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\ MARINE REVIEW. VoL. XIV. CLEVELAND, O., DECEMBER 3, 1896. No. 23. Ship Building Contracts. A SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL WORK NOW UNDER WAY IN LAKE SHIP YARDS--ASSURANCE OF AN ACTIVE WINTER. A summary of ship building orders shows that contracts have already been made with lake builders for sixteen big freight vessels valued at $2,285,000 and capable of carrying ,on 16 feet draft, about 61,050 gross tons of cargo. It is quite probable, of course, that other contracts, on which negotiations are now pending, will be closed within a few weeks, and there are also some arrangements practically completed for small vessels that are not included in this list. Of the sixteen vessels noted in the table, all but three are of steel and of the largest type. Seven are steamers and nine are barges. In January last there were sixty-five vessels of all kinds, large and small, under contract in lake yards, and their aggregate value was $8,549,000. Forty -two of these were freight-carrying vessels, capable of moving 136,600 gross tons on 144 feet draft. As noted in the table, the Union Dry Dock Co. of. Buffalo will go ahead with the construction of a steel package freight steamer that will be a duplicate of the Union liner Ramapo, with the exception A Collision Apron. English exchanges refer to a collision apron that might prove valuable if carried aboard steel vessels on the lakes, especially in event of collisions in the rivers. The apron is intended to be low- ered into the water after collision to cover up the fracture, and in some cases it is 'claimed that it will thus prevent the sinking of an injured vessel. It is made of No. 1 tarpaulin, in three folds, and to keep it flat, when applied to a fracture, it is fortified by wooden battens, inserted at intervals of twelve inches, the battens running crossways. This provision, in addition to strengthening the apron, and keeping it from being' sucked through the fracture, also causes it to unroll evenly as itis drawn downwards by the suction from beneath the water line. At the center of each edge--that is fore and aft--a guy line is attached, and as the apron is applied these lines are made fast to the railing. To the bottom of the apron two galvanized chains are fixed, and being passed round the bows of the ship, and let slack under the keel, are drawn tight on the opposite side. This is only required if an accident occurs in rough weather, acting as binders to keep the apron firm should the vessel be rolling. Orders for Winter Work in Lake Ship Yards. s Capacity. Builders. Class. Dimensions* |Gross Tons, Value. For Whom Building. : ee 16 feet draft. i aie Chicago Ship Building Co., Chicago, Il1...|Steel freight steamer ....| 426-48-28 5,000 $240,000 |A. B. Wolvin, Duiuth, Minn. Chicago Ship Building Co., Chicago, Ill...|Steel freight steamer ....| 255 42-23 2,500 115,000 |R. R. Rhodes, Cleveland, O. Chicago Ship Building Co., Chicago, I11.' .|Steel freight steamer ....| 255-42-23 2,500 115,000 |R. R. Rhodes, Cleveland, O. Chicago Ship Building Co., Chicago, Ill.../S3teel tow barge.......-- 365-44-26 4,550 125,000 |C. W. Elphicke, Chicago, Il. Chicago Ship Building Co., Chicago, Ill. . .|Steel tow barge ......... 388-46-26 5,100 140,000 |James Corrigan, Cleveland, O. Cleveland Ship Building Co., Cleveland, O.|Steel freight steamer ....| 420-48-28 4,900 235,000 |Capt. Thomas Wilson, Cleveland, O. Cleveland Ship Building Co., Cleveland, O./Steel freight steamer ....| 426-48-28 +) 5,000 240,000 |A. B. Wolvin, Duluth, Minn. Globe Iron Works Co., Cleveland, O....- Steel tow barge ......-.-. 388-46-26 5,100 140,000 |James Corrigan, Cleveland, O. Globe Iron Works Co., Cleveland, O..... Steel tow barge......... 378-44-26 4,850 130,000 |Bessemer Steamship Co., Cleveland,O. Globe Iron Works Co., Cleveland, O.....|Steel tow barge ......... 8377-44-26 4,850 130,000 |Not as yet made public. Union Dry Dock Co., Buffalo, N. Y...... Steel freight steamer ....| 346-44-28 3,000 | 210,000 |Union Steamboat Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Union Dry Dock Co., Buffalo, N. Y...... Steel oil barge ........-- 254-40-23 | ..... ~ 90,000 {Standard Oil Co., New York, N. Y. James Davidson, West Bay City, Mich... .|/Wooden freight steamer. .| 2387-41-26 2,000 75,000 |James Davidson, West Bay City, Mich. James Davidson, West Bay City, Mich..../Worden tow barge ..... 300-45-26 3,400 90,000 |James Davidson, West Bay City, Mich. James Davidson, West Bay City, Mich..../Wooden tow barge ..... 300-45-26 3,400 90,000 |James Davidson, West Bay City, Mich. American Steel Carge Co., W.Superior, Wis. |Steel tow barge ....----- 380-44-26 4,900 130,000 |Inter-Lake Transit Co., Cleveland, O. 61,050 |$2,285,000 . *Length is over all; depth is moulded. of an addition of 6 feet in length. The Globe company, Cleveland, has made all arrangements for the building of three tow barges, one of which, for James Corrigan of Cleveland, is to be a duplicate of the boat to be built for that gentleman in Chicago; the second barge is the Rockefeller boat, for which a contract was let some time ago, and although the third boat is reported as building on yard account, it is more than probable that a sale has already been prac- tically effected. On Wednesday, Dec. 30, the light-house board, Washington, D. C., will open bids on five vessels, as noted in an advertisement elsewhere in this issue. Three of these vessels will be first-class Composite light-vessels and two will be light-house tenders. These Contracts have been referred to in previous issues of the Review. All the vessels are of a size that will admit of their being built on the lakes and taken to the coast through the St. Lawrence. Capt. C. E. Benham and other members of the maritime board, Cleveland chamber of commerce, are endeavoring to secure the repeal ofacity ordinance which provides for the closing of all bridges for 4 full hour morning and evening. On the inside of the 'apron strong loops and ropes are attached, so that it may be still further secured while temporary repairs are being made to allow the ship to make port. One leading feature is the auto- matic and speedy action, and the adoption of wooden battens in place of metal. The first impression of many persons is that. the wood employed would cause the apron to float. On the contrary, it is said, the action is rapid, and it goes straight to its work in a few seconds. Meetings are again being held in Cleveland by the association _ of Bessemer ore dealers, preparatory to a renewal of agreements covering another year's business. It is confidently expected that the association will be continued, although there are, of course,-a great many different interests to conciliate. Statistics as to stocks of ore sold and unsold, and other information bearing on the future of the iron market, were features of discussion at the meetings held during the past few days. It is proposed to have the Michigan legislature change the name of the Michigan Mining School to Michigan College of Mines.