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22 MARINE REVIEW AND MARINE RECORD. LEE iS ZZ i iad ~ STEEL CORPORATION VESSELS GOING TO DOCK. An unexpected factor entered into the lake situation this week--and that is the action of the Masters & Pilots Associa- tion in virtually declaring war against the vessels of the Steel Corporation's fleet. The association had no grievance against the Steel Corporation, but it had a small one against Capt. Frank C. Rae of the steamer Clemson of the Provident Steamship Co., which is managed by Mr. A. B. Wolvin, who is also the general manager of the Steel Corporation's fleet of vessels on the great lakes. Capt. Rae refused to join the Masters & Pilots Asso- ciation and he is also carrying his father, who is not a member of the association, as mate of the Clemson. He was ordered to displace his father and to employ in his stead a mate in good standing in the association. This he declined to do. Accord- ingly the Masters & Pilots Association began warfare against the vessels of the Pittsburg Steamship Co., which is the corporate name of the Steel Corporation's fleet, apparently for no other reason than that Mr. Wolvin was the manager of the fleet. The mates began leaving the Steel Corporation's vessels as soon as they reached Lake Erie docks. Instead of attempting to fill their places Mr. Wolvin ordered the vessels into winter quarters. . All hands were ordered to be paid off as fast as the mates quit with the exception of masters, engineers and cooks, who were in- structed to put the vessels in shape for laying up. Twenty-six vessels were ordered to go to the dock in two days and:others are to follow if the mates continue to quit work. The: general opinion'is that the Steel Corporation has practically covered the movement of all the ore that it requires and that it doési not really matter to it whether its vessels:temain in commission or in ordinary. Frdém its standpoint the Masters & Pilots Association could not have made-a more unwise move, as it can, under the circumstances, inflict injury upon no one but itself. The off- cials of the Pittsburg Steamship Co. insist that no agreement was entered into to employ only members of the Masters & Pilots Association and that, in fact, the only agreement entered into was one respecting wages. Of course, the action of the Steel Corporation in tying up its vessels is throwing a great many men out of employment who had hoped for profitable work during the fall months. What pressure they may bring to bear to call off a fight, which really seems to be needless, remains to be 'seen. The withdrawal of the Steel Corporation's tonnage, or a part of it, cannot have other than a good effect upon the freight market So well in hand was the corporation's ore movement that several of its vessels had' sought cargoes in the coal trade. This now, of course, will be abandoned. These carriers will not compete with the wild vessels. Even the laying up of the big Steel Corporation carriers for a single trip will make a substan- tial difference in the tonnage; but:it is already certain that some of them will not come out again this season. The market was, indeed, in need of some such artificial condition as this to stiffen it. Grain shipments have been discouraging small and ore has scarcely more than kept the contract vessels busy. In point of fact the oldest inhabitant (who, however, is not very old) does not recall so strange a season for the unusual spectacle has been observed of two modern steel steamers coming down the lakes light. Both the Saturn and O. M. Whitney of the Gilchrist fleet passed down light, being unable to get cargoes either at Chicago or Escanaba. It has not been unusual for the wild carriers that got cargoes to hang around the upper lake docks for a week. However, the present attitude of the Steel Corporation is ex- pected to give a favorable tone to the market. 'The ore statistician went out of business last year when from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 more tons were moved than the most radical of them expected so that prognostications on the total movement this year are diffi- cult to obtain. Of course no one expects that it will equal the record of last year but the movement up to Sept. 1 of this year is only 621,676 tons short of the corresponding period of last year. August shipments this year were 25,900 tons in excess of those of August of last year, which was the phenomenal month of the most phenomenal year in the ore trade. And this great August moyement was handled with the utmost ease. Wild ves- sels moved very little of it. Contract tonnage took care of it and the enlarged facilities at the receiving docks embraced it without apparent effort. The figures of the month's shipments were a surprise to everyone. Twenty-five million is the figure which has been published as coming from fairly authoritative sources con- cerning the movement of this year but it is clear that there will have to be a precipitous slump during the fall months to bring the total movement down to this figure--such a slump, which it may be confidently said, is not apparent at the present time. The total movement is likely to be considerably over the twenty-five million mark. ' : The market is steady all round and no change in ore rates is Sh ay gt ETE oat DNS py RS Le noted, though a little chartering was done at Marquette at 70 cents. ee : The grain trade continues vexatious. Cargoes are very scarce indeed and the announcement of a reduction of 1 cent in the rail rate from Buffalo to the seaboard, instead of stimulating business as it was expected to do, paralyzed it for a few days, for none of the shippers cared to ship until the ,rate became operative. The new rail rate obtains from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15: The new rate is, of course, expected to materially improve the American route to the sea, but some of the vessel men still contend that the Cana- dian route has the advantage, especially so as the operating ex- penses of the Canadian boats are less. pas AS BUFFALO VIEWS IT. Ce Buffalo, Sept. 15.--'""We are not looking for much this fall," said a vessel owner today. "There is about as little in sight, according to the size of the fleet, as there has been in a long time, We are getting along somehow and the fleet moves, but | would not be surprised to see a lot of vessels lay up very early this tall? : Buffalo is breaking the record in shipments of hard coal, the 200,000-ton mark being, reached this week for the first time, and there is no sign of letting up yet, but the big ore carriers spoiled the rates, or rather kept them from going up by going into the business and mostly taking it at a cut of 5 cents a ton. Had they not done this the rate would have been considerably higher than it is, for the moderate-sized vessels could not have, met the de- mand. They are now coming down light for coal, which shows a very bad condition of the trade generally. Of course there is a large amount of all sorts of freight moving, but the fleet has apparently got too large. It has been twenty years about it and was all that time just getting ready to accomplish it, but the marvelous growth of the country has kept pace with the work of the ship yards, let them_do what they would, There is a new ship yard opening here. James McDou- gall has severed his connection with the new Empire (Gilchrist) yard and will open another just across Genesee street. The new Canadian yard. down opposite Grand island is now getting well towards completion. d . ae I find that prosperity is not always of the sort that 'is the best for the country. For several years the canal boatmen have béen making money and this season more than the others, so that they are quite indifferent to canal enlargement, though they know that it is the inability of the railroads to carry all the grain that is keeping them in business. If the roads were grasping all the grain at a low rate, as they were till lately, there would be little for the canal to: do and there would be no cry that the St Lawrence route was taking all the grain. _ Some good people are saying that the new scare is a good thing, as it shows the average business man the need we have of an enlarged canal, but it-of course has no impression on the farmer, who is the chief opponent of the project.. He, does not want to help the cities in any 'way lest they run away. froni him still further. The vote is pretty sure for canal enlargement though. There is an effort to shut off the Montreal route by the re- duction of 1 cént a bushel on export rail grain from Buffalo, but that is hardly enough to accomplish it, as there is a rate of 3 cents against us.. The canal has reduced its rate only % cent, which shows 'that there is a belief that there will be grain enough to keep the little fleet busy at that figure. With the 1,000-ton barge ready to carry grain at 1 cent a bushel--the cost~is figured at only about a half cent--there would be no Canadian route possible. ' This is really the first time that the Canadian route has made any inroads upon us. It would be very interesting to know just how much money has been spent by the Canadian govern- ment to accomplish this advantage. It is an advantage, t00, that can be snatched away at any time, without the aid of 4 canal, for the roads used to carry for 2 cents the grain that they have asked 5 cents all summer for, out of this port to tide wa- ter. Of course the canal boatmen starved then and they would again if anything like it should be repeated. Shippers of all sorts are getting uneasy over the prospect of a car shortage that will lap over any we have ever had before winter. There is every indication of it. Lumbermen report hav- ing to wait four days for a car and coal' shippers are still worse off. If the water route could be made universal there would be no such state-of things possible, for the boat goes anywhere and she goes where there is the best paying freight. We are glad to be borne out in our advocacy of extended waterways by fre cent reports 'from Europe, which is strengthening her canals everywhere and building more. ' Se ie pleased to note that the ship: canal heresy has been aid aside, as°it was an impossibility,: yet! we°find that :the only