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MARINE REVIEW. _ 4 et Speed of Bessemer Company's Steamers. It is quite certain now that some lively trials of speed will be had between the new steamers of the Bessemer Steamship Co., especially when an opportunity is found to run them without consorts. The two steamers built by the Globe Company, Cleveland, are good 15-mile boats running light. These are the Bessemer and Siemens. The Bes- semer has made 15 miles light and 134 miles loaded on several oc- casions without difficulty. A speed of 15 miles may hardly seem worthy of note, but notwithstanding the number of claims that are made for highers peed, it would probably be found, if the facts were fully known, carriers on the lakes that make fifteen miles in regular service. The Mutual line steamer Coralia, which is a duplicate of the Besemer in dimensions, and which was built by the same company, has been making only 13 miles when running light in regular service, but it is expected that a change of wheel will improve her time materially. However, the Coralia has not as much power as the Bessemer, and it was not expected that she would attain a speed of full 15 miles. engines are 24, 39 and 63 by 42 inches, while those of the Bessemer are 25, 41 and 66 by 42. Both the Coralia and the Bessemer have four boilers, but those of the former are each 11 feet 9 inches by 10 feet while those of the latter are 11 feet 2 inches by 11 feet 2 inches. The opening contest of speed between ships of the Bessemer line is not expected, however, until the two steamers building at Detroit, the Fairbairn and the Fulton, are in commission. With the aid of Howden draft, the Detroit Dry Dock Co. undoubtedly expects to turn out a couple of fast freight carriers for the Bessemer company, but they must improve upon 15 miles an hour if they are to beat the Cleveland boats. There are now four of the Bessemer ships in commission--Steamers Bessemer, Siemens and Ericcson and barge Holley. Another steamer, the Fairbairn, will leave Detroit about Saturday next, and two Pee the Coane at South Chicago and the Nasmyth at West Bay City, will be ready within a week. 'The sec- ond barge at South Chicago, to be named Krupp, will be out about the 20th, but of the remaining four boats none are expected before Oct. 1. These are the steamer Fulton at Detroit, steamer Stevenson and barge Bell at West Bay City and the Watt at the Cleveland Ship Building Company's works. Interest in the question of speed will be still further increased when the steamers building at West Bay City and at the Cleveland] Ship Building Co's works are in commission. A Dry Dock Accident. Brief dispatches i in the daily papers referred to an accident on. Aug. 8 to the Simpson dry dock at New York navy yard, Brooklyn. The accident was a serious one, as this was the only big dock available. in New York harbor for large war ships. The big stone dock at the same yard is not yet complete. The dock in which the accident oc- curred is of wood, 500 feet long with a top width of 130 feet 4 inches. | The dock was pumped out and by some means the caisson which closes its mouth, was lifted from its seat so as to permit the entrance of water. As the water increased in depth, iiie caisson was lifted further- The water rushed madly into the dock, carrying with from its seat. it the caisson, which capsized and sank. The oma boat Kricsson Was also Eered with the rush of water and its bows stove in. The "ommandant's launch was wrecked and several other vessels torn from their moorings. The accident, which was an unprecedented one, is attributed to the fact that the caisson was too light. It seems that a number of tons of ballast had been removed from it inorder to permit that there are not more than half a dozen iron ore; Her the cleaning of its bottom, and this ballast it was proposed to replace by concrete ballast. It was supposed naturally that the caisson would stay in its place as the water pressed it against the gasket, but on ac. count of an unusually high tide, or other cause, the accident, occurred, . Engravings printed fh giye an idea of what a dry dock , caisson is like. To all intents and purposes it is a very deep narrow vessel, somewhat like a cutter. It is of such size as to fill the opening: of the dry dock. It is prevented from entering the deck by its keel, , stem and stern post, which form a uniform flange around its bottom. and sides, and which bear against a projecting piece at: the mouth of the dock. A rubber eapnet is attached to the face of the 6 Delete so as to make a water-tight joint as the caisson is pressed against it. One illustration gives a cross section of the caisson and shows the method adopted to admit water when the dock is to be filled by means of pipes extending through the hull. This feature is also brought out _ in the illustration of the caisson in place at the opening of the dock where the water is seen streaming through it. It is manipulated by' flotation. When the dock is full of water, the caisson is lightened by pumping out water ballast. If in place closing the dock, it will rise from its seat, and can be pulled. to one side. floated into position, ballasted down to its seat, and the water in the' dock is pumped out. The illustrations have been reproduced from: the' Scientific American, New York, 'Stocks: of Grain: at Lake Ports. ~The following table, prepared: from reports of the Chicago Board of trade, shows the mies of wheat and corn in store in regular eleva- " _tors at An Ce points of accumulation: on the lakes on BS 28, 1896: : ene eee Wheat 'bushels, Corn, bushels." Chicago iis emis 10. mel pas "13,962,000 5,718,000 °°" Dudith hs eee ee ee 521,000 20,0007"! Mallwaukee noe se ee 293,00 1,000 Detroit -..a5... Fete my "13 000.9 3a 23 0007 Toledo eu Pes ee teen 796,000 "107,000 - S Baile Pees: Peee ee eee "wae? yee 000. ~ Total 20,350,000. . 4 309,000 °> . For replacing, it is' ions ert As compared with a week ago, the ee Aeuies aot: at the sev-. - "eral points named a pceeneaee of ae 000. bushels of seHEB; ane me = 000 bushels of corn, Puget sound ship builders have) mee via Git! by iia! navy -aspart-/ ment to bid for the construction of one: or more of the- torpedo: 'boats: authorized. by the last congress. There ave three ship buildirig cerns in Washington on the sound; viz., Phere are three ship building' con-' n the Puget ' 'Sound Engineer-) -- ing Works of Port Townsend,-Moran- Bros.Co: of Seattle, and the: Everett Steel Barge Co. The first two have been or are now. engaged " on naval -work. The Everett concern, which was started by: Capt: *: i Alex. McDougall of the American Steel Barge Co.,-has built: oe a merchant ship, the whaleback steamer City of Everett. . Toronto aad ah arn aee pales ae the N ickel Plate Soadiicuged pe through Buffalo and Niagara Falls. ne to 11, returning until Sept. 14. Canada's great fair. 288 Sep 10 Tickets sold Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 --