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MARINE REVIEW. ? Deeg eee Moony Vile CLEVELAND, OHIO, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1802. Nov 2: Passenger Steamer Chicora. About Aug. 1 the screw passenger steamer Chicora, shown in the accompanying engraving, will be ready to take her place in the Graham & Morton Tine on Lake Michigan, running be- tween Chicago and St. Joseph. Elegant interior work on the cabins is now nearing completion at the works of the Detroit Dry Dock Company, where the boat was launched a short time ago. 'The Chicora is 217 feet long, 35 feet wide, with a guard of 2% feet, and 15 feet 3 inches deep. She has triple expansion engines, 21, 33 and 52x42 inches stroke, which will be supplied with steam from two Scotch boilers 12 feet long and 14 feet in diameter, The boilers are to be allowed 165 pounds of steam, and with this power the Chicora is guaranteed to make 17 miles an hour without crowding. It is promised that her interior finish will compare favorably with anything on the lakes. She will have fifty-six staterooms, a large smoking room, a spacious social hall aud a commodious grand staircase and gangway be- tween decks, with sleeping capacity for 200 and an excursion license for 1,500 passengers. ah AN EAS Legislation Proposed by the Commissioner of Navigation. In another part of this issue will be founda letter from E. C. O'Brien, commissioner of navigation, asking for an opinion as to the practicability of the establishment of a nautical school on the lakes. A previous letter from the commissioner, directed to leading vessel owners, asked for suggestions and recommen- dations as to the best mode of making investigations of marine casualties. The idea of the commissioner in the inquiry about accidents is to formulate a plan that can be embodied in a legis- lative enactment that will be acceptable to all persons concerned. In this he has taken a commendable but difficult task. In sup- port of the claim that there is need of such a board Mr. O'Brien says that data kept by the life saving service shows "that from 1886 to 1891 there occurred on the great lakes 147 wrecks, in- volving a total estimared loss of $2,955,590 and 257 lives." It has been said that the Lake Carriers' Association will recommend for this service a board composed of the United States district at- torney, the superintendent of the life 'saving station, a steam- boat inspector nearest the scene of the disaster and say a repre- We [WORE S -é SCREW PASSENGER STEAMER CHICORA. Lake Freight Matters. She season of navigation has now advanced far enough to prove the wisdom of the opinion held by vessel owners last win- ter, that the volume of business would be much greater than during any of the several previous seasons noted for wonderful gains in lake commerce. Already the coal movement to the northwest is more than 200,000 tons ahead of last season. A steady movement of grain has prevailed out of Chicago and Du- luth and iron ore shipments are about three times what they were a year ago, notwithstanding a most discouraging condi- tion of the iron trade. Were it not for the depressed iron mar- ket, higher freights would rule in all lines and there would be substantial assurance of an active latter half of the season. Un- certainty in iron matters has, however, acted against improved rates. Although iron ore dealers have been getting practically no 'wild'? tonnage for ten days past, they have persistently fought off an advance, and at this writing rates are $1.10 from Ashland and 95 cents from Marquette with Escanaba nominally 70 cents, shippers being unable to get any boats at the latter figure. Coal freights, especially to Lake Michigan, are active and strong. sentative of the Lake Carriers' Association, designated by the president of the association. Such a recommendation may have been made by an individual member of the association or by one of its officers, but not by the organization. If the question of the establishment of such a board comes up for the consideration of the association, its supporters will find a serious objection to contend with in the fact that inquiry into casualties by boards or government officers of any kind will be opposed, on the ground that such inquiry often has an unjust bearing on legal action that follows most accidents. ; The plans of the commissioner regarding the establishment of a nautical school on the lakes will meet with support if pre- pared for presentation to congress. With sailing vessels almost entirely removed from the lakes, there is little to tempt young men into the service. Although it is not expected that any benefit could be derived from the teaching of the science of navi- gation in such a school, there is no doubt of the advantages that would come from practical training that would readily fit young men for manning lake vessels. In this way also a naval reserve would be established in leading lake cities. Mr. O'Brien's plans deserve support in a careful way.