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10 The Late George W. Williamson. George W. Williamson, whose death was announced from Phila- delphia- recently, was a member of the well-known firm of Williamson Bros., makers of steam steering and hoisting machines. To the people of Philadelphia, Mr. Williamson was known as a prominent citizen of the old district of Kensington, as he was bornin that section of the city in 1829 and lived there all his life. His early education was received at the famous old Harrison school in Kensington, where some of the most prominent men of Philadelphia: were his schoolmates. Prior to and f t } at the beginning of the late war Mr. Williamson took quite an active in- terest in the politics of :his district and was a member of the city council of Philadelphia for several terms. After the war be became associated with his two younger brothers, John D. and William C. Williamson, with whom he began the manufacture of hoisting engines. Although not an engineer, his business qualifications had much to do with build- ing up, in combination with the engineering abilities of his brothers, the very large patronage which the firm now enjoys. Williamson Bros. are the pioneer manufacturers of steam steering engines for ships in this country, and their steerers are known everywhere. Their product em- braces all kinds of hoisting machines. Mr. Geo..W. Williamson was an important factor in the establishment of this industry, which is a branch of marine engineering. His sudden death is. accordingly deplored bya large circle of business acquaintances. He leaves a widow, one daughter and two sons. The eldest of the sons, Geo. W. Williamson, takes an active interest in the management of the firm. - Danger of a Strike at the Ore Mines--Another Problem, A most serious question regarding the coming season's business on the lakes, that of a strike in the ake Superior iron mining region, seems to re- ceive little attention publicly from either ore dealers or vessel owners. It is well.known, however, that the ore men have discussed this matter very earnestly. But this probability of labor trouble can not'prevent the present efforts to sell ore and: to close up freight contracts. There is reason to expect shortly a tie up of all branches of the ore mining and shipping industry in Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as the upper Michigan peninsula. For several months labor leaders in the mining districts have been organizing mine workers of all kinds,and a general meeting is to be held next week, at which'it is expected 'preparations will be made to ask for higher wages. and probably to demand an eight+hour' work day. All of the mines have béen accumulating large' stock piles, but the labor organizations maybe expected to oppose the movement of this ore that has been gotten out of the mines with even more force than they will use in trying to suspend further mining opera tions. Altogether it is quite certain that a' sharp struggle will' take!!! place. The mine*managers may make some advances in wages, but it is" not probable that they will meet the demands of the 'organization which © now seeks to rule labor matters generally in the mining districts: It is' claimed that common labor at the mines, which: might: have been had at 80 and 90 cents a day during the late periodof great:depression in the iis 2 vl MARINE = REVIEW. ore business, is not now receiving less than $1.30 a day, and that all kings of labor has, with two advances since the depression, been raised accorg. ingly. A protracted strike in the Lake Superior mines during the na a gation season would have an important bearing on vessel matters, Stocks of Grain at Lake Ports. The following table, prepared from reports of the Chicago boards trade, shows the stocks of wheat and corn in store in regular elevators at the principal points of accumulation on the lakes on April 4, 189. - Wheat, bushels. Corn, bushels, CHICAGO......0eecccceeeereseeeeeeene cers .+«»17,673,000 6,468,000 Duluthi......ccoscsscscccccccccceveecsccccevcoes 13,932,000 143,000 - Milwaukee......scscccscssesecesceseseccsece 417,000) 5? 2° siaSe eee t ean Detroit....crccccscsccscccccccsscrcsscccececoes 251,000 12,000 MoledOlesdesssdeetescderce cccctaraccecsteersrate 626,000 937,000: Burffalo.......secccccccecercscoecees aeemerseese 1,092,000 85,000 Total.......ssceeees ahha tee oat seclense = dal 33,991,000 7,645,000 As compared with a week ago, the above figures show at the severa] points named afdecrease of 454,000 bushels of wheat and an increase of 473,000 - bushels of, eoxn, bg <7 BES On April 4, there was afloat at Chicago 1,093,000 bushels of wheat, 317,. | 000 bushels-of corn and 1,296,000 bushels of oats; at Buffalo, 65,000 bushels -- of wheat; aud 106,000 bushels of oats; at Duluth, 512,000 bushels of wheat, ° and at Milwaukee 176,000 bushels of wheat and 280,000 bushels of oats, -- Valentine Fries of Shinrock, O., who owns the steamer Golden Age and schooners Marion W. Page and Charles Foster, was in Cleveland q few days ago arranging a few matters regarding his vessels for next sea- son. Mr. Fries makes little fuss over the management of these vessels, although they made up the largest tow on the lakes before big steel yes. © sels were brought into service. H. J. Webb & Co., vessel brokers of Cleveland, look after freight for these ships and they are given great latitude in the management of them. Mr. Fries decides certain matters -- regarding the vessels about once a year and leaves the rest to his agents, This does not mean, however, that he is not progressive. He has large interests, but does not take much worry to himself on account of them, Some years ago he found himself in failing health on account of close attention to a mercantile business in which he was engaged in Cleveland, and moved to a farm near Milan, O. He is of the opinion that it will not be long until steel vessels of 500 feet length will be built for the lake trade. Mr. Fries is a large stockholder in the Ship Owners' Dry Dock Co. in Cleveland, and he was one of the directors of that company who : insisted from the outset upon big dimensions for the docks. The valite to his foresight in this regard is proven by the fact that the company's plant, although among the largest on the lakes, is not now as large as they would like to have it. , ; ae Although there is already in existence a commission of engineers appointed by Canada and the United States to report jointly on the sub- ~ ject of routes for a 20-foot ship-canal from the lakes to the Atlantic sea- board, Mr. Hepburn, representative in congress from Iowa, has lately introduced a bill directing the president to appoint a commission before June of five persons to survey a route from'either Lake Erie, Lake On- tario or the St. Lawrence for a canal 28 feet deep.' According to the bill, the commission is to report next December with surveys, estimates, etc. They are to ascertain also the cost of deepening and widening the Erie canal. Army engineers may be appointed. Civilians are to receive $500 © a month and expenses, but the army officers are to-get only expenses and regular salaries. The bill carries an appropriation of $60,000 for expenses. 'Jenkins' standard '96" is the name selected for a new joint packing, which Jenkins Bros., well-known manufacturers of valyes and packing, are now offering for sale. This firm is the originator of unvulcanized joint packing. Ina letter to the REviEW regarding this latest special . article in mechanical rubber goods they say: "In accordance with our aim to always manufacture a high grade of goods, we have been expeti- menting for some time iu order to obtain a joint packing that would ful- fill all requirements. We think we have done so with what we call our new " Jenkins' 96," and fromthe reports received from prominent et- gineers and steam fitters who have given this new packing a trial, we feel proud of knowing that not a fault can be found with it.. While we bave not changed the good qualities of our old Jenkins packing, we have ad- ded to its efficiency. The improvement consists in manufacturing a packing suitable for any and all pressures of steam, that will not rot, burn, blow or squeeze out under any condition. Furthermore, we have - obtained a result which we believe no other manufacturer of-packing has yet obtained, and that is a packin g that has all the above advantages and. which will last for years in a joint. In fact, it will last as long as the metal itself will last and can be broken and used again and again. We are very well aware that this is a broad statement to make, but, we never theless stake our reputation upon it."