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14 MARINE ' REVIEW. -An Unsuccessful Experiment. The announcement that Secretary Long of the navy department has directed that the use of non-inflamable wood in the construction of war ships shall be stopped for the present is somewhat surprising in view of numerous favorable-reports regarding the use of this material during the past two or three years. But the secretary seems to have taken a 'Serisible Course in the matter. Non-inflamable wood was used in plank- ing decks and in furnishing the living quarters of the ships. Practical tests have shown that the wood will not take paint readily, and that, owing. to the-chemicals with which it is treated, it easily disintegrates and corrodes all metal with which it comes in contact. _The use of non-in- flammable wood was due to the lessons taught by the battle of the Yalu dur- ing the war between Japan and China. It will be remembered that the most important lesson taught by that memorable conflict was that the fire of modern weapons is so searching that only the heavily armored portions of the ship escape its full force. As a result of the constant bursting of shells; all inflammable material in the furnishing of the ship is readily set on fire: The Chinese ships were constantly set on fire, and the task of extinguishing the flames interfered materially with the workings of the batteries of the-ships. seas Re 4 Almost 'immediately after the battle of the Yalu constructors in all important navies set about eliminating from the construction of warships 'all inflammable material possible. The necessity for eliminating wood as much as possible led to a number of inventions and the method of treating wood so as to render it non-inflammable was one of the outcomes "of this movement. The practical failure of non-inflammable wood is ot _ some consequence, because the Iowa, the latest of our battleships, is pro- vided with' fittings of this material, and the Helena, one of the new gun- boats, is also.similarly provided. The career of these vessels will demon- _strate fully whether the defects said to 'be discoverable in the non-inflam- "mable wood are as bad as claimed. _. Salaries of Steamboat Inspectors, Dispatches from Washington have caused the impression in some quarters that important changes have been made in salaries of local steamboat inspectors. _This is a mistake. In accordance with the law of March 1, 1895, salaries of these inspectors are regulated according to the. _ number of steam vessels inspected' in their respective districts during the fiscal year of the treasury department, which ends June 30. In. districts inspecting 100 steamers and less the salary is $1,200 a year; 100 steamers and less than 150, $1,500; 150°and less than 200, $1,800; 200 and less than -800,. $2,000;. 300-and less than 500, $2,250; 500 and upward. $2,500. Only "one district in the country, New York, comes within the $2,500 class, but the salary of $2,250 is paid in six districts, including Buffalo and Cleveland on the lakes. Salaries in other lake districts at present are: Grand Haven, Port Huron, Milwaukee, Chicago and Duluth, $2,000; Oswego and De- troit, $1,800; Marquette, $1,500. -- ewes Designing a Steamship. _ Nowadays very little latitude is left to a designer, especially in cargo --vessels, as the builder has generaly to conform to the rules of some reg- istry society and obtain their classification. Of these societies there are ' . a considerable number; the most important are Lloyd's Registry for the British and Foreign 'Shipping, the French Bureau Veritas, and the British Corporation for the Survey and Registry of Shipping. ~ Classification has now become practically compulsory in the United Kingdom since the passing of the 1890 load line act, and these three bodies are licensed by 'the board of trade to assign freeboards along with that board. Now, a freeboard can only be assigned when a vessel is up to a certain standard of strength, and must be assigned by one of the above a5 S. ENGINEER OFFICE, Duluth, Minn.. : e July 10, 1897.--Sealed proposals for build- ing two breakwater piers, each some 2700 feet long, at Lake Superior entrance to Portage Lake Ship Canals, Mich., will be received here until noon, Sept. 10, 1897, and then publicly opened. Information furnished on applica- oe 5 CLINTON B. SEARS, Major Engrs. ept. 3. : §. ENGINEER OFFICH, TELEPHONE "e Building, Detroit, Mich., Aug. 2, 1897. Sealed Proposals for Dredging and Subma- rine Rock Excavation, in the St. Marys river, Mich., will be received here until 12 o'clock noon (Standard time) August 81, 1897, and then publicly opened. Apply here, or at U.S. Engineer Office, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., for specifications. G. J. LYDECKER, Lt. Col., Engrs. The Bessemer Steamship Company Solicits Catalcgues, Prices and Disccunts from manufacturers and wholesale dealers in Ship Machinery, Brass Goods, Rope, Paints, Asbestos, Packing, Hose, Furniture, Piping, Glass and Crock- ery, Tinware, Ranges, Carpeting, Bedding, Life-preservers, Rafts and Boats, Engineers' Supplies and Tools, Carpenters' Tools, Elec tric Supplies, Lamps, G-ate Bars, Castings, etc., etc., etc. ALSO QUOTATIONS from Market men and Grocers on the Lakes for Provisions and Meat, best quality only. . CATALOGUES without quotations are not wanted. ALL GOODS except provisions to be delivered in Cleveland. é Address Ll. M. BOWERS, General Manager, os _ CLEVELAND, OHIO. ---- mentioned bodies, and it will thus be seen that a designer's originality js much restricted. It is fortunate, however, that we escaped the imposition of a monopoly in the assignment of freeboards which nearly became law in 1890, or even the small freedom which is now left the designer would b this time, have practically vanished. aD The designer, therefore, in preparing his midship section, has simp] to turn up the rules of the registry society chosen, where he will find ie scantlings for the ship of the dimensions chosen, given with more or less clearness.--Archibald Denny. es In General. _ Chitose and Kasagi are the names selected for the Japanese cruisers building by the Cramps and the Union Iron Works, respectively, . The motion for injunction.in the suit of Cahall vs. Babcock & Wilcox for infringements of patents has been decided in favor of the Babcuck & Wilcox Co. in the United States court, western district of Pennsylvania. The Penberthy Injector Co. of Detroit, through one of its head officials, states that the month of June of this year was the banner month for the sale of their injectors, the total sales being the largest of any month since their plant was established, eleven years ago. Lloyd's register, has obtained a two-months' leave of absence, and while his office is closed all surveys for the register or other accounts will be attended to by the society's chief surveyor in New York, Mr. T. Congdon No. 15 Whitehall street. ---- : French naval officers are said to have discovered a composition that has the marvelous property of rendering vessels invisible beneath the rays of electric searchlights. It is stated that at the naval maneuvers off Brest, a torpedo boat coated with the new composition and representing the enemy, succeeded in traversing unseen the luminous zone produced by the electric projector. Sake A very large sale of capstans is reported by the American Ship Wind- lass Co. of Providence, R. I., during the first seven months of the year, With only one or two exceptions they have had the largest seven months' sales of capstans recorded on their books since beginning business. Within the last two months they "have sent thirty-four of these capstans into one state, and that the next to the smallest state in the union. The Globe Iron Works Co., Cleveland, has awarded the contract for supplying a complete outfit of steam pumps for the United States revenue cutters Nos. 4 and 5, building for lake service, to the Geo. F. Blake Mfg. Co. The outfit will consist of main and auxiliary feed pumps, fire pumps, water supply pumps, bilge pumps and air compressing pumps for the water supply system of the vessels; also the independent air pumps for the main condensers, which will be of the Blake vertical twin type. Pumps of similar make were supplied the revenue cutter Gresham, built by the Globe company, and also to the cutters Daniel Manning and McCulloch, built on the coast. $3.00 to Niagara Falls via the Nickel Plate road, Aug. 5. Special train leaves Cleveland at 10:00 p. m. Sleepers. 43, Aug 5 Chas. E. & W. F. Peck, 58 William St, 812 Royal Insurance Building, NEW YORK CITY. : °VOHICAGO, ILL. Cc. T. BOWRING & CO., 5 & 6 Billiter Ave., E.C. > LONDON, ENG. INSURANCE. | LA SALLE & C0. BROWN & CO., J.G. KEITH & CO., t 202 Main St., 138 Rialto Bldg., Board of Trade Bldg,, Buffalo. N. Y. Chicavo, Ill. Duluth, Minn. Are prepared to make rates on all classes of Marine Insurance on the great lakes both CARGOES and HULLS. ne i : "CREAT LAKES RECISTER." F. D. HERRIMAN, Surveyor-General, Chicago, Ill. Newport News Shiphualding & Dey Dock COMPANY. | WORKS AT NEWPORT NEWS, VA. (On Hampton Roads.) Equipped with a Simpson's Basin Dry Dock capable of docking a vessel 600 feet long, drawing 25 feet of water, at any stage of the tide. Repairs made vromptly and at reasonable rates, SHIP AND ENGINE BUILDERS. For estimates and further particulars, address C. B. ORCUTT, Pres', No. | Broadway. New York. Mr. John Haug of Philadelphia, ship and engineer surveyor for. haat