Year: 1868

The Coming Season.


We find in late number Of the Detroit
Posr some speculations in reference to the
probable range of lake freights during the
approaching season. which we copy entire.


While we anticipate an improvement in
the vessel owners not to build their hopes
too high, lest they should lie sorcly disap-
pointed


"No one expects lake freights the COM
ing year to he kept down to the same low
range that prevailed last season. Already
offers ut improved rates have been m ade


by shippers and refused by owners, and


reasons plenty as blackDer .ies' might be


adduced to show why they will be higher.


but perhaps all those reasons combined


would not be stronger than the one naked


fact that vessels will not and cannot carry


mt last years prices. Many of those
which iun at a loss last year would have


promptly laid up only for the fact that


owners had on hand fund left over from
the handsome earnings of the season of
1866, and they were led, insidiously, as it
were. into an experiment to determine at
how low scale Of prices they could run
with the existing nigh scale of expense,


adm as the result, although they generally
carried the experiment n little too far, they
have the benefit Of their experience, and
will be far from attemr ting to carry freight
too cheapIy another year. Having now


all requisite practical knowledge on The
| subject, there is no necessity for repeating
the experiment, and there is no surplus
from last years earnings to back them up


in repeating it. Taking the gross receipts


Of our vessels in grand aggregate, and


comparing them with the expenses, the


result would show an aggregate loss.


Never before did the recei pts and expenses


of vessels run SO closely together.
The stocks Of grain at Chicago and Mil


waukee are steadily increasing; it is est-


mated that upon the opening Of navigation


they will aggregate about 100000 bush
els, agains merely nominal amount4ast


spring. There are also large stocks at the
| source of supply, in which respect there is
IL striking difference from last year. Then.


what little wheat had accumulated, was
nearly all diverted by rail for the supply
OF the numerous localities where complete
destitution prevailed, but next season it
Will take its old channel down the lakes.


The corn crop OF 1866 was n failure, the
effect OF which was very severely felt in
the carrying trade it being one of the
very largest items in furnishing carcoes.
Last year, although there was not an aver
are crop, there will be an immense amount
over and above the local wants of the coun-
try, and the prices will be kept SO high by
the active forei IN demand that every bush
ell that can be spared will go forward. 1t
has been thought that the lumber product
this winter would show falling off, but
the season has been SO favorable for get
ting ont logs ;hat this opinion is now re-
versed. and, large as was last years stock,
that of this year will no doubt fully equal
it. The unfavorablc results of last years
stavc trade would, it has been presumed.
cause a material falling off in the amount
got out this winter, but this opinion also
seems to prove erroneous. "A gentleman
who has just returned from the Sasanaw
Valley, assures us that there will be full
rs many got out as last winter, and proLa.
bly, more.


Upon the whole. the prospect for fair
rates the coming season are quite tlatter-
ing, and it is to be hoped that our enter
priSiny vessel owners will fully overcome
the effects OF past reverses."