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Up and Down the Great Lakes Passenger Traffic Increases—Charge to Transit Welland Canal—Lake Levels— Ore Movement Improves—Harbors Association Meets—Chicago Port Commission Lakes this season exceeded all expectations, and is estimated to have reached totals approximately 15 per cent ahead of the 1930 season. Summer travel on boats plying Lake Michigan exceeded the higher expec- tations of early in the season, accord- ing to the transportation companies. Estimates are that about 500,000 more people used the lake boats for trips between various points on Lake Michigan and on lake cruises originat- ing at Lake Michigan ports than the previous year. As usual, this season saw a large amount of transportation of tourists’ cars, which were ferried to various points on passenger boats for continuation of motor tours. Each year more passengers are availing themselves of the opportunity to take combined motor and boat trips. Despite the increased passenger ac- tivity, no plans exist now for further building of passenger vessels. It is understood, however, that some _ re- modeling of existing passenger excur- sion craft will be done before next season. Fares were reduced on vir- tually all lines and tours. Some re- ductions as high as 20 per cent went into effect. Charge for Use of Canal Ships transiting the Welland canal in future will be charged for use of the waterway, according to a report by Alex J. Grant, engineer in charge. The report follows: “On and after 12 noon standard time Aug. 24, there will be a charge for services of linesmen levied against every vessel entering the locks of the Welland ship canal, except vessels Owned and operated noncommercially and vessels owned and operated by contractors of his majesty or their agents, in connection with the Wel- land ship canal construction, and Shall be payable in cash to the of- ficer in charge for the time being of the statistical office at Port Weller or Humberstone ,as follows: 1. For each complete passage through the canal, vessels whose over- all length does not exceed 100 feet, a rate or charge of $5; all other ves- Sels, not otherwise excepted above, a Tate or charge of $10. For each passage through part of the canal, half the rates or charges Set out above. On nonself-propelled vessels being towed in the canal the foregoing rates Pisses one traffic on the Great or charges will be based on the over- all length of the vessels being towed, and no rate or charge will be made against the tug or tugs doing the towing of such vessels. Directors of the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Co. have omitted the reg- ular quarterly dividend of 20 cents a share payable in September. It was stated officially that the omission was necessary because of a decrease in the company’s gross income. August Lake Levels The United States Lake survey re- ports the monthly mean stages of the Great Lakes for the month of Au- gust as follows: Feet above Lakes mean sea level Stores 625 acter geekees sas chnsssgotacavessets aursaeaes 602.38 MT CHIS BTU ON occiscecs uisssuecvetedaceanterssoas 578.93 St wlan iirc, sitcioainioGincrabear 574,23 PUY IC. cacvspaseess Ontario Lake Superior was 0.12 foot high- er than in July and 0.52 foot lower than the August stage of a year ago. Lakes Michigan-Huron were 0.21 foot lower than in July and 2.21 feet lower than the August stage of a year ago. Lake Erie was 0.18 foot lower than in July and 1.54 feet lower than the August stage of a year ago. Lake Ontario was 0.38 foot lower than in July and 2.57 feet lower than the August stage of a year ago. Ore Movement Improves According to a report of the Lake Superior Iron Ore association, the movement of ore during the month of August showed some improvement over that of July. During August, 5,064,687 tons were shipped as com- pared with 825,699 tons shipped for the same month last year. This rep- resents a drop of 38.62 per cent. July 1931 registered a decrease of 42.28 per cent over the same month last year. The seasonal movement to Aug. 1 amounts to 15,774,007 tons as com- pared with 32,575,921 tons for the same period in 1930, representing a drop of 51.58 per cent. Balance of ore on Lake Erie docks on Sept. 1 was only 200,000 tons more than at the same time last year. On Sept. 1, 1930, the balance on docks was 5,540,776 tons as against 5,685,- 751 Sept. 1, 1930. MaRINE Review—October, 1931 Based on the past and present tenor of the ore movement, it is fairly cer- tain that the total movement for the 1931 season will be less than 25,000,- 000 tons, the smallest since 1921. May Form Committee Efforts by several groups in Chi- cago are being made to have an ad- visory committee function with the Chicago regional port commission, which was created to clear the way for construction of harbor facilities in the Chicago area. The harbor commission now is mak- — ing a survey of laws to reveal any ex- isting entanglements among govern- ing bodies over control of waterways, the rights of various cities to con- struct harbor facilities, and similar matters, preparatory to the submis- sion of a port plan for consideration. Maj. Rufus Putnam, director of the commission, has notified the groups that a civic advisory committee to counsel the commission would be looked upon with favor in the commis- sion personnel. It is expected the pro- posed regional port commission will be made into a permanent port authority. Plan Active Support of Lakes Improvements The tenth annual meeting of the Great Lakes Harbors association was held at Hotel Statler, Cleveland on Sept. 10 and 11. The delegates ‘de- termined on a program of active sup- port of harbor and lake improvements in the Great Lakes district, including the deepening of connecting channels. At the final session a petition calling on congress to speed all construction work on Great Lakes harbors was sent to Washington by the association. William George Bruce, Milwaukee, was reelected honorary president to represent the United States and C. Al- fred Maguire of Toronto was chosen honorary president to _ represent Canada. Other officers were elected as follows: Daniel Webster Hoan, mayor of Milwaukee, president; John Steven- son, Detroit, Joseph Gibbons, Toronto, H. S. Wells, Depere, Wis., Fred New- man, Picton, Ont. and George E. Hardy, Toledo, vice-presidents. All were re- elected except Mr. Hardy. R. F. Malia, Milwaukee, was elected secretary. The association headquarters are at 207 East Michigan street, Milwaukee. 43