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MARINE REVIEW. 1 LAKE CARRIERS. LARGEST ANNUAL MEETING EVER HELD BY THE ORGANIZATION--BIG GATHERING AT DETROIT --FOUR LONG SESSIONS DEVOTED TO DISCUS- SIONS OF SUBJECTS TENDING TO ADVANGE VESSEL INTERESTS -- STRONG AGREEMENTS DRAWN UP WITH A VIEW TO OVERCOMING ABUSES IN THE FUELING BUSINESS. Specially Reported for the Marine Review. DETROIT, MIcH., Jan. 9.--About one hundred representatives of lake vessel interests nearly all of whom were members of the Lake Carriers' Association, were assembled in the Hotel Cadillac here Tuesday morning when President James Corrigan, vessel owner and a member of the iron ore shipping firm of Corrigan, McKinney & Co. of Cleveland, opened the third annual meeting of the organization that is now looked upon as the only representative shipping body of the lakes. Members from all parts of the lakes were in attendance. It is a peculiarity of the lake business that although extending over thousands of miles of territory, the men who are engaged in the freight carrying trade becoine very well acquainted with each other, no matter how widely departments of the trade may differ. These annual meetings, which are well attended, have also re- sulted in an increasing acquaintance, and matters of business discussed in all parts of Detroit's big hotel before the opening of the convention were as important as the annual meeting itself. | When President Corrigan called far the opening of the first session, the executive officers were all present. It was evident that the business of the organization was in such shape that little time would be spent on any of the subjects coming before the meeeting, excepting new matters that required discussion and extended consideration. The election of Mr. William Livingstone, Jr., to the presidency for the ensuing year was a foregone conclusion, as was also the re-election of other officers, whose time of office is greater than a single term, which is not the case with the presidency. A list of members and others interested in lake business who were present, follows: FULL LIST OF ATTENDANCE. Cleveland--Capt. Thomas Wilson, James Corrigan, M. A. Bradley, Capt. Geo. P. McKay, Wm. Mack, C. F. Palmer, John Corrigan, H. J. Webb, Har- vey D. Goulder, Capt. John W. Moore, J. C. Gilchrist, Philip Minch, C.R. Jones, W. A. Hawgood, Capt. C. E. Benham, Caleb EK. Gowen, H. A. Haw- good, O. C. Pinney, E. S. Ludlow, Gen. Carlton, Charles Gilchrist, Geo. Elsey, Jr., Capt. Alfred Mitchell, E. M. Richardson of the Sherwin- Williams Co., W. lL. Sherwood and David Barnheisel. Detroit--Capt. E. M. Peck, Wm. Livingstone, Jr., W. A. Livingstone, Byron Whitaker, Capt. Eber Ward, Capt. W. H. Campau, Capt. Richard Cuson, F. A. Kirby, Capt. James Millen, J.C. Westcott, Capt. David Wilson, Timothy Hurley, Capt. M. W, Humphry, Capt. W.S. Whipple, Capt. Alex Ruelle, Cash P. Taylor, L. C. Waldo, Herman Ralph, Capt. Charles H. West- cott, Capt. Chas. Wilson, A. A. Parker, Stanley B. Smith, Capt. B. Wilds, John Shaw, Esq., J. M. Jones and E. T. Peck. Chicago--C. A. Macdonald, Hugh MacMillan, E. J. Henry, J. G. Keith, James H. Calbick, D. T. Helm, Brice Miller, J. S. Dunham, Miles Barry, Homer J. Carr, J. H. Channon, G. J. Harris, C. W. Elphicke, A. . Fitch, James W. Prindeville, A. W. Goodrich and G. C. Blair. Buffalo--J. J. H. Brown, C. H. Keep, John Rice, P. P. Miller, M. M. Drake, James McKenzie, J. C. Fitzpatrick, Capt. H. Richardson, Ed. Smith, H. A. Noble, Capt. Geo. Mcleod, Edward Hitchcock and Charles Clifton. Duluth--Angus McDougall, H. B. Earhart, Geo. D. Kirkham, J. T. Rose, G. A. Tomlinson, B. B. Inman, Mr. Chessborough and W. S. Brand. Bay City and West Bay City, Mich.--Thos. Cranage, S. P. Cranage, O. W. Blodgett, B. Boutell, Capt. Fred Boutelle, Capt. James Davidson, A. C. Keating and James E. Davidson. St. Clair, Mich.--C. McElroy, Capt. W. C. Brown, Capt. Richard O'Con- nor, E. C. Recor, Capt. W. E. Rice and C. Beylschlag. Port Huron, Mich.--A. M. Carpenter, J. J. Lynn, Geo. Lynn, Daniel FE. Lynn, Thomas Currie and Thomas Dunford. Milwaukee, Wis.--David Vance, Henry lL. Leisk and J. C. Ricketson. Saginaw, Mich.--B. B. Moiles, John Edgar, Capt. John Kelley and Mr. Carkin. Toledo, O.--Geo. G. Hadley and Chas. Sullivan. Amherstburg, Ont.--John Mullen, Capt. Frank Hackett and Capt. Andrew Hackett. Alpena, Mich.--F. W. Gilchrist and W. A. Rust who is associated with Mr. Gilchrist in the lumber business. managers. Marine City, Mich.--Charles Norton. Erie, Pa.-- James McBrier. Ashland, Wis.--Capt. Alex R. Sinclair. The reading of minutes of the last annual meeting which were ce summarized by Secretary Keep, occupied only a few minutes, and then the report of the board of managers, which is the most important matter com- ing before the vessel owners at these gatherings was read. This document, which is prepared by the secretary each year, treats of the work of the association for the year closing with the annual meeting, and outlines suggestions from the board of managers for future operation. In the pres- ent instance it is a most exhaustive summary of the affairs of the organiza- zation, highly creditable to the efficient services of the secretary. The report in full follows: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. AN EXTENDED REPORT OF THE TONNAGE AND FINANCES OF THE ASSOCIA- TION--WORK OF THE SHIPPING OFFICER AND RESULTS OF THE EF- FORTS OF COMMITTEES--LEGISLATIVE MATTERS--IMMIGRATION AND RAFTING BILLS--POSITIONS OF BOARD OF MANAGERS ON PROPOSED SHIPPING OUTLET FROM THE eS) TO THE SEABOARD, ; $ * OFFICE OF THE LAKE CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION, BUFFAro, N. Y., Jan. 8, 1895. \ To the Members of the Lake Carriers' Association: The board of managers of the association submits herewith its annual report of the proceedings and operations of the association during the past year. TONNAGE OF THE ASSOCIATION. It. is now three years since the Lake Carrier's Association was re-or- ganized and placed upon a basis where it practically included the whole business tonnage of the lakes. During the first of this year the associa- tion tonnage was 580,000 tons; last year it exceeded 600,000 tons; for the year just closing the association tonnage is 590,126 tons. This is slightly less than last year's tonnage, but more than the tonnage of 1892. The slight decrease in tonnage is probably much less than would naturally be expected from the hard conditions which have prevailed in the lake car- rying business during the past two years. Even the slight decrease re- ported is due not to the failure of carriers to' join the association, but more to the actual destruction of some of the vessels enrolled during the preceding year and the withdrawal of one or two fleets of moderate size engaged in a special business on a special route, and not participating in the general carrying trade. Such vessels not being in position to use the shipping offices of the association or the private lights which it main- tains inthe rivers and not sharing to the same extent as others in the ben- efits derived from the legislation promoted by the association, itis not perhaps surprising that during a season when it was hard to make receipts equal expenses that they should have withdrawn temporarily from the association. It is a well known fact, also, that very few vessels -- were built last winter, so that there is very little new tonnage in the asso- ciation this year to take the place of vessels lost or out of commission, al and such new tonnage as was built last winter was not hurried into com- mission, and generally did not begin business until the middle of the season, so that it has not appeared upon our rolls this year. On the whole, therefore, the fact that nearly 600,000 tons have continued to contribute their money and | support to this organization is ee g to the board of FINANCES OF THE ASSOCIATION. At the Detroit meeting last year the annual dues of the association --_ ee were reduced 25 per cent., namely, from 4 cents per net registered ton to tog 3cents. This reduction, coupled with the possibility that there might be a material decrease in the tonnage, made the incoming board of man- agers and the new president very fearful that the work of the association ay could not be kept up as it should be with the resources to be provided. At the annual meeting a year ago the treasurer reported quite a number of unpaid bills, and before the season of 1894 opened some unforseen ex- penses were incurred which required the treasurer of the association to borrow $1,500 at a Cleveland bank upon a note endorsed by several of the Cleveland managers. The association, therefore, began the year 1894 with a considerable deficit and with a largely reduced income, To meet the situation, the most rigid economies were put in force by the new president. The salaries of officers of the association were materially cut down, the compensation paid to shipping masters and light-keepers was reduced, and the miscellaneous expenses of the association were kept at the smallest possible figure. Even with this reduction of expense the season would have ended with a large deficit had not the year 1594 been singularly free from unforeseen incidents. In previous years such occur- rences as the assault on the crew of the Mabel Wilson at Buffalo, the assault on shipping master Felt at Chicago, the disturbances at Ashland, the shipping of men from the seaboard to the lakes, had made heavy drafts on the treasury of the association. During the present year there have been no items corresponding to these, and this good fortune has enabled the ae as a