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MARINE REVINW. 13 regarding these petitions was forced two or three times during Wednesday. afternoon and Thursday morning, and a committee, consisting of M. A. Bradley, David Vance and Alvin Neal, was first appointed to consider them but it was evident that the association was not now disposed, any more than it had been in the past, to consider local matters. Those who had the petitions in charge were finally contented to have them signed by the vessel owners, the association refusing to consider them as an organization. Mr, Austrian, of the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior Transportation Co , has been specially interested in the construction of a light and fog sig- nal on North Manitou island, Lake Michigan, an appropriation for which has been secured, but erection of the structure is delayed on account of delay in obtaining title to the land. It may be necessary to secure passage of an additional act of congress in order to have this light constructed early next season, and the president and secretary were instructed to devote their best efforts with that end in view. Mr, Goulder, who was asked for advice regarding the best method of overcoming the abuses attending the operation of the present libel law at Buffalo, said that the matter could be settled without resource to legisla- tion of any kind. A sailor having a very small claim against a vessel, or differing with the captain on evena single dollar of wages, may now libel a vessel at Buffalo, and on account of the United States court being located at Utica, the mileage charges are certain to make the costs in every case at least $36. Very often a vessel master will agree to an unjust settlement on a small claim rather than encounter delay. Mr. Goulder says that several of the district judges assure him that they will adopt a fair rule of practice doing away with thé unjust costs, if the matter is fully presented to them, and it was accordingly agreed that the counsel and secretary should take up this question with the United States district judges and adjust it if possible. ' Capt. Geo. P. McKay directed attention to the disadvantages encoun- tered with light-keepers in the Detroit river below Detroit, especially in the spring and fall, on account of delay in communicating with the naval officer in charge of the lights of the tenth district, who is loca- ted at Buffalo. He suggested that the boun- dary line of the tenth district should be changed so that it would not take in any part of the Detroit river. Such a change would place all Detroit river lights in charge of the inspector at Detroit. The president and secre- tary were instructed by resolution to commu- nicate with the light-house board with a view to having this change made. The secretary was also directed on motion of Capt. Wm. Mack to endeavor to secure an appropriation for dredging out a part or all of the shoal that has been constantly making out into the St. Clair river abreast of Black river. Mr. B. L. Pen- nington secured the passage of a vote of thanks for the Ship Masters' Association, for its sery- Treas. McKay talks of hisold ices in Washington a year ago, and also for t':e Se eee cae assistance which members of the captains' as- sociation promise the Lake Carriers during the annual meeting which is about to open in Washington. SENATOR BRICE'S DAM PROBLEM. It was thought that Senator Brice's course in urging legislation upon the subject of regulating lake levels by means of dams at various points of discharge would occasion spirited discussion at this meeting. The vessel owners seemed to be all of the opinion, however, that the Ohio senator is moving carefully in the matter, and is simply trying to secure reliable information that may develop facts of great importance to the lake shipping interests. The several measures which he has introduced in congress on the subject were accordingly endorsed with little comment. IN MEMORY OF GEN. POE. In accordance with the special order for Thursday morning the first business taken up was that of paying tribute to the memory of the late Gen. Poe. "We owe it to the memory of Gen. Poe" said Mr. Goul- der, "to take some action towards placing a bronze tablet or some other memorial commemorative of him at the Sault canal." Mr. Goulder had no definite proposition to Capt. Peck merely looks in on the meeting. submit, but introduced Gen. R. A. Alger, who was a close personal | friend of Detroit's well known army officer. Gen. Alger spoke at length of his acquaintance with Gen. Poe ard the many grand qualities of which he was _ possessed, Gen. Sherman had said of . him that he was the most - conscientious man he ever knew. Distressing and sud-. den grief had fallen to Mrs. Poe and her daughter in the loss first of a young son in the family, then a daughter, later on ason that was the pride of the family, and last a father who was about to see the crowning results of. a life's best efforts. Mrs.- Poe and her daughter had strenuously opposed any of- fers of assistance, but the Illustration of the story told about John Mitchell. matter of sentiment should be overruled, Gen. Alger thought, anda resolution was adopted endorsing the bill introduced by Senator McMillan providing for a pension of $100 a month for Mrs. Poe. Mr. Goulder read a letter which he received in May last from Gen. Poe He treasures it. He made a speech at the chamber of commerce banquet in Cleveland, in which he referred in praiseworthy terms to the work of Gen. Poe in behalf of lake interests. Gen. Poe read Mr. Goulder's speech in one of the Detroit newspapers and then wrote him referring to his kind- and flattering remarks. "I beg to assure you," he said, "of my high ap- preciation of, and gratitude for your good opinion. While I can not but feel that you overestimate the value of my work, yet your reference to it in such complimentary terms upon that occasion, and before that audience carried with it ample compensation for whatever aid I may have rendered to a purpose for which I have devoted every faculty at my command. If I have succeeded in gaining the confidence of the marine interests, and con-. tinue to satisfy them for the short time of active service remaining to me, I shall have accomplished my highest ambition." : eI S OES hs _ Mr. Livingstone moved the appointment of a committee to collect a- fund for the erection of a statue of Gen. Poe or other suitable memorial at Sault Ste. Marie, and the chair appointed members of the committee Wm. Livingstone and R. A. Alger of Detroit, M. A. Hanna and J. C. Gilchrist of Cleveland, S. D. Caldwell and K. T. Evans of Buffalo, C. W. Elphicke of Chicago, Thomas Cranage of Saginaw, Alex McDougall of Duluth and. David Vance of Milwaukee. Gen. Alger said he was pleased with the idea of a statue but suggested that it would cost $10,000. Mr. Livingstone said -- "What of it?" and then Gen. Alger added that if a statue was to be erected - he would head the subscription list with $500. MISSCELLANEOUS MATTERS. Two resolutions which were intended to discourage the practice of vessel brokers contracting to carry large quantities of coal and ore and then working these contracts off on vessels applying for single loads were introduced and both were adopted. One was by Mr. G. G. Hadley of Toledo - and the other by John Corrigan of Cleveland. Mr. Hadley's resolution. simply condemned the practice.. Mr. Corrigan's resolution referred to it as ruinous to the vessel interests and declared that in all cases where con- tracts are made the vessels should be named. The committee appointed to consider various features of the fuel question reported progress but announced that they would be unable to make a report prior to adjournment. The committee was, therefore, upon motion of Mr. A. A. Parker, made a permanent committee with power to act for the association. see i Capt. Geo. P. McKay, has been at work for some time past securing sig- natures to a petition to the Canadian government, which asks for several important changes in lights and other aids to navigation in the vicinity of Point au Pelee, Lake Erie. The changes sought by Capt. McKay were endorsed, and the executive officers of the association were authorized to visit Ottawa if they see fit in their efforts to have the improvements car- ried out. Other resolutions that were adopted follow: By Mr. Livingstone, de- ploring the death of Capt. John Shaw of Bay City; by J. W. Westcott, . recommending increased width of channels in the St. Mary's river to 500 feet, in the Detroit river at the Lime-Kilns to 600 feet, and a second canal _ of 300 feet width at the St. Clair Flats; by Mr. Livingstone, endorsing the. movement to establ'sh branch hydrographic offices at Duluth, Sault Ste. Marie, Buffalo and Detroit; by Join Corrigan, extending a vote of thanks to Supt. McKenzie at the Sault canal for efficient services; by Mr. Ricket- son of Milwaukee, providing for a shipping office at that port; by Capt. Wm. S. Mack, requesting the Western Union Telegraph Co. to establish a telegraph station at Detour; by Capt. Alex. McDougall, recommending the repeal of all laws which compel vessels to make reports to collectors of customs or to army engineer officers in charge of river and harbor im-~ provements.