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Up and Down the Great Lakes Domestic Grain Shipments—Expect Heavy Coal Movement— Organize Toledo Propeller Club—Rejects Seaway Treaty and flaxseed on the Great Lakes in 1933 were about 10.5 per cent larger than during 1932, according to a compilation of records for the principal ports of origin. Duluth- Superior, Chicago and Milwaukee shipped 128,023,725 bushels last year, compared with 115,933,558 bushels in 1932. Chicago was the only port to show a decrease, the movement from there declining from 63,462,000 bush- els in 1932 to 51,725,000 bushels in 1933, a drop of 18.5 per cent. Mil- waukee shipments increased 368 per cent, while from Duluth-Superior a 25.9 per cent gain was recorded. Complete figures follow: (Thousands of bushels) GF sn tase of domestic grains 1933 1932 Milwaukee 222 eno. 14 062 2,989 CHICAZO OMe ea 51,725 63,462 Duluth-Superior ........... 62,235 49,482 SOR ET Cee Be ae 128,023:. 115,933 Buffalo was the principal destination for these shipments, 89,982,750 bush- els, or about 70 per cent moving to that port. Of this total 48,716,891 bushels was wheat. Wheat shipments from the three points amounted to 54,294,901 bushels, of which total 42,- 269,361 bushels originated at Duluth- Superior. Chicago headed corn ship- pers with 87,279,000 bushels of a total of 50,922,801 bushels. Shipments of oats last year totaled 12,004,756 bush- els, with 6,779,000 bushels originating at Chicago. Flour shipments from Chicago in 1933 were 1,030,000 barrels, compared with 1,374,000 barrels in 1932 and 1, 704,000 barrels in 1931. Expect Big Coal Movement On March 19, shipping between To- ledo and Detroit started the season of 1934 by the clearing of the Pringle barge BARKHAMSTEAD, loaded with coal, from the Chesapeake and Ohio docks at Toledo for Detroit. No serious difficulty was anticipated on account of ice. Navigation lights in the harbor were placed in commission on the same day. Actual opening of navigation on the lakes generally will depend on _ ice conditions and may be rather later than usual. It is expected, however, that the Great Lakes Transit Corp. will begin operations not later than April 30 and possibly earlier. Lake operators engaged in bulk freight movement are anticipating an early and heavy demand for tonnage in carrying coal. Coal stocks on hand at ports of the upper lakes and also on Lake Ontario and Erie are said to be at the lowest point in years. It is be- lieved that coal shipments will show a substantial increase over the 31,776,- 654 tons carried during 1933 which represented an increase of more than six and three-quarters million tons over the movement of 1932. The balance of ore remaining on docks of Lake Erie ports, March 1, to- talled 5,175,886 tons, as compared with 5,105,339 tons on March 1, 1933. February Lake Levels The United States Lake survey re- ports the following monthly mean stages of the Great Lakes for the month of February, 1934, determined from daily readings of staff gages. Feet above Lakes mean sea level SUDCPOR> Scciateee eeas 602.21 Michigan-Huron ........... 577.44 St Glair Meee cam coiaccn ce 572.18 5 SA eh a een eae sine a aoe 569.61 ONtAVvio Se ee eee 243.69 Lake Superior was 0.14-foot lower than in January, and it was 0.25-foot above the February stage of a year ago. Lakes Michigan-Huron were 0.02-foot lower than in January, and they were above the February stage in 1933. Lake Erie was 0.36-foot lower than in January, and it was 0.99-foot below the February stage of a year ago. Lake Ontario was 0.10-foot higher than in January, and it was 0.62-foot below the February stage of a year ago, 1.49 feet below the average stage of February of the last ten years. Propeller Club Meetings The Propeller club of the port of Cleveland held an informal luncheon meeting at the Hollenden hotel on March 16 to meet Arthur M. Tode, national president of the Propeller club of the United States. A. T. Wood, president of the club, presided. Some 75 members and guests attended. In his address Mr. Tode outlined the activities of the Propeller club in its championship of the American merchant marine. He suggested that lake shipping where it comes into MARINE REview—April, 1934 competition with foreign shipping is entitled to government aid and pro- tection in the same manner as that now suggested for ocean shipping un- der the proposed subsidy policy re- cently announced by Secretary Roper. ‘He referred to the senate committee investigation of mail contracts and the action taken by the Propeller club of the United States to offset the erro- neous conclusion which might be drawn from the findings of the com- mittee and to promote a_ correct understanding of the merchant ma- rine on the part of the public. On leaving Cleveland, Mr. Tode went to Toledo, where he aided in the or- ganization of a local Propeller club. Toledo is the thirty-first port in which a Propeller club has been established, three of which are in ports of foreign countries. Officers of the newly formed Toledo club are: President, Joseph F. Raw- linson, superintendent, Toledo Ship- building Co. Inc.; vice president, Jack Minkow, president, Harbor Terminals Inc.; secretary-treasurer, L. N. Wat- son, engineer, civil works adminis- tration. Capt. R. B. Millard, local manager, Great Lakes Towing Co., was elected temporary chairman of the board of governors. Seaway Treaty Rejected On March 14 the United States sen- ate voted on the resolution to ratify the St. Lawrence waterway treaty. The treaty failed of ratification as it could muster only 46 votes in favor. Forty-two senators voted against rati- fication. As two-thirds of the mem- bership is necessary for ratification, sentiment against the treaty proved much too strong. Opposition to the treaty in the New England = states, along the seaboard, in the Gulf region and Mississippi valley states proved more than sufficient to defeat the treaty. Those senators who disap- prove of the seaway because of sec- tional interest were supported by scattered votes from other sections. It is expected that the treaty will be returned to the senate in the next session. President Roosevelt had strongly urged ratification and _ fol- lowed up his first communication to the senate recommending favorable action with a special message, empha- sizing his reasons for ratification in the national interest. 53