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By August 1916, two things were clear: McGonagle's prediction of a record- breaking season for iron ore looked prescient (shipments from the DM&N docks were 2 million tons ahead of the 1915 pace), and the upcoming water carnival was to be a spectacle unlike any before in Duluth. The city 's hotels filled three days before the carnival began. The rush of visitors was so great that the organizing committee asked citizens to billet guests in their homes. "Those who have clean, well venti- lated rooms should get in touch with Secretary George McCarthy at the Commercial Club at once." – Duluth Herald, Aug. 7, 1916 The newspaper estimated that 50,000 people participated in the street celebra- tion. As for the regatta, more than 10,000 people witnessed the opening day of races (including some 4,000 sitting in the new grandstand), during which Duluth Boat Club crews, clad in "happy blue" shirts with "a big white 'D,'" surged to an unassailable lead in the Julius Barnes Trophy competition with 109 points. The Undine Barge Club of Philadelphia was a distant second place with 27 points. The St. Paul and New York clubs were tied for third with 22 points. On Day 2, Duluth cruised to the over- all points victory, and the community earned bold praise for its event man- agement and hospitality. According to the Duluth Herald, James Pilkington, president of the National Association of Amateur Oarsman, called it "the very best we've ever seen." Barnes bankrolled the event and offered to build a natatorium if the regatta broke even on expenses. Accord- ing to the Herald, "total receipts from the grandstand seats, the boxes and the concession privileges amounted to more than $16,000," which put the club in the black to the tune of almost $11,000. One year later, Barnes fulfilled his promise, opening a $75,000 indoor swimming pool at the Duluth Boat Club. It was said to be the state's finest. Money — and ore — flowed freely from the DM&N docks, too. When the Lake Superior shipping season ended Dec. 18, 1916, freighters had carried nearly 65 million tons of iron ore, including a massive float of nearly 10 million tons from Duluth-Superior in August alone. For the season, a then-record 38.3 mil - lion tons of iron ore transited the Port of Duluth- Superior, with the State of Minnesota collecting iron ore royalties in excess of $837,289 (also a record at the time, and approximately $21.8 million in today's dollars). As for McGonagle, he presided over one of the greatest years in regional rail- road history. When DM&N closed the books on 1916, it did so with a tidy $7.9 million balance of surplus, increasing its net financial position by $2.8 million year over year (or approximately $80.7 million in today's dollars). It was most certainly a season to remember. DULUTHPORT.COM | 13 The Duluth herald., Collection:Duluth herald (Duluth, Minn.) 1910-1982 Minnesota Historical Society 345 Kellogg Blvd. W. St. Paul, MN 55102 - This material may be protected by copyright law (U.S. Code Title 17) Right: Dock No. 5 in West Duluth. Below: Julius Barnes, standing, was a champion oarsman with the Duluth Boat Club, a leading grain exporter, and later, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Welcome to our city, Zenith of the west Mingle with our gladness, welcome as our guest Noted for its beauty, with prosper'ty bles't Welcome to our city, Minnesota's best. Below: William McGonagle, president of the Duluth, Missabe & Northern Railway.