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10 MARINE REVIEW. MARINE REVIEW. DEVOTED TO THE LAKE MARINE AND KINDRED INTERESTS. Chicago Office, Western Union Building, 706 Phoenix Building. Published every Thursday at No. 516 Perry-Payne Building, Cleveland, O. SUBSCRIPTION--$2.00 per year in advance. Single copies 1ocents each. Convenient binders sent, post paid, 75 cents. Advertising rates on appli- cation. The books of the United States treasury department contain the names of 3,657 vessels, of1,183,582.55 gtoss tons register in the lake trade. The lakes have more steam vessels of 1,000 to 2,500 tons than the com- bined ownership of this class of vessels in all other sections of the country. The number of steam vessels of 1,000 to 2,500 tons on the lakes on June 30, 1892, was 321 and their aggregate gross tonnage 534,490.27; in all other parts of the country the number of this class of vessels was,on the same date, 217 and their gross tonnage 321,784.6. The classification of the entire lake fleet is as follows: Gross. Class. Number. Tonnage. SUCAIMPVESSEIG qacesscceteeren sch endeoessercetccesne 1,631 763,063.32 SMa Ca ESSOLSE- stasis sis. cneecieasheseosclassbaerae 1,226 319,617.61 Catal boats cncssecc hoe stecccssscecnsscscrsscness 731 75,580.50 SEA iy OCG relates ite eetetasteemettesda staterenteleiesieeleereereicletiarls 69 25,321.12 RO tallibes serge ecatostosiscteceescheiccseeses 3,657 1,183,582.55 : Tonnage built on the lakes during the past five years, according to the reports of the United States commissioner of navigation, is as follows : Number. Net Tonnage. PSSST censor eects slesssecletes ses seees 222 IOI,102.87 MOOG Weneee eeneineaere since ccetestcmsescnes 225 107,080.30 OO Ome mrieterieesestarseotncocecheecesccncincces 218 108,515.00 TOO lee eee eee ie eeis selejessisintessioscscesonene 204 T11,856.45 MSO Dea nee seisenen once sicae sca vecessecassoe 169 45,168.98 MO Gal erctnss sete te sss scicdctsaassetecses's 1,038 473,723.60 ST. MARY'S FALLS AND SUEZ CANAL TRAFFIC. St. Mary's Falls Canal. Suez Canal. 1892. 1891. 1890. 1892. 1891. 1890. No. vessel passages 12,580] 10,191] 10,557 3,559 4,207 3,389 Ton'ge, net regist'd]10,647,203|8,400,685|8,454,435||7,712,028|8,698,777|6,890,014 Days of navigation... 223 225 228 365 365 365 Fintered at Cleveland Post Office as Second-class Mail Matter. Now that reciprocity in wrecking has been agreed to by Canada and the United States the next thing which lake interests demand is the abolition of the treaty that prevents lake ship- builders from building the smaller class of vessels for the new navy. If it had uot been for government work given coast yards in dull times it is possible that no such immense plants would be in existence. Lake ship yards have been busy building upan in- land merchant marine that overshadows that of both coasts and has asked no favors of the government, the few light-house tend- ers that were built, having been constructed from 10 to 25 per cent. cheaper than they could be built on the coast. Lake ship yards can save the United States government money on war-ships as well as light-ships. It is claimed that Secretary of Navy Her- bert will recommend appropriations in the coming Congress for a battle ship and several gun-boats or small cruisers, and that his idea of a small cruiser is something like the Detroit, having 2,000 tons displacement, or he even suggests that 1,500 tons displacement is sufficient, The dimensions of the Detroit are 257 feet long and 37 feet beam, while the Mackinaw and Keeweenaw constructed on the lakes were 289% feet long and 41 feet beam and by cutting them in two they were taken to the coast and have proven themselves good sea-goitig steamers. But a cruiser of 1,500 tons dis- placement need not be over 200 feet long and such a vessel can be taken to the coast without being cut in two. The heavy armour plate and battery could be put on at the Brooklyn navy yardin order that the draught in the canals might not be too great to be overcome with pontoons. The new Secretary estimates that $11,000,000 will be required to finish the naval work now in hand, and after that is provided for, lake congressmen should call a halt until the ancient treaty that prevents lake ship builders from receiving naval work is abol- ished. It is said that a wise and generous policy will be char- acteristic of the navy department for the next four yearr. Take down the bars and let this wise and generous policy come graz- ing around lake ship yards. TuE president of the United States issued July 17; the Pro- clamation which puts in force the reciprocity in wrecking privi- lege between this country and Canada, The act was approved May 24, 1890, and reads as follows: " That Canadian vessels and wrecking appurtenances may render aid and assistance to © Canadian or other vessels and property, wrecked, disabled or in distress in the waters of the United States contiguous to the Dominion of Canada." It was provided that the act should not take effect until a similar privilege had been extended by the Canadian government. It was construed that the provision should apply to the Welland canal and other connecting water- ways, but this was amended March 3, 1893, by striking out the words Welland canal. In the proclamation the text of the Canadian act is given, which reads as follows: 'United States vessels and wrecking appliances may salve any property wrecked, and may render aid and assistance to any vessels wrecked, dis- abled or in distress in the waters of Canada contiguous to the United States. Aid and assistance include all necessary towing incident thereto. Nothing in the customs or coasting laws of Canada shall restrict the salving operations of such vessels and wrecking appliances." Both acts are revokable by proclamation whenever either country withdraws the privilege. From the date of the proclamation wrecking privileges are open to any boat in all waters of the lakes. 'THE supervising inspector at their next meeting to be held in Washington this winter will very probably take some action on the fog signal which at present is sometimes confounded with the porting signal, causing in several instances serious collisious. - A master stated recently that there were defects in the system of engine room whistle signals. He said that there were a number of different whistles used for general alarm, and added that so far as possible the long whistle shonld have no signifi- cance that would make it confounding if it was blown because of the whistle cord catching when a short whistle was intended. There should bea uniform signal for tugs, and if of sufficient importance signals might be agreed upon for obtaining assistance in cases of distress from life saving stations, although it seems that one difficulty at present is the large number of whistle sig- nals that are not necessary at present. One code of whistles signaling bridges to open should be arranged so that it would apply to all navigable rivers and branches. If there is anything that you think should be changed in the system of whistle sig- nals, or you have anything new to suggest write to the REVIEW, and if practicable the information will be put in the hands of those who can remedy the matterif a remedy is shown to be necessary. THE 'Tips from the man on the dock"' space is filled with especially spicy matter this week. Other marine papers are be- ginning to appreciate the good things in this column. One es- pecially takes three or four sticks full from it without stating where it came from. If you do not wish to credit the REVIEW with it be honorable enough to give "the man on the dock"' credit for his "tips." The Progress Steamship Company, says the Marine Journal, has been organized under the laws of New Jersey by James Jerome of New York and Arthur Hill, Eben Briggs and Geo. M. Stevens of Saginaw, Mich. The capital is $100,000 and it is pro- posed to conduct a passenger steamer business in New Vork har- bor, and also on the lakes. Most of these parties are interested in the Saginaw Steamship Company who had the Mackinaw and Keeweenaw built by F. W. Wheeler & Co., for coast service. The formation of this new company may be the opportunity for some lake ship yard getting a contract. yo wae nal a Sa ra a a