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ieee MARINE REVIEW. Bon XV: CLEVELAND, O., MAY 20, 1897. No. 21. Ore Sales--Lake Freight Matters. If we include the Mesabi ores that will be taken by the Carnegie Steel Co. and the Illinois Steel Co. under special contracts, as well as ores that are provided for by manufacturers who are interested in mining companies, the total sales to date will probably foot up close to 6,000,- 000 tons, and yet there seems to be even more delay than there was a month ago in everything pertaining to the lake business of the present season. Only one block of ore, 150,000 tons, has been covered by lake freight contracts during the past week. It is to be moved from-the head of the lakes, and about half of it was contracted at 70 cents for the full season with the balance at 60 cents to Sept. 1. As an indication of the capacity of vessels now controlled by the ore companies, it may be noted that at least two of these companies that are unable to provide for their own vessels were applicants for the ore above referred to, and at the rates stated. Vessel owners are beginning to realize the great effect of deep water from Lake Superior, which is in many cases increasing the capacity of vessels full 20 per cent. over last spring, and it is on this account that so many of them are anxious to make ore contracts on the basis of 70 cents from the head of Lake Superior. It must be admitted, however, that the proportion of the lake fleet still out of commission is very large, and this condition will certainly have a marked effect on the business that must be crowded into the latter part of the season. But few of the large interests Seem to have any re- gard for this view of the future, and the lake freight market as far as single trip charters for ore is concerned shows no improvement. Single trip engagements do not amount in number to more than three or four daily and the market is weak at 60 cents from the head of the lakes, 50 cents from Marquette and 40 cents from Escanaba. Quite a large fleet of vessels is now bound to the head of the lakes without charters for return cargoes, and if ore shippers were so disposed they could very probably reduce the rate which these vessels must accept on return trips. Detroit River Currents, Some time ago, while the barge Geo. E. Hartnell was in tow of a steamer passing up Detroit river, and just after passing the Lime- Kiln crossing light-vessel (south), she was struck by what Capt. Jones thinks Was a cross current, and swung across to the east (Canadian) bank, where she struck about midway between the south and north light ves- sels. The barge Arenac and other vessels have had a similar expe- rience. Capt. Jones suggests that vessels in tow shorten up on the tow line and the towing steamer keep well to the west side, when pass- ing this point with large barges deeply laden. A little farther up the river, the current sets in a directly opposite direction. About one mile above the Lime-Kiln crossing light-vessel (north), and approxi- mately half-way between it and Ballard's reef light-vessel, the set of the current is westerly. This information is from a report submitted to the branch hydrographic office at Cleveland by Capt. John F. Jones of the Hartnell, ' Holland Submarine Boat. The Holland submarine torpedo boat, launched at Elizabeth, N. J., Monday, and christened Holland, is cylindrical, 50 feet 3 inches long, with a 4-foot screw-protecting extension. The diameter is 10 feet 3 inches amidships; moulded diameter is the same. Itis expected that this vessel will travel under water 8 knots an hour for eight hours and 10 knots an hour on the surface. engine and a dynamo, the former to be used when the boat is sailing along the surface and the latter when submerged. It will take less than a minute to submerge and about the same length of time to rise. Armament consists of three torpedo tubes, to discharge high explos- ives. Six men will constitute the crew. A similar vessel is being built under a special appropriation made by the United States govern- Ment, but this one is for sale. The Review has excellent photographs of lake ships. mediately to 18 feet. street depot for handling flour in large quantities. Power comes from a gasoline | Grain and Flour Business at Cleveland, Alike to all of the other railway lines tributary to the lakes, the C. C. C. & St. L. Co. (Big Four) is making an effort to increase its grain and flour business, and a new elevator and flour storage hand-. ling plant now being erected by this company will again place Cleve- land among the grain ports of the lakes. erected on what is known as the Cincinnati slip, will be of 500,000 ~ bushels capacity, and will be operated by the Cleveland Grain Oo. =, of which C. G. Watkins of Sheldon, Il1., is president, and C. B. Cong- don of Chicago is secretary. The principals of this company are men fully acquainted with the grain business, and they have entered into close relations with the railway company and the Cleveland Steel Canal Boat Co. in undertaking the Cleveland enterprise. They expect to handle 25,000 cars of grain annually. A large part of this grain - will be moved from Cleveland to New York in the vessels of the canal boat company, as it is intended to fill up the canal boat fleet at all times when other freight is not offering. The slip on which the elevator is being built is 650 feet in length and is to be deepened im- -- The side'of the slip not occupied by the elevator is to be used by the canal boat company for its general business. In connection' with this grain business, the Big Four company is also rebuilding the docks and warehouse on the site of the old Merwin The flour business is to be secured through the traffic arrangement announced some time ago between northwestern roads and President Iugalls, representing the Chesapeake & Ohio and Big Four companies. The northwestern roads are the Chicago & Northwestern, [linois Central and Wisconsin Central. These roads are to deliver flour at Manitowoc to the Gordon _ line of steamers, which will bring it to Cleveland. From Cleveland -- it will go over the Big Four and Chesapeake & Ohio to Newport News, where it will be shipped in vessels of the C. & O. company to _ Liverpool, thus affording a through bill of lading from points of -- original shipment to foreign consumers. Work on fitting up the ware--_ house for this flour business is now under way and is being pushed rapidly. -- Pam ser fe Tu, by eueeaeeg one te reel Cb pitas eee eee Canal Boat Co. has had a great deal to do with bringing together the | interests that have combined to build up these new enterprises. The canal boat. company has also been an important factor in developing Cleveland business in other lines, especially an export trade that was _ unthought of a short time ago. Full 90 per cent. of the canal boat business east bound has been for export. They now have under way shipments of 553 tons of nails that are being forwarded to Japanby = the H-P Nail Co. They also have 100 tons of wire for Buenos Ayres. The canal boats have also enabled the Cleveland City Forge & Iron Co. to build the big rudders which they have under way for the battle- ships Kearsarge, Kentucky, Illinois and Alabama, building at Newport News and Philadelphia. These big iron forgings, weighing twenty-five tons each in the rough, are so large that they can not be shipped over a railway, on account of bridge and tunnel obstructions, but the Cleve- land concern secured the contract through an arrangement with the canal boat company to take them by lake and canal to New York, where they will be transferred to ocean vessels for shipment to the coast ship yards. Col. G. J. Lydecker opened bids at Detroit recently on three dredg- ing jobs at Belle river, Clinton river and Black river, and the work was secured by E. H. Hal! of Detroit, whose bids are certainly re- markably low as compared with those of his competitors. The price per yard, scow measure, bid by the different firms were as follows: On Black river, Hall, 8 cents; Carkin & Cram, Detroit, 25 cents; MeCul- lom &; Lee, Port Huron, 24 cents, and James Rooney, Toledo, 14 cents; on the mouth of the Black river, 10, 28, 294 and 21 cents, re- spectively; on the Belle river, 11, 20, 24 and 14 cents, respectively; and on Clinton river, 15, 24 and 18 cents, McCullom & Lee not bidding. The elevator, which is being . é It is understood that Mr. ce E, 'Wheeler of the Cleveland Steel ¥ oe