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g 7 MARINE Prizes for Captains and Mates. Lake masters and mates who show the greatest proficiency i in the study of navigation as taught by W. J. Wilson of the United States hydrographic office, are to be rewarded by substantial cash prizes offered by George L. McCurdy, the insurance man. The idea is that fewer wrecks will occur if the captains are better schooled in practical navigation. There are to be two first prizes of $50 for each class, and three prizes of $25 for each class. The school, which is at 20 Michigan ave., Chicago, was organized by Mr. Wilson in the winter of 1895-'96 at the suggestion of C. D. Sigsbee, U. 8. N., then United States hydrographer at Washington. As soon as the captains found that the school was to teach something of practical value, they encouraged the project, although at first they regarded it as an experiment. During the last winter of the sixty-five pupils twenty-five were captains and mates, some of whom had grown gray in the service. Mr. Wilson said that the lake captains as a class are a very intelligent body of men, and readily acquire a knowledge of the subject. Mr. Wilson added: '""Ryery hour which the men who are intrusted with lives and valuable property devote to the systematic study of the science of navigation, which is absolutely necessary for the lake region, adds just so much to the safety of all who sail the lakes, either as passengers or members of crews, as well as to the vessel herself and the cargo she carries.'""' The examinations are to be subject to the supervision of Captain F.D.Herriman, surveyor general of the Great Lakes Register. Bids for 30-Knot Torpedo Boats, The opening of bids at the Navy department, Washington, for three 30-knot torpedo boats demonstrated the belief that the coming navies would be made up of small speedy vessels, for the largest build- ers put in bids for these little craft. The bids were as follows: Geo. Lawley & Son of Boston, one boat of 410 tons, for $280,000; Union Iron Works of San Francisco, one 330-ton boat, $245,250; two of the same for $490,500. One boat of 284 tons, for $225,000; two for $440,- 000; Harlan & Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Del., one boat of 276 tons for $214,000, one of 340 tons for $235,000, or both for $449,000. One 267-ton boat for $212,000, with one of 340 tons for $235,000, or $447,000 for both. Another of 340 tons for $236,000, and still another of the same size for $233,500, or for both $467,000. One boat of 276 tons for $215,000, or two of same for $425,000. One boat of 276 tons for $213,000 and for two $421,000; Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia, one 340-ton boat for $245,000; Bath Iron Works of Maine, one 300-ton boat for $217,900, or two for $432,000; Columbian Iron Works of Baltimore, Md., one 230-ton boat for $210,000, or two for $415,000. One 230-ton boat for $195,000, or two for $385,000. One 260-ton boat $225,000, or two for $444,000. One 230-ton boat and one 260-ton boat for $435,000 for both. Another pair of boats of 230 tons and 260 tons at $411,500 for both; the Gas Engine and Power Company of New York, one 235-ton boat for $210,000, or two for $410,000; John H. Dialogue of Camden, N. J., one 243-ion boat for $248,000, or two for $478,000. - One 270-ton boat for $269,000; Wolff & Zwicker of Portland, Oregon, one 249-ton boat for $214,500, or two for $424,000; Chas. Hillman Shipbuilding and Engine Company of Philadelphia, one 270 ton boat for $230,000. Another Dock at West Superior, At the meeting of stockholders of the American Steel Barge Com- pany at West Superior, recently, President Colgate Hoyt said that orders had been given to continue investigations and borings and estimates of cost fora new dry dock to be the largest on the lakes. He added that the policy of the company was a waiting one--ready to take advantage the instant the first turn for better times comes, and said that they were figuring on putting improved machinery into the works and putting the yards in such shape that with the least possible expenditure of money the best ships could be produced, A report from the state department shows that the coal product of the United States in 1896 was 190,639,959 short tons, valued at $195, - 557,649, against 193,117,530 short fons, valued at $197,799,043 in 1895 a ceeieice of 2,477,571 short tons in amount and of $2,241,394 in value. The decrease in product was entirely in Pennsylvania antlindeite. The output of bituminous coal shows an increase of about 1 750,000 tons. Japan has ordered a battleship of 11,000 tons to be built on the Clyde, on the same style as the 15,000-ton Been battleshi ot of seventeen. knots, p Jupiter, REVIEW. Wreck of the Neptune. Editor Marine Review: --l oc in the Review of June 24 an article, "'A Wreck Full of Rum.' Friend Quinn may be a good diver, but he did not dive deep enough to get at that rum story. In Novmber, 1839, the craft I was sailing in was laid up. I saw Capt, Sims, master of brig Neptune. cargo for Chicago, and said, Came and ship with me and I will pay you $2.50 per day for the round trip." 1 said that was better pay than he got as master. She was in Buffalo unloading wheat, which was loaded in Milan, Ohio. She had on 9,000 bushels. JI went into hold and passed up pails of wheat which was weighed into canal boats. She had another canal boat alongside with goods for Chicago. Capt, Webster was mate keeping tally of the wheat. I was called up to keep tally of goods as they came on deck from the canal boat. When the wheat was out we had half of a cargo in for Chicago. We hada good run to Detroit, taking only 30 hours. She took on flour and pork there. When the hold was full we put the pork on deck with the whiskey for Mackinaw island. I was stowing flour below. The hooks of the tackle slipped and a barrel fell on my foot. TI told Cap- tain Sims I was not fit to go, and so I got him a good man in my place. The captain paid my passage to Hrie on the steamer. The Neptune got to Mackinaw all right, but when they got above Point Betsey there came on an awful storm with blinding snow from the west. They could see nothing. The deck load washed off and the mainmast went by the board. They let both anchors go and she dragged her anchors with all the chain. The ends of chain were made fast to pawl post below and they could not let them go, She dragged on to outer bar 34 miles south of Pentwater, Lake Michigan. The fore scuttle washed off and she filled in the forecastle. It was freezing and great seas were going all over her. The crew got ashore on the mast. The snow was quite deep. A barrel of whiskey came on shore. They put the whiskey in their boats and went to Muske- gon. Captain Sims and Webster both had cork legs but were both good seamen, having come in at the hawse-pipe to the cabin. Sombra, Ont., June 28, 1897. Charles Gale. A Whaleback to Circle the Globe. Capt. Alex. McDougall has just returned from San Francisco, where he went to arrange for the sailing of the whaleback City of Everett to Calcutta with grain for the starving Hindoos. She will be the first merchant steamer to carry to the harbor of Calcutta the American flag. It is regarded as probable that the crew of the Everett will not see the American flag during the entire voyage unless they come across an American man-of-war. The whaleback steamer may go around the world on this trip. The material from which she was constructed was dug from Minnesota iron mines. The pig iron was produced in Duluth and the plates were rolled at West Superior. It is not improbable that she will take a cargo from Calcutta for New York and come around via the Suez canal. It is about 9,500 nautical miles to Calcutta from San Francisco and it is expected the trip will occupy forty days. The steamer has six month' stores aboard, 1,200 tons of coal and 150 tons of water. She is loaded to 22 feet. Stocks of Grain at Lake Ports. The following table, prepared from reports of the Chicago board of trade, shows the Focks of wheat and corn in store in regular eleva- tors at the principal points of accumulation on the lakes, June 26, 1897: Wheat, bushels. Corn, bushels. Chica moments: vise ti idape ces ocean « 4,101,000 7,678,000 Dulari, ere Os 25% 1,531,000 15,000 Millwwankeerrn s,s. oe he he. Ga 106,000 3,000 WDGIMOMpeeeeterp eels ccc feet cee 23,000 37,000 MOled Ome vec here cee ok 231,000 746; 000 Urals ies ek ee, es 953,000 527,000 6,945,000 9,006,000 As compared with a week ago, the above figures show, at the sev~ eral points named, a decrease of 912,000 bushels of wheat and 144,000 bushels of corn. Located on the south shore of Lake Erie, contiguous to the Nickel Plate road, are many country homes that will accommodate summer boarders. Send to B.F. Horner, general passenger agent of the Nickel Plate road at Cleveland, O., and he will forward you a list on receipt of a two cent stamp. 56 Jul 15 He told me he was going to take on a +