Northern Transportation Company

Since the reorganization of the Northern Transportation Company, its business has gradually and steadily increased, until it now stands second to none of the transit lines between the East and West. A few figures will show the increase of business and the prosperity of the Company. The average gross receipts for the five years beginning with 1868, were $950,000 for freight, and $108,000 for; passengers.

The average tonnage, equivalent to 100 miles was 1,132,820 tons, and the number of passengers for same distance was 1,0881,000. During the year 1867 the line carried the largest amount of freight and passengers of any of the previous years, but owing to the low rates that prevailed, there was a falling off in the receipts for freight as compared, with the year 1866,but there was a fair increase in the passengers receipts.

The route traversed by this line, (embracing as it does the entire chain of lakes, with connecting rivers, from Ogdensburg to Chicago, affords a diversity of scenery that can be found nowhere else on this continent, and as a consequence the route is becoming more and more popular every year. This fact, in a degree, accounts for the increase in the receipts from passengers noted above.

The annual dividends of the company have been ten per cent, each year to Vale stockholders; the balance of the surplus earnings going to in crease the property and transportation facilities of the line. During the year 1867 fourteen boats were employed in the line, as follows: Akron, Buckeye, Brooklyn, Cleveland, City of Boston, City of New York, Empire, Granite State; Lowell, Maine Michigan, Oswegatchie, Prairie State and Young America, and for a portion of the season the Congress was chartered.

Up to the present season the stock of the company has not exceeded $600,000 but during the past winter it has been increased to $1,000,000, for the purpose of thereby adding to the already large facilities possessed by the company for transporting freight and passengers between the points above named. Ten new steamers will be constructed, six of which are now under contract, and will be ready for business in September next. Four of the above steamers will be built in this port, as follows : E. M. Peck, one; Louis Lafrinier and F. Quelis, one; Ira Lafrinier and S. P.Drake, one; Cleveland Dry Dock Company, one; and two will be built at the yard of the N. T. Company, at Ogdensburg. The other four will be built during the coming winter, and will be ready for business on the opening of navigation in the spring of 1869.

The now steamers will all be first class in their general style and finish, similar to the Lowell, Brooklyn and Oswegatchie. They will be built under the superintendence of Capt. A. C. Keating, who knows just how a propeller should be built. When the contemplated additions and improvements shall have been consummated, the line will embrace no less than twenty-four steamers, which will be the largest number, we believe ever in one line on the lakes, and will be a most important addition to our lake marine.

At the annual election of the company in January, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

President - Philo Chamberlin.

Vice-President - R. Pelton.

Secretary - E. D. Childs.

Treasurer - A. W. French.

Auditor - C. L. Thompson.

Superintendent - C. Keating.

Chief Engineer - S. C. Sturtevant.

With increased capital and facilities, for business, the Northern Transportation Company will start out on the opening of navigation under the most flattering auspices. - Cleveland Herald.