Evening star., 1924-04-25
INLAND WATERWAYS
SHOW HUGE TRAFFIC
Water-Borne Shipments for Year
Likely to Surpass All
Prior Records.
GROWS DESPITE BACKSETS
Floods and Ice Jams Add to Un-
favorable Conditions.
BY j. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April 25.-Transporta-
ton over the inland waterways of
the country has been somewhat ham
pered so far this spring by weather
conditions, which produced floods and
ice jams. But the volume of water
borne traffic will be higher this year
than ever before in the history of the
country, the best informed shipping
men agree. This fact will have a
distinct bearing on the prices of
nearly every commodity which enters
an American household. So far as
the shipping industry on the great
lakes is concerned. various opinions
are expressed about the business ex-
pected. Last year tonnages Of grain
and stone broke all records, and some
are inclined TO doubt whether they
will be as heavy this season. Ship
ments of merchandise and manufac-
tured goods, however, are certain to
be heavy.
Pig Iron slump Curtnils Volume.
The slump in the pig iron mark ct
is having a tendency TO affect the vol
ume of iron ore shipments. but it is
expected, none the less. that between
5O,0OO.000 and 60.000,000 tons of iron
ore will be carried to mills in Illinois
Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Coal
shipments for the northwest have not
yet given indication of extreme size
or urgency: Increased railroad rates
are operating TO the benefit Of the
lake freighterS, which are offer in &
shippers rates 10 13 per cent lower
than rail routes. Already reserva-
tfons arc being made for the week
long passenger cruises on the great
lakes, which proved a feature of the
summer vacation season in the mid
west last year.
River Traffic Outlined.
Whatever may be the tonnage on
the lakes. there can be no doubt as
to the volume of freight traffic on the
rivers of the country The river
borne traffic out of Pittsburgh for the
first quarter of the year exceeded that
Of the Panama Canal by more than
S.o00,0 900 tons. while traffic on the Mo-
nongahela alone exceeded that passing
through the Suez Canal by 900. .00C
tons and fell behind Panama by about
that amount New barge lines are
now being added to the equipment OF
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and
on the waterways from the lakes &c
the gulf.
The Atlantic passenger liners are
preparing to carry more Americans
TO Europe this summer than at any
time since the American expedition
AIRY force was sent TO France. Tour
list agencies here report that the ad-
vance bookings have been enormo'ls.
The normal summer vacation move
ment has been increased by the fact
that the Olympic games will be held
in Paris this>year and that thousands
will attend the conventions of the In
ternational Sunday Schools the
American Bar Association, the Ad
Club and other national and interna-
tional organizations. Steamship COM
panies are making a special drive to
secure business from college students
who expect to make the voyage
abroad this year. These preparations
tours which have grown so in popu-
larity lately that other countries are
putting vessels on similar runs.
Offer Special Vacation Rates.
Steamship companies operating G
lines TO Bermuda, Bahama. Cuba
Mexico. Central and South America
are prepared to put special vacation
rates into effect this summer and ex
pect 10 handle heavy volume OF
traffic. Tourists. passenger agents OF
these lines say, have discovered that
the summer in those localities offers
equal attractions in the matter of eli
mate with the winter months, because
the dry season is more pleasant than
the season OF winter rains.
The American st. Lawrence COM
mission. appointed last month by
President Coolidge to report on the
project of opening the Great LAX es
to ocean-going ships and developing
the waterpower facilities of the river.
mas gone briskly to work. but a final
report as to whether the enterprise
should be undertaken at present is
not expected for some time. 1t is
estimated the total cost of the i'm
proyements of the st. Lawrence route
would be S252,72s,2o0.