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Io MARINE REVIEW. More Mystery in the Steamboat Rules. In the Review of the 11th inst. attention was directed to a new rule pertaining to licenses of deck officers, which was adopted by the United States supervising inspectors of steam vessels at their meeting in Washington in January last. The rule is as follows: "No original first-class pilot license shall be issued hereafter to any person . who has not been licensed and served at least one full season of eight months as a second-class pilot on steamers, such service as second-class pilot to have been within two vears preceding the application for such license." It would seem that according to this rule an applicant for a license as first-class pilot , (a man froma sailing vessel for instance), no matter how competent he may be, can not secure such license until he has served one full season as second-class pilot on a steamer. It would seem, also, that although such an applicant may be entitled to papers as master of a steamboat he could not, according to this rule, obtain a license as first-class pilot, and neither 'could he, according to the only construction that it seems possible to put on the rule, obtain a joint license as master and first-class pilot. With a view to learning the cause for the adoption of the rule, the Review wrote Gen. Dumont at Washington and his reply is as follows: "in response to your note of the 13th instant, I desire to say that I had read the editorial to which you refer, in the matter of the new rule relating to the issuance of pilot licenses on the northwestern lakes. I would say, first, that the principle of the rule referred to is - in accordance with the general practice throughout the United States, except perhaps on the waters to which the rule is made to apply. Therefore, when Supervising Inspector Galvin of the ninth district (Buffalo) offered the resolution embodying the rule to which objec- tion is made in your article, it excited no comment in the board, as it was naturally supposed that there was some reason in his mind indi- cating a necessity for a binding rule on the lakes conforming to the practice elsewhere. As there was no debate on the subject matter of the rule when it was adopted, 1am unaware of the exact reasons Mr. Galvin had for presenting it to the board, therefore would sug- gest that a copy of your editorial be sent to him, and I have no doubt he will be glad to explain its necessity. As for myself, if it should be found that the rule is justly obnoxious and opposed to the best in- _ terests of navigators on the lakes, I shall move its repeal at the next meeting of the board." Following this explanation the supervising inspector-general gives the full text of the resolution as introduced by Capt. Galvinand notes the vote which was unamimous in favor of the rule. Acting upon the suggestion from General Dumont, the Review wrote to Capt. M. J. Galvin, supervising inspector at Buffalo, and he replied as follows: "The resolution as offered by me and passed by the board of supervising inspectors of steam vessels this winter does not apply to masters of sailing vessels navigating the lakes. The law already provides for them. It applies only to second-class pilots who have original second-class pilot licenses and who have nit served under said licenses. At the end of a year they come before the local inspectors for examination for first-class pilot licenses. They can show no service in the deck department as second-class pilots, but they insist that they are entitled to first-class pilot licenses, because they have had second-class pilot licenses for one year. I do not think such per- sons competent to take charge of the deck of a steamer as first-class pilot, as they have had no practical experience. Neither doI think any 'Steamboat owner or master would want to employ such a person to take charge of his steamer. They must serve one year (or eight months, which is the sailing season on the lakes) in charge of the deck with a first-class pilot before they are eligible to examination for first- class pilot's license. That is where they get their practical knowledge and experience. In answer to your other question, as to whether the holder of a second-class pilot's license can take charge of a watch on any of our large lake freight steamers, I refer you to sections 6 and 7, _rule'5, of the Rules and Regulations, page 55, which reads as follows: 'Second-class' pilot may be allowed to take charge of steamers not exceeding 100 tons burden,and may be authorized by the license granted to act in charge of a watch as assistant to a first-class pilot on freight and towing steamers of all tonnage.' "' It is certainly strange that, as stated in the foregoing correspond - ence, a rule of such importance should be adopted without discussion of any kind. Mr. Galvin says that the rule does not apply "to mas- ters of sailing vessels navigating the lakes.' But will it apply to the hundreds of them who are seeking advancement to steam vessels, and who may be turned down with an order to serve for a full geg. son as second-class pilot on a steamboat. This-would seem to be the only construction that can be placed upon the new rule. Local ip- spectors will certainly look upon it in that light, unless they haye explicit instructions to the contrary, and as far as we can learn there has been no official interpretation of it otherwise. It would seem that the duty of inspectors in such cases as those to which Mr, Gal- vin would have the rule apply is fully covered in section 18, rule 5, of the regulations, and that there is really no cause for the rule on the grounds set forthin his communication. This question is cep. tainly deserving of attention from the heads of the service and there should be a clear explanation of it at once. Big Improvements at Dunkirk. Major Thomas W. Symons, United States engineer at Buffalo, opened bids Monday, on a very large job of dredging and other harbor improvements at Dunkirk, for which provision in full is made in the sundry civil appropriation bill now before congress. Ags shown in the abstract of proposals printed herewith, this work wil] involve, including cost of supervision, an expenditure of about $400,000, Sullivan & Churchyard of Buffalo are the lowest bidders on all parts of the work. channel Breakwater and Har- |Repairs |Channel Whole Name and Address. bor Exca-\to West |Arm and Work. vation. |Pier. Extension John B. Breymann, Toledo, O------- $2175 OOO#||- = -- ee eck. See Ae lee Carkin, Stickney & Cram, Detroit---| 313,500 $19,540 |#63,739.94 $396,779.94 W. J. Daly, Ogdensburg, N. Y_----- 233-750) \"ac oes lao o>. | Ses Edward J. Hingston, Buffalo, N. Y -| 231,000] 28,184 | 60,102.85 | 319,286 85 L. P. & J. A. Smith Co. Cleveland, O} 269,500} 20,360) 63,980.64 | 353,840.64 Sullivan & Churchyard, Buffalo,N.Y| 225,500| 17,596] 57,324.44 300,420.44 Rider & Fitzgerald, Dunkirk, N. Y.} ---___- 19\756: | 52 Sl ee Around the Lakes. Samuel and Sidney Neff have purchasd the steamer A. E. Shores for $38,000. L. H. Sullivan of Toledo bought the lumber barge Chicago Board of Trade at marshal sale in Port Huron, Monday, for $1,555. Capt. Charles Carter, formerly a vessel owner and lately harbor master at Port Colborne, died at his home in that place recently. He was in his seventy-sixth year. Wm. Empfield, who has made a great many friends among all vessel men Who have had any business with the coal docks at Fair port, is a candidate for mayor of that place. Ryan & Clarke of Buffalo will build a new eievator on the site of their old one which was burned recently. They are deliberating on the question of using steel instead of wood in the construction of the new house. The Cuddy-Mullen Coal Co. of Cleveland is preparing to expend about $6,000 in improvements to the Watson and Anthony coal docks at Detour, which they have leased for the purpose of extending their vessel fueling business. Capt. Daniel McLeod, who was for a great number of years engaged in publishing the Inland Lloyds Vessel Register, will engage in surveys and other insurance work in the future. He is located in the Perry- Payne building, Cleveland. ¥'. C. Goodman, a Cleveland real estate dealer, who is managing owner of the Keystone and Masten, has added by purchase the Wet- more and consort Brunette to his fleet. He is of the opinion that there is money in this class of vessel property and it is probable that he will increase his present fleet by other purchases. ~ Capt. B. B. Inman of Duluth, who was in Cleveland, Tuesday, says he has every assurance of the formation of a large company to build and operate several ice crushing steamers of the type which he proposes for winter service on the lakes. An illustration of the type of steamer patented for this service by Capt. Inman was published in a recent issue of the Review. Notice of removal--The city ticket office of the Nickel Plate road in Cleveland will be removed April 1 from 224 Bank street to 189 Superior street. The West Side office at 534 Pearl street, will still be maintained, April 3-20