Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Marine Review (Cleveland, OH), 7 May 1903, p. 25

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1908. MARINE REVIEW AND MARINE RECORD. | 25 AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN CANADA. Mr. Joseph L. Bittinger, consul general at Montreal, has sent to the state department at Washington a report upon American investments in Canada, showing how resources of the dominion are being exploited by Americans. He says that never in the history of Canada has the industrial outlook been so bright as it is today. The present year promises to be made memorable by the establishment of new and immense enterprises and the extension of many existing ones. Greatly increased transportation facilities are contemplated; the Grand 'Trunk Pacific and the Canadian Northern will stretch from the Atlan- tic to the Pacific, both lines running far north of the present Canadian Pacific line. The Canadian Pacific is to add a line of ships between Quebec and London, Liverpool and Glasgow. The two other transcontinental lines, as soon as completed, will also have connecting steamship lines from St. John, New Bruns- wick, to English ports. _ "Within the past few months," says the consul general, "the following investments have been made by Americans: "Five thousand shares of the Royal Bank of Canada, loca- ted in Montreal, have been purchased at $250 per share by a syndicate of capitalists made up of Marshall Field of Chicago; John J. Mitchell, president of the Illinois Trust Co. of Chicago; Norman B. Ream, capitalist of Chicago, director of Chicago & Alton railroad, the Erie railroad, etc.; J. Ogden Armour and P. A. Valentine of the firm of Armour & Co., Chicago; John B. Dennis and E. L. Marston, members of the banking firm of Blair & Co., New York; Geo. F. Baker, president of the First Na- tional Bank, New York; James A. and C. Ledyard Blair of Blair & Co., and their friends. The adhesion of such a power- ful group of American capitalists makes the Royal bank one of the greatest financial institutions in Canada. "United States and Canadian capitalists have secured control of the timber limits of Newfoundland. Organization is com- pleted by the Newfoundland Lumber Co., composed principally of New York and Boston lumber operators, and capitalized at $1,000,000. The company has purchased a vast tract of the richest timber land in the colony. The properties secured in- clude the Highland Lumber Co. and the Parrsboro Lumber Co., comprising 350,000 acres, 60 per cent. of which is pine, very large and sound, and comparing favorably with the Ottawa pine. The lands are well watered and the company expects to ship from Exploit bay next spring 10,000,000 ft. of pine to Great Britain, where this wood is steadily growing in favor. T'he company is now erecting a large sawmill at Norris Arm on the line of the Newfoundland railway, which will largely in- crease the cut, and it will establish a colony of workmen there. The company also intends to erect large pulp mills, there being a plentiful supply of spruce and adequate water power on the property. "Another organization of. New York capitalists will take over properties aggregating 4,000 square miles in the interior of Newfoundland. 'This transaction is one of the largest in the history of lumbering in the colony, and practically all the ex- plored timber holdings are now in the hands of American cap- italists. The same gentlemen own enormous tracts in Nova Scotia, under the name of the United Lumber Co. 'The latter concern is just starting to erect a large pulp mili on the Clyde river, Nova Scotia, where it has 3000 H. P. Mr. Henry Pat- ton, one of the Adirondack operators, is largely interested in the Newfoundland enterprises. "An American syndicate whose headquarters are at Boston has~secured an option on an extensive coal property in Nova Scotia. The areas bonded comprise 21 square miles in the Springhill coal basin, beginning at a point about 5 miles from the present workings of the Cumberland Coal & Railway Co. and adjoining the property of the latter. The price is $100,000. These areas are as yet undeveloped, but the owners are confident - that the main basin, the seams of which aggregate 4o ft. in. thick- ness, will be struck there. The American syndicate has secured calyx drills and is at work. The geological survey of Canada has thoroughly explored this section of country, and last summer Mr. Hugh Fletcher, one of the experts of that service, traced the famous Barlow seam into these areas. Nova Scctia mined last year 4,328,000 toris of coal, an increase over I901 of 840,000 tons. Of this aggregate, Cumberland produced 500,000 tons. "F P. Chappell of New York, representing capitalists of that city, has recently purchased a valuable timber property situated at Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. It comprises 210,000 acres. The price paid was $1,500,000. "Tt is reported from Toronto that Thomas A. Edison, the famous American inventor, has recently acquired several nickel mining properties in the vicinity of Sudbury. It is understood that he requires a considerable quantity of this mineral in mak- ing his new storage battery. Several applications have recently been received by the crown lands department, and it is surmised that Mr. Edison will construct reduction works in northern On- tario. "A lumber deal has been consummated, says a Sherbrooke, Quebec, dispatch, whereby the Messrs. H. Lovell & Sons of Coaticook, have disposed of their timber property and mills in Gaspe Basin. 'The price is $100,000 and the sale comprises 34,- 000 acres, mills, and all equipment. The purchasers are Ameri- cans from Buffalo, who are largely interested in pulp wood. The lumber cut during the winter remains the wroperty of Messrs. Lovell & Sons, but will be taken over by the new com- pany in the spring at a price to be agreed upon. - "A syndicate composed of William H. Nichols, president of the Nichols Chemical Co.; Jacob Langloth, president of the American Metal Co.; and George Martin Luther, general mana- ger of the Nichols Chemical Co., all of New York; and Clement 5. Houghton, financial agent of Boston, have purchased 125,000 shares in the Granby Copper Co., Consolidated, and the above have been made directors therein. "The Sherwin-Williams Co. of Cleveland has purchased 120,000 i. of land on Atwater avenue, Montreal, on which the company intends erecting extensive paint works. The works will employ a large number of hands and will be equipped with the most modern machinery. The purchase price was $20,000. "It is learned from Quebec that Mr. James I. Newton, Watertown, N. Y., closed a deal with the provincial govern- ment, through which he became owner of two water powers on Pentecost river in the lower St. Lawrence and adjoining land, for $13,500. The water powers are 70 and 54 ft. high, respec- tively, and are considered very valuable properties, as they are situated in a great lumbering district. Mr. Newton intends forming a syndicate to manufacture pulp and timber, and will begin operations as soon as navigation opens. "From Quebec I learn that the great timber limits and mill properties formerly-owned by Gaynor Bros., consisting of 181 square miles on the Pentecost river, have been purchased by Mr. John McLellan of Syracuse, N. Y. The timbers and prep- erties are stated to be among the most desirable in this province. "Tt is announced from St. John, N. B., that a stronz com- pany has been formed there to manufacture aluminum. James Robinson, M. P., is at the head, but the principal stockholders are American capitalists from New York. The capital is to be $1,000,000, and the plant will comprise a factory at St. John and works at Grand Lake, which is the source of the raw material. _. "The city of Guelph, Ont., is to have a new iron and steel industry, a number of manufacturers in Montreal and in New York state having organized a company to be known as the Page-Hersey Iron & Tube Co. with a capital of $500,000. It will manufacture and deal in iron, steel and other metals, and the head office will be in Guelph. ; "Plans have been submitted to the Dominion department of railways for a tunnel under the St. Lawrence river, to con- nect Montreal and Longueuil, Que. The plans provide for a double-track tunnel from the south shore into the heart of Montreal, where a central station will be located. The width will be 27 ft. and the height 21 ft. Its gradients will be 1% to 2 per cent: and its greatest depth will be 15 ft. below the mean level of the river bed. The structure will be of concrete and stone masonry, with a lining of enamel brick. American capi- talists are to furnish the money. "The Brockville, Westport & Sault Ste. Marie Railway, which has been purchased by a svndicate of American capitalists for $160,000, runs from Brockville to Westport, Ont. Brock- ville, the county seat of Leeds county, is on the St. Lawrence river, at the end of the Thousand islands, and is a fine town, -- having electric lights, gas, sewer and all modern improvements. It is only ten hours (365 miles) from New York and all the vil- lages along the route of this railroad are prosperous, the country being one of the most productive in Ontario. The syndicate which purchased the road is wealthy, including such men as Henry von Minden, president of the United Wine & Trading Co.;° W. F. Nencken, treasurer of the American Exchange Cigar Co.: Gustave Schock, millwright; Val. Schmitt, presi- dent of the Federal Brewing Co., Brooklyn; Charles H. Holm of Holm & Smith, attorneys; and William Volk, director of the United States National Bank, New York. The Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co., an American concern, is building ten vessels to be operated between Duluth and Quebec. The dimensions of 'the vessels are: Leneth over all, 255 ft.; keel, 241 ft.; breadth, 41 ft.; depth, 18 ft.; to carry 2,200 tons on a 14 ft. draught. Six will be fitted with triple-expansion engines, with cylinders 15, 25 and 42 in. in diameter and of 30-in. stroke, to which steam will be supplied by two Scotch boilers, 11 by 11 ft., tested to a pressure of 170 Ibs. to the square inch; the other four will be fitted with triple- expansion engines, with cylinders 14, 25 and 42 in. in diameter and 30-in. stroke, to which steam will be supplied by Babcock & Wilcox water-tube boilers at 225 lbs. pressure to the square inch. The value of each steamer is placed at $150,000. Three of the steamers are being built at Chicago, three at Detroit, two at Superior, and two at Buffalo. Delivery of all is to be made before the end of June." Charles Fletcher's beautiful steam yacht Carmina was launched from Lawley's ship yard, South Boston, Mass., last week. She was designed by Mr. A. S. Chesbrough of Boston and was named by Miss Harriet May Fletcher. The Carmina is 170 ft. over all, 129 ft. 9 in. on the water line, 22 ft. beam and 10 ft. 6 in. draught. She is beautifully fitted up between decks in mahogany and white enamel. In the forecastle are the berths for the crew and just aft of these five officers' rooms. Further aft come a shower room, mess room, lavatory and galley. The owner's quarters, stateroom and bath and five staterooms and bath for guests are aft. She is intended to be a speedy and com- fortable cruiser.

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