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MARINE REVIHW. 13) Comment on the Test of the Waldo, Editor Marine Review:--As one who has noted with interest the different tests recorded of lake steamers, I think there is a point or two worth noting in that of the Waldo, reported recently in your columns. The performance is as a whole creditable, especially the boiler effi- ciency shown, though I think a better engine efficiency than that shown by the reported water consumption might reasonably have been looked for from engines of this size. However, it is quite possible both that the meter was at feult and that the different auviliaries were extravagant in water consumption, since I note that no charge is made against them in the water account. The thing that interests me chiefly, however, is the air pump performance. I note that the I. H. P. of air pump is only a trifle pver one-half of one per cent. of the total of main engines. In the report of the test of the Harvey H. Brown the per cent. of air pump of total is a fraction over one per cent., and the statement is made that this figure settles the question of the economy of connected vs. independent air pumps. But does it? This is, so far as I know, the first instance of a test of a lake steamer in which the I. H. P. of an indepedent air pump is reported, and I think the showing is rather strongly in favor of this system. I do not think such a result is possible with any but the single form of pump, though this would undoubtedly be a subject of dispute. It may be claimed that the attached pump does its work more economically by its having the benefit of using steam expansively, but I do not think this can be made to hold good. Aside from the fact_that the difference in power is rather too great to be made good by that means, the resistance to the main engine, and which is felt directly in the diminished revolu- tions of the wheel and consequent reduced speed of vessel, is to be taken into account. Added to this, the steam employed in operating pump is not all to be charged, because of its returning a part of its energy in the shape of increased temperature imparted to the feed water. I note that the feed temperature in this case is raised about 60 de- grees by the exhaust steam, of which the air pump contributed its share. It seems quite clear to me from every point of view that this system is the best for steamers whose runs are of any considerable length, thougn as I have already said, I do not think such good results can be obtained from any but a single pump. In conclusion I do not think the report does the engines justice in the matter of referred M. E. P. In test No. 4, for instance, I make it over 34 pounds, whereas the report only gives it as a little over 30 pounds. Buffalo. Buffalo, N. Y., Oct. 31, 1896. Defending the Oglebay. Editor Marine Review:---I note in your paper this morning the item of Mr. Edward Gaskin of the Union Dry Dock Co., Buffalo, with reference to the Oglebay-Owego affair of several days ago, and with all due respect to the aforenamed gentleman I must say that he is "away off'? when he attempts to belittle the performance of the Oglebay in saying she is a fourteen-mile an hour boat. While I have no particular interest in the Oglebay, she is in many respects, as regards machinery, ete., a duplicate of the Centurion, with which I am some- what, familiar, and this latter boat made a run last August across Lake Erie at the rate of 164 miles an hour. Wecan turn the Centurion up faster than that if necessary, and as the owners of the Oglebay claim she is a faster boat than the Centurion, it would seem to me, from the standpoint of an observer not interested in either of the boats, that the statement of Capt. Hutchinson is much nearer correct than that of Mr. Gaskin, H. E. Schmuck. Springfield, Mass., Oct. 30, 1896. No Vessel Lost. Editor Marine Review:--The report with reference to the loss of the schooner Sand Hill is entirely unfounded. report until my attention was directed to it by the branch hydro- graphic office of Cleveland. EK. Dunn, Commander, Dominion Gov't. Stmr. Petrel. Amherstburg, Ont., Nov. 3, 1896. To California on the Nickel Plate road--Our service, time, and rates are not excelled. Our fast western express makes direct con- nections with the California limited from Chicago every day; also our night express due at Chicago at 7:40 a. m., daily. All details cheer- fully explained by agents at depots, or Giasaltead city ticket office, 224 Bank street, 379-Nov. 20 _as they anticipate will "be still higher, at top prices. I was unaware of the' Unprecedented Demand. for New Ships. It seldom happens that the grain movement from Duluth and Chicago on the lakes to the seaboard is hampered on account of the inability of exporters at New York and other eastern points to find- vessels in which to move this class of freight, but such is actually the- case, just now, and the present situation as regards ocean freights is: not fully understood on this side. The reports from the Clyde' and» from the ship building districts of England are to the effect that the: advance in freights of all kinds is phenominal. Some of the ship. builders are reported to have enough work on hand to last them a couple of years. This is due in some cases to orders for war vessels, which have been quite liberal of late, but the advance in freights has -- been such as to crowd contracts for new merchant vessels onto the ship builders all in a heap, rather upsetting things, as owners are crying for early delivery. 'The extent of business now in hand," says Fairplay of London, - 'has been unprecedented in recent years. The present rates of freight. will enable even compound vessels to make a profit, while it is ex-_ pected that new boats will give a handsome return. Owners who,. a short time ago, were bewailing their fate. in having old boats on their hands for which they could get only a breaking-up price, are now: | much elated as they can obtain at least 2% per cent. more for their vessels than they could two months ago. All the new boats on the stocks approaching completion that were not sold on the appearance of the rise were at once snatched up. Some builders, thinking that freights would soon decline, have filled up their order-books, while others are holding their hands so as to come in later on, when freights In consequence of the increased demand for new steamers prices have, as-was to be expected, gone up, over 10 per cent. more being now asked than a month or soago. The vessels which have been contracted for are of the better class of cargo-boat, while the majority of the vessels con- tracted or in the first half of the year were either for lines or eee owners.' Stocks of Grain at Lake periee The following table, prepared from reports of the Chicago board of trade, shows the stocks of wheat and corn in store in regular eleva- tors at the principal points of accumulation on the lakes, Oct. 31, 1896: Wheat, bushels.. Corn, bushels. @hicagos to ee Mb cn ae 15,224,000 7,540,000. Duluthe £6 9.5 22 28 2 Ses sees + 8,670,000 81),000 Milwaukees fe Se: 3.5 ee 521,000 65,000 einai MOR Sa 463,000 39,000 Moleda suck eee 553,000 56,000 eitalote ig ee ec eee 2,053,000 1,523,000 Total 24,484,000 9,303,000 As compared with a week ago, the above figures show, at the sev- eral points, named a decrease of 51,000 bushels of wheat and an increase of 344,000 bushels of corn. A Cleveland vessel owner who has made a large collection of ' artistic photographs called at the office of the Marine Review, and after looking over the photographs which our photographer obtained recently in the Detroit river near Bois Blane island, he bought eight of them. Any one making a collection of marine photographs can not afford to ignore this lot of pictures--print size 11 by 14 and paper size 14 by 17 inches. If several prints are desired for examination they will be for- warded to any address on the understanding that return express charges will be paid if they are not satisfactory. No one will make a mistake, however, in ordering the panoramic view of Bois Blanc island, the Lime- Kilns and Amherstburg, which is 11 by 28 inches--$3 mounted, $2.50 unmounted, $5 with a matt and frame, or $6 mounted on a hand- somely finished oak board. Another view 11 by 14 inches showing Bar point light and some sixteen vsesels between the point and Bois Blane island, the whole picture giving a grand idea of the yolume of lake commerce, will no doubt have a large sale. The Tuscarora and Centurion are leading the up-bound fleet in this picture. The price is $1.50. Among other prints the Schuylkill, Sir Henry Bessemer, 8. §. Curry, Thos. Cranage, Italia, Frank E. Kirby, Masaba, J. J. Me- Williams, Maricopa, I. W. N icholas, Northern Light, Scranton, Tus- . carora, L. C. Waldo, Yale and Zenith City may be said to be the most artistic. The price for single-prints is $1.50; when more than three are ordered, $1.25.