nerve is being strained to get the sup
ply up to normal before navigation
closes. -.
A third factor is the large trade
which Canadian vessels are doing in
hauling American steel rails to Can
adam ports. This trade has been
heavy all summer and will continue
right up to the close Of navigation
Boats that bring in rails will no doub,
load with wheat to 60 out. But hav.
ing carried that cargo to a bay port
the boat will come back by way OF
Chicago for a load of rails and thus
her life as a grain handler will be cut
in two.
This is the day Of the vessel owner
he has struggled through three yer,
bad seasons and now he proposes tt
come into his WI and prices Of ton
mage are soaring and likely to do 80
up to the close of navigation.
Yesterday 2k was bid from For
William to Buffalo and at the same
date last year charters were made al
low as l cent. Rates to Montreal ART
advancing Just as rapidly and ship
pers are tumbling over themselves FOL
tonnage. When the really truly croI
movement begins there will be some
thing doing and no mistake. The. fac
that the western crop will be so late
in moving will add to the compiled
lions. IT.
Ocean tonnage is Just as scarce Al
that Of the lakes. The American croy
began to move much earlier than oul
own and a very large amount Of theii
export is being routed by bay ports
to Montreal and has secured the pre-
cedence in ocean freights from tina
port. Five cargoes for which charter
were taken out TO Bristol on Tuesda,
paid &c per bushel more than at the
corresponding date Of last ear.