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VOL evel An Output of Twelve Million Tons, It is now more than probable that the output of iron ore (lake and rail shipments) from the Lake Superior mining region will aggregate 12,000,000 gross tons, or about 2,000,000 tons more than during any season of the past. Shipments to Nov. 1, as reported officially from the dock managers to the sales agents of Cleveland, foot up 11,270,283, as against 9,093,207 tons on the same date in 1896. _When the November shipments, which will undoubted- ly exceed 500,000 tons, and the season's rail movement are added to these ps of Nov 1, it is quite certain that the aggregate will be full twelve millions. It is no wonder, therefore, that the season of navigation is closing with- out great interest in the lake freight market, except as regards the position of the soft coal shippers, who are now bidding up rates, in some cases above 50 cents a ton to both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior points, but who will be unable to move all the coal that will be required, no matter what the advance in rates may be. The heavy ore shipments show' how fully the ore dealers took advantage of deep water and low rates to move ore in immense quantities, when it was found, two or three months ago, that there was to be a demand during the winter for about all of the ore that could be produced. It is fortunate that the present consumption of ore gives promise of cleaning up this heavy supply before another season's business is begun. 'Within the past week transactions in the iron industry have included quite a large amount of business for the early part of 1898, but there is nothing of the nature of a boom about the market. The strongest feature of the iron industry, in fact, is the dispostion of sellers to avoid high prices, on-account of the disastrous results of unreasonable profits in the past. Much Trouble Over a Small Case. During full four weeks, ending with Saturday last, Harvey D. Goulder of Cleveland and C. E. Kremer of Chicago were steadily engaged on a law suit, which was being tried to a jury before Judge Dellenbaugh in the common pleas court at Cleveland. The case was not an important one for either of the lawyers, who have met in the United States courts in many big suits, but they fowght every inch of it in the slow and unsatisfactory manner in which marine cases always drag on jury trial, and were awarded for their efforts by a disagreement. It was an action brought by the Shores Lumber 'Co. of Chicago and Ashland against the Wolverine Barge 'Co. for some $23,000. The Wolverine Barge Co. built the steamer Adella Shores at Gibraltar, Mich., and sold her to the Shores Lumber Co. The latter company now claims, in substance, that they did not get a good ship; that the vessel was poorly constructed, and that they had to spend prac- tically the amount for which they are suing in rebuilding her. The answer from the other side is that the vessel was examined on the stocks before she was purchased; that she was overloaded shortly after going into com- mission; that she was damaged by stranding on Skilagalee reef, etc. Of course these are only main points in the case. 'There was no end of tes- timony introduced in connection with matters hinging upon the principal issues, and with everything new to the jury the trial was necessarily long drawn out and furnished some amusing incidents. Eee, Look at Your Bills of Lading. A Cleveland vessel owner who a few days ago chartered one of his vessels to take coal from' Ashtabula to Lake Linden at 50 cents a ton was surprised, upon looking over the bill of lading that was forwarded to him, to find that the printed portion of it contained this clause: -- It is also agreed that the shipper shall be held blameless for any delay in discharg- ing cargo." This clause is not altogether new, as it 1s made a part of bills of lading by a few coal shippers, but imagine the further surprise of this particular vessel owner when he found the following note written at the bottom of the same bill: '"Consignee not to be held responsible for any delay in discharging cargo." Of course the bill was not signed by the vessel man, who in these days of coal shortages throughout the sere could afford to be independent with the shipper of the coal. It is not prob- able that such a document would stand in law in event, of unusual delay to the vessel, if it had slipped through after being signed in blank by the cap- tain, as is often the case, or if it had been hurriedly signed and no aveneee given to these clauses. It would seem, however, that VES a ae bills of lading will do well to be at all times fully acquainte with thei provisions. ; Rai Harbors The new dock for the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad at Two " will cost about $185,000 and will have a capacity of 38,000 tons. eee be 208 pockets and the dock will be 1,248 feet long, with a iD: eS feet ard an approach of 600 feet. The height will be 50 feet: fee en of this dock in the place of an old dock that will be torn sont ¥ et é total capacity of 137,000 tons at this port, or a shipping Gaee y oh ee 3,500,000 tons ina season. At Duluth the No. 2.dock of t iS ulu a Mere & Northern road will be extended 576 feet, giving 17,000 tons a capacity. : es SE ee panes M. A. Bradley of Cleveland is about to leave the shipping ces in the Western Reserve building and remove his office up ree 'pe his own big blocks. -Although he has some eee ie wae ee ne he says that his vessel interests are no longer an important p usiness. MARINE REVI CLEVELAND, O., NOVEMBER 11, 1897. ee No. 20. _ Detroit's Share of Ship-Yard Work. . Detroit, Nov..10.--With each week the Dry Dock Engine Works of this city announces.one or two new contracts for the application of How- den jhot draft to. lake steamers, and it would seem that the work that is accumulating here inthis line, together with the hull work on two passen- ger steamers to be built at the Wyandotte ship yard, will give the two con- cerns--Detroit Dry (Dock Co. and Dry Dock Engine Works--their full share of the winter's business in ship building. As an indication of the progress that is being made with the application of this draft system to lake vessels, it may be noted that in 1893, when it was first installed in a lake ship, the horse power inyolved was only 12,592; it increased in 1894 to 15,264; in 1895 to 26,671; in 1896 to 48,224, and now, up to Nov. 1 of this year, the total horse power on the lakes is 54,010 in forty-two vessels. From present indications the important question with the management of the engine works will be to conclude, early enough, arrangements that are now going on with other owners who are figuring on the draft, so as to bring their vessels here before the close of navigation and have them equipped during the winter. These contracts involve, of course, in most cases, the construction of new boilers and alterations in machinery, and when taken collectively, they represent a large amount of work. The latest order for the Howden draft is in connection with the con- tract for a new steel passenger and freight steamer, to be built by the dry dock company for 'Dunbar & McMillan, and which is to run between Michigan (City and Chicago. This steamer will be in a general way similar to the Wyandotte, built here some time ago. She will be 160 feet long over all, and with engines of 800 horse power will have a speed of about 15 miles an hour. Engines will be triple expansion with cylinders of 15, 24 and 38 inches diameter by 24 inches stroke, and there will be two boilers of cylindrical type. . The vessel is to be ready for service next June. - E. C. Dunbar of Grand Haven is the founder of the line between Michigan City and Chicago, on which the new boat willbe put. For three years he has operated the small steamer Taylor on the route, and says his success has been such as to warrant the larger boat. Maurice McMillan is the young- est son of 'Hugh McMillan, president of. the dry dock company, and a brother of Secretary Gilbert McMillan, of the company. This is his: first business venture. he SI elie ake ; ee The dry dock company has also secured from the Detroit & Cleveland Steam Navigation Co. the contract for extensive improvements that-are to be made in four of the big side-wheel passenger steamers operated by that company. The steamers Alpena and Mackinac are each to receive an- other tier of staterooms, and the Detroit and Cleveland are to have a few more added to their upper tiers. 'All the dining-rooms are to be rebuilt and fitted with the patent ventilating apparatus used so successfully upon the City of Buffalo. eee _ At the West Superior Ship Yard. West Superior, Wis., Nov. 7.--A rapid repair job on the whaleback barge No. 116 was completed here a few days ago. The vessel was in dock 'only three days, and in that time twelve plates (two of them keel plates) were taken off, four being replaced by new plates and eight rolled and re- placed. In addition to these there were twenty-two damaged frames, two floors, two corrugated fenders 16 feet long, and five girder stiffeners, as well as some ceiling and six dents to be fixed. Half of the bottom was caulked anda large number of rivets hardened up. The pneumatic caulker was used on this job and worked very well. With the new air compressor installed the barge company is now prepared to do the greater part of its work with pneumatic tools, which is a big advantage from the standpoint of expense. There was some overtime on this job, and the strong light produced by the ten arc lights of 2,000 candle power each, gave the yard in the vicinity of the dry. dock a day-light appearance. fh ha The mold loft has been lengthened 100 feet and several arc lights put in. Another time-saving device is a telephone connecting the drawing office and the mold loft. The foundations for the new gantry crane are completed, ready for the columns, _ About 450 tons of material is in the yard for the two new vessels and 1,700 tons is on the way. H. F. Cowdin of West Superior, was the lowest bidder for the machine shop and the work of construction is now being. pushed along. It has been proposed to ask the government to bestow a medal upon Capt. Frank Root of the Minnesota line steamer 'Mariposa for skill and courage displayed in the rescue of two survivors of the ill-fated steamer Idaho. If Capt. Root will-consent to recognition in this way, the medal will undoubtedly be secured though a special act of congress may be re- quired to cover a case of this kind. The experienced vessel man can alone appreciate the danger and skill of an act like that performed by Capt. Root and his crew. This. paragraph from resolutions adopted by the 'Buffalo Merchants' Exchange puts the matter in good form: "In bringing a great steel steamer, nearly 350 feet long, in such a heaving sea, alongside the spar to which the two unfortunate men were clinging for their lives, with a skill and nicety which enabled the rescue to be successfully made, Capt. Root and his officers and crew not only proved themselves possessed of the highest skill and discipline as seamen, but showed a courage, coolness and nerve which belong only to the truly brave. Their seamanship and their courage were both brought to a supreme test and both proved unsur- passed." 'Members of the Buffalo organization were also thoughtful in referring to the praise accorded 'Capt. Root by the owners of the Mariposa. A valuable property belonging to them was subjected to much additional danger by Capt. Root's exploit, but they proved by their immediate com- mendation of his conduct that with them humanity takes precedence of a selfish prudence.