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[ARINE REVI VO; a bl CLEVELAND, O., FEBRUARY iGe1e08: No. 7... Ore Business for 1898 in Definite Shape. The action of the Bessemer ore producers in agreeing upon an ad- vance of only 15 cents' a ton in the base price of ore tor 1898 does not seem advantagéous to the vessel owner, but when the situation is viewed from the *standpoint that a large increase in output is assured, it will cer- tainly be admitted that the outlook-is far more encouraging than during either of the past two years.' 'There ate a great many reasons for this conservative advance; which represents little more than the increase in miners' wages. It will cause immediate sales of ore, probably to an extent that will take up at once the great bulk of an increase in the output of Bessemer, estimated at about 1,100,000 tons. It will not tempt a resump- tion of operations in mines that cannot produce ore on the association basis of $2.75 a ton, and a more stable condition of the market is thus assured. It is also agreed that the low price will permit of full advantage being taken of all opportunities to increase export trade. Last year the estimated output of old range Bessemer ores was 4900,000 tons. This year it is about 6,000,000 tons, but the increase is not more than about 1,100,000 tons, as some 700,000 tons of this year's 'output will be represented by mines that produced ore last year but were not in the association. This increase in old range Bessemer production is definite, but the probable increase in production of ore of all kinds-- Mesabi's and old range non-Bessemers included--is another question. In view of the great activity that prevails in all branches of the iron in-. dustry, there are many predictions of an output of 15,000,000 of ore of all kinds during the coming season, or 2,500,000 tons more than was pro- duced in 1897. The ore dealers, as a rule, will not admit that the condi- tions warrant such predictions, but they are not very positive in declaring that the figures are unreasonable, in view of the agreement covering about 1,000,000 tons increase in old range Bessemers. Their main argument against a production of fifteen millions has reference to the ability of lower lake docks and railways to handle such a large amount of ore. The ore dealers will probably not be ready to make sales until the latter part of next week. Their correspondence would indicate that they will find furnace men ready to make purchases as soon as the ore is offered. Last year's lake freights, based on 70 cents from the head of Lake Superior for season contracts, are talked of among vessel men, and if this rate is offered it is more than probable that the lake freight on a large amount of ore will be covered at once, but if lower rates are demanded by the shippers it is quite probable that most of the vessel men will consider the amount of business in sight sufficient to. warrant delay in chartering. : The present condition of the pig iron market and all views of the future point to very heavy production. .During eight years past the esti- mates of pig iron consumption prepared at this time of year by the Bul- letin of the American Iron & Steel Association have proven very close to the actual production. In most cases it was found when the year was at an end that the estimates, always very conservative, were close to the exact report of output. The Bulletin's estimate of consumption during 1897 is 9,383,388 tons, or about 245,000 tons less than the output in 1895, the boom year; and still it is generally agreed that the output in 1898, fig- ured conservatively on the basis of production during several months past, will exceed that of 1897 by more than 1,000,000 tons. As another indication of the asstirance of a large business in iron and steel for some time to come, it may be noted that southern producers of pig iron are now considering the establishment of a selling commission and an agree- ment to advance prices. iyi It would seem now that the soft coal dealers will again be involved in differences that will delay settlement of matters pertaining to lake coal - shipments. The wage scale agreement is still unsigned by the Hocking Valley operators of Ohio and there is general fear of the usual trouble with miners about the time of beginning business in the spring. It was thought, a short time ago, that the broad scheme of a central selling agency for the soft coal product of Ohio would go through, putting the lake business on a solid basis, but it is said now that little progress has 'heen made in this direction of late and that the scheme will probably be abandoned. | When the management of the Coatesworth elevator at Buffalo de- manded last year's price, $1.35, for the use of steam shovels in unloading the Corrigan steamer Caledonia, several days ago, it was understood that the plan of Contractor Connors was to pay the full price and after doing so proceed against the elevator management in court or at Albany, on the claim that the elevators were violating the state law in making such a charge. It is now said that the management of the elevator at which the Caledonia was unloaded has since refused to accept the rate which they first demanded, probably in fear of what might follow a determination on the part of Connors to fight the matter out with them. It would there- fore seem that the shoveling question will be settled on the basis of $1 for the steam shovels. J. A. Weisbeck, shore superintendent for the Lehigh Valley steamers at Buffalo, is now 1n Cleveland making arrange- ments to handle all package freight at this port next season under a con- tract that will probably be made between W. J. Connors and the package freight lines. - Joseph Rouleau and Leo Bernard, keepers of private lights on the Sault river, complain-that they are poorly paid by the few contributions - they receive from vessel owners. They threaten to discontinue the lights, which would seem to be the proper course on their part, as the question _of compensation, if the lights are really needed, would be readily settled by such a course. A Review of the Outlook from Duluth. The following letter dealing with matters pertaining to lake business at Duluth is from La Salle & Co. of that city: _ "Absolute inactivity characterizes the condition of the Duluth grain freight market. There has been an improvement in the receipts of grain, but the steady accumulation of stocks does not seem to stimulate activity on the part of eastern buyers. With cash wheat practically under the control of Chicago speculators, there isno reason to look for any imme- diate inquiry on the part of wheat shippers. Duluth makes a creditable showing of corn in store. This grain is controlled by the elevator com- panies, and as a carrying charge now prevails in this commodity, it is not probable that corn will be moved forward at the opening unless market conditions change. The opinion seems to be that oats will go forward promptly as soon as navigation permits. Rye is always an indefinite commodity here, and is sent forward usually in small lots, the railroad lines taking care of everything offering. The weather is extremely mild for this season of year. Outside there is no ice of any consequence, and unless surprisingly cold weather prevails from now on, the port of Duluth will be open at an unusually early date. Coal is being moved forward quite actively.despite the warm weather that has prevailed in the north- west. People in authority seem to think there will be a good demand for coal tonnage early in the season. Below is a comparative statement of bushels of grain in store for the same day in 1897 and 1898: - Feb. 12, 1897. . hens Feb. 12, 1898. Bedor oles eae eats AWikieat, avaidss. wae vies unge 422,403, 104 Lf DOG SST, sar ak Sean eae Cori ss cork shict see 2,160,987 733,296 sve: sik Sees ee aS Rye Teer Pee yas ee 1,185,094 LVB9 068 re es SS eat Sar. . ae Ee ee i 1,880,078 TR OBI. eho ae ee eke Barley, icte.c, steal cack ces 891,903 1,699,949... 5. dni ee ce eee SPUTASG CA Spoon hte cen sien 627,186 8,805,801 - 8,948,352 "The lumber market continues without incident. Every day or two a small sale is reported, but it must be confessed that the inquiry is a little disappointing. The claim is made that the Duluth and Ashland markets are higher than other lake ports. This probably accounts for the small sales reported here. The quantity of unsold lumber on the docks here is between 90,000,000 and 100,000,000 feet. This lumber is confined mostly to inferior grades. One mill has already begun operations. While others will not get to work until the opening of navigation, the quantity of logs being received here by rail, and the extensive operations both here and in Wisconsin, promises great activity the coming season for the mills. Undoubtedly this will be the largest season in Duluth saw mill history." : : ' eee s 4 Records of Lake Trade. Washington dispatches again refer to the report on lake commerce made by Geo. G. Tunell of Chicago under the direction of the bureau oi statistics, treasury department, but the extracts do not convey sufficient information regarding the document to judge of its merits as compared with other statistical work of its kind. A letter received from Mr. Tunell only~a few days ago said that he had not then received proofs of the report. The extracts do not indicate anything in the way of a new line of inquiry prosecuted by Mr. Tunell to collect information that has been wanting on account of loose laws governing the coastwise trade on the lakes, but this was 'hardly expected, as the appropriation for the work was very small. A summary of the report will be made when the tull text is at hand. It is to be printed as a separate document. In a letter | accompanying the report, Secretary Gage suggests that the commerce of the lakes should be made a subject of annual record. It is to be hoped that the secretary will follow up this suggestion by securing such changes in the statutes as will permit of reliable statistics being collected in all branches of the lake trade. i "T cannot,' says the secretary, "too strongly urge the expediency of making this commerce the subject of annual record and investigation. The statistics of railway transportation have become a recognized branch of the government's statistical service; but the necessary complement, the movement of merchandise on the lakes, rivers and canals, has beeen neg- lected. Compared with the shipping tonnage employed in the foreign commerce of the United States, the activity of lake shipping 1s far greater. The bulk of transactions in the lake carrying interests is so large as to rank it among the great conveyors of the world. The concentration upon a small number of commodities, as well as in a few companies, appears to make statistical records comparatively simple. On the important eco- nomic influences of this trade I need not dwell. They are of vital im- portance in feeding the domestic industries and in permitting a. further extension of American commercial interests in the foreign markets. These influences are becoming stronger each year, and I believe the time has come when they should be made subject to official record, in order that they may be intelligently studied and directed so as to produce the highest benefits to the industrial and commercial interests of the United States. A tug to be built for the Goodrich Transportation Co. at Manitowoc will be 100 feet over all, 90 feet keel, 20 feet beam and 12 feet molded depth. Some arrangement will probably be made with the Manitowoc authorities to equip this tug for fire service. Major Symons, United States engineer at Buffalo, will open bids on Monday next for dredging at Erie harbor.