British Whig (Kingston, ON), 17 Oct 1913

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ASKED FOR VIEWS

Why So Much Canadian Grain Went Elsewhere

Ottawa, Oct. 17th - A most important phase of Canadian grain movement was discussed at a conference of the Dominion Marine Association and lake carriers held in the office of Hon. G.E. Foster, minister of trade and commerce, this morning. The question of comparitive rates charged in the carrying of the western crop from the head of the lakes to Georgian Bay ports and to Buffalo, respectively, came in for discussion. During the past few years the proportion of Canadian grain shipped to American ports has been increasing rapidly, so rapidly indeed as to cause some serious conjecture upon the part of the Canadian authorities. The minister said that this increased diversion of Canadian grain to Buffalo docks should be explained from the Canadian carriers' standpoint.

The question of rates charged by the Canadian lake carriers is believed to have some bearing on the subject. Figures, compiled by department of railways and canals, for 1912, show that Canadian lake rates were higher from the head of the lakes to Georgian Bay ports than American rates from the head of the lakes to Buffalo. The rate per ton per mile from Fort William to Buffalo was .103 and from Fort William to Georgian Bay ports it was .163.

Representatives of the lake ship owners, this morning, were inclined to place the blame for the diversion of the traffic to American ports upon the Montreal end. They declared that there was a deplorable lack of facilities there which encouraged the movement to Buffalo and New York.

The mnister emphasized the desirability of reliable statistics of rates, charges by Canadian carriers during the season of navigation being supplied. To this, it is understood, the deputation had no objection to offer.

Another question taken up by the deputation with the minister was the suspension of the Canadian coastal regulations whereby, last year American bottoms were allowed to load at the head of the lakes over winter and to carry grain to Canadian ports. It is understood that the minister assured them that he did not contemplate the situation, this season, which would make such action necessary.

The deputation will meet the minister of marine and fisheries, Hon. J.D. Hazen, this afternoon, and will discuss the new steamboat regulations suggested by the department.

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IN MARINE CIRCLES

The steamer Masaba arrived in port, on Thursday afternoon, and was moored at the shipbuilding company's wharf. During the morning, while in the vicinity of Long Point, about fifty miles up the lake, an accident occurred to the bucket of her air pump. The steamer was disabled, but the engineer was making repairs intending to proceed slowly to Kingston, when the Masaba was picked up by the Easton, a steamer going east, belonging to the same company as the Masaba, the Matthews Steamship company, of Toronto. The Kingston foundry started in at the repairs. The Masaba was on her way to Montreal loaded with coal from Lake Erie.

The steamer City of Ottawa passed up on Friday morning.

The steamer Buena Vista was due down from Ottawa on Friday.

The barge Coteau of the M.T. Co. was docked at the shipyard on Friday morning.

The steamer Toiler passed up on Friday morning.

M.T. Co. elevator: the steamer Noble arrived from Duluth with 78,000 bushels of wheat; tug Bronson from Montreal, on Thursday evening, with three light barges, cleared Friday with four grain barges for Montreal; steamer Stormount, due this afternoon, on her way from Fort William to Montreal, loaded with grain. After discharging the cargo she will clear for Sydney, to load steel rails for Fort William. The tug Bartlett arrived at Port Dalhousie on Thursday, with the barges Burmah and Ceylon, to load grain.

The steamer Advance cleared from Montreal today, to load grain at Port Colborne.

p.6 Is the Welland Canal Justified? - by A.T. Drummond, Toronto