The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

MARINE REVIEW. 9 Underwriters Interested. THEY WILL TAKE PART IN THE WORK OF SECURING THE REMOVAL OF CHANNEL OBSTRUCTIONS--ASSISTANCE ASKED FROM THE VESSEL CAPTAINS. Geo. L. McCurdy of Chicago, representing the syndicate of insur- ance companies that is carrying a big share of hull and cargo insurance on the lakes this season, has undertaken a work in which, it would seem, the underwriters should have been interested long ago. He pro- poses to secure from vessel masters, as far as it is possible to do so, re- ports of all sunken rocks, new shoals and other obstructions, and im- mediately take up with government officials the question of having such obstructions removed or properly marked. It is well known, of course, that the Lake Carriers' Association, through its committee on aids to navigation, of which Capt. Geo. P. McKay of Cleveland is chairman, has accomplished a great deal along this line in the past, but Mr. McCurdy proposes to assist the association by systematizing the work and by putting into the hands of every vessel captain blanks on which he may make reports of everything that will tend to decrease the number of accidents on the lakes. With this end in view, and with the idea of working in harmony with the Lake Carriers' Associa- tion, Mr. McCurdy a few days ago addressed the following letter to Capt. McKay: Geo. P. McKay, Chairman Committee on Aids to Navigation, Lake Carriers' Association, Cleveland--Dear Sir:--I know that every- body connected with the insurance business of the lakes feels very grate- fulto you, and to all the executive officers of the Lake Carriers' Associa- tion, in fact, for the interest taken in securing and' disseminating in- formation regarding rocks, shoal spots, sunken wercks, ete. I know also that it is very difficult to secure information of this kind from the vessel masters, but in the interest of my principals in the insurance business, I intend to lend a hand to the work of collecting informa- tion regarding shoal places, misplaced aids to navigation, etc., and through you I respectfully request a little assistance from your associa- tion. My plan is to send out blanks to all masters, asking them to give us such information along this line as may come to their attention at any time during the year. We would immediately take up with the United States engineers, or the officers of the light-house service, any reports of rocks in channels, new shoals, ete. and thus help you with this kind of labor. All we want from your committee is an en- dorsement, which we could send to the vessel captains with the blanks, and which would probably overcome any thought they might have of our efforts being in the nature of aninsurance scheme. Our only aim is to help reduce, as far as possible, the number of accidents due to new shoals and unmarked obstructions of all kinds. Royal Insurance Bldg., Geo. L. McCurdy. Chicago, May 9, 1897. Capt. McKay's answer to the foregoing communication was to the effect that the memebers of the committee heartily endorsed any effort of this kind on the part of the underwriters, especially if it was the intention to communicate with government officials upon the re- ceipt of such information and assist in the great labor that is necessary to bring about the removal of such obstructions. Mr. McCurdy, will now communicate with all captains on the lakes, furnishing them blanks upon which to submit the required in- formation. In a letter to the captains, a copy of which has been sub- mitted, he says: "It is my intention, in behalf of insurance interests on the lakes, to undertake the work of reporting to government en- gineers, and to officials of the United States light-house service, all information that it is possible to secure regarding new shoals, sunken wrecks, misplaced buoys, or obstructions of any kind. It is also the intention of the underwriter whom I represent to assist the Lake Car- riers' Association and the government officials in calling attention to the existence of such obstructions and in endeavoring to have them removed when it is possible to do so. Your assistance is respect- fully requested in this matter. Blanks are enclosed, and we ask you, in the interest of lake shipping generally to report groundings and- anything in the way of hindrances to navigation that may come to your attention during the season. This work is undertaken in the in- terest of all lake vessels as well as that of the underwriters. Please save the blanks for use whenever you can give information regarding obstructions of any kind that may be avoided by other vessels,"' Appointments of captains and engineers for 1897, vest pocket size, $1.00. Order from the Marine Review, Cleveland, Ohio. Affairs of F. W, Wheeler & Co. A notable feat of financiering, which has been brought to a suc cessful issue, is the acceptance by 90 per cent. of the creditors of F. W. Wheeler & Co. of West Bay City of bonds, running from two to seven years at 6 per cent. interest, for their claims, The acceptance of these bonds shows the esteem in which the company is held by its creditors. Although the amount of the bonds, $250,000, is buta small part of the value of the West Bay City ship building plant, yet the prevailing distrust in business circles, and the condition in which: the lake marine finds itself at the opening of navigation this year, are matters that do not make a work of this kind the easiest thing in the. world. = Mr. Wheeler's health, which was in a precarious condition some time ago, has been entirely restored, and he is now hustling around for contracts with his old time vigor. The contract which he secured a few days ago for an ocean tug to go to New Orleans is the only con- tract of importance, excepting the two lake revenue cutters, that has been booked by ship builders on the lakes for some time past. Mr. Jno. §. Porter of Saginaw, who was elected treasurer of F. W. Wheeler & Co. the first of March, has taken hold of the financial affairs of the concern. This will give Mr. Wheeler more time to look after outside matters in connection with contracts and the work of the ship yard. This company is considering an offer of a bonus to move its entire plant to a thriving city in another state. Lake Superior Commerce During April. It is well understood, of course, that the commerce of both canals at Sault Ste. Marie during April was considerably lighter than in April, 1896. Comparative figures would, however, be of little importance as yet, and a statement of the commerce of the canals during the past month is therefore printed herewith without reference to the state- ment relating to the same month a year ago: ; LAKE SUPERIOR COMMERSE DURING APRIL, 1897. REPORTS OF UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN CANALS. : EAST BOUND. Items. Designation. United. Staea eeu Total COppeteteecesaucmiaeeeee Net tons..... 4,837 4,837 Gratien c secretes BuUshiel Sree.) aly 24 0,5 OOM Men cepa steel 1,246,500 Building stone........... Net toms:.c2.|5 ccnccsorecee me cannes seeseiaal| caeenasmentcs ull Uilgeaeesetemeter nse area PBALLEISi auc loMEReYe}0) « |) abcagoncces 161,390 Tier OL etese scene cena Net tous OS TAS altace as teaawes 2,745 icq Tisplceeecesnmeate mee: ING CEOMS sets ts seek se eacen ml meter cies acia mementos Wurm er ae. tacit seh ee esate M. ft, B. M DeTLOAg Fy ic haneaet. se '> 2,110 Silver Ore..........000-000. NGttonse ede: ci. sheesh cc acocesnecee ome eee seeeesepers NV Hea thencemmenireeereenen Bushels...... 2,240,271 375300 22077. e Unclassified freight...| Net tons REVI Nc sacecarca 334i. PASSENZETS. .....2000-000-. Number TTS) | seeeeesyertcteets 15 "WEST BOUND. - 'Items. Destination. United ab iates Canadian Total. Coal, hard............c0 '| Net tons..... 12,496> 4,400 16,896 Coal) SOft i. sccecccserssns Net tons..... 44,974 4,400 - 49374. Flour..... eee Barrels .c.g0c]| 0: wesecerecsreer|) quschcetee inet ted (aan tasteetete (Gai eameeuies cone toeas eee Bushels*icsc lesen cca sehen eee ate oprpdenp elle poe decir Manufactured iron.....| Net tons.... 1,403 screen nets 1,403 Salles. seeteiceenacttunuamc Barrels...... 12,400 | sveeeeeeeeee 12,400 Unclassified. freight...) Net tons.... 7,895 1,281): 9,176 PASSENZETS veoecaeer ess ++- Number...... 16 25. AI Bast bound freight, net toms........sicsecescssneeeeeserecenencerseeseeeerecees : 120,794 West bound freight, net toms......-.sscersseeeeerteececeeerarearensens 78,709 Totals j.deviccCicecuntcalocbedaanestocy ecco sqeeuteerarey canqias tes dames (ames 199,503 Total craft, United States.. .......csccsesccscerrccussssenssenes 229 Total craft, Canadian ..........0teecsseeneeceenee ees acca Se eeees 32 261 Total registered tonnage, United States......seeereeres 227,634 Total registered tonnage, Camadiat......ssesseeeesseee seers 22,065 249,699 "Wh y not patronize the Nickel Plate road on your next trip to New | York City or Boston. "They operate solid through trains, elegantly L equidped with palace'sleepers, and fine day coaches attended by uni- formed colored porters, whose duties require them to look out for the The popular low - 48 June 10 - comfort of passengers. Magnificent dining cars. rate short line.