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14 MARINE REVIEW. [June 26 FOR LIGHTERAGE SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES. A couple of illustrations on this page show how some of the vessels formerly operated by the Cleveland Steel Canal Boat Co. between Cleve- land and New York were recently loaded onto the decks of big ocean tramps in New York harbor and taken to the Philippines. It will be remembered that the Cleveland Steel Canal Boat Co. some time ago sold all its vessels (nineteen of them) to the Philippine Transportation & 'Construction Co., a New Jersey corporation of $1,000,000 capital, organ- ized to undertake the lightering of vessels in the Philippines, principally in Manila harbor. The crude methods of transferring cargo to and from vessels at Manila and other points in the Philippines has several times been referred to in these columns. It has been explained that the work is done mainly by small boats known as cascoes, which are of only about 15 tons capacity and propelled principally by poles. Mr. Henry F. Lyman of Cleveland, president of the canal boat company, had gained, through Co. were engaged in putting the barges upon the steamer. The thirteen other canal vessels were cut into sections and stored in the holds of the big ships. ; Phe Melbourne has arrived' at Hongkong with her cargo of boats and the turret steamer, the Poplar Branch, is due there shortly. The four steam canal boats will each tow a barge from: Hongkong to Manila. The other canal barges will be towed by steam vessels regularly engaged in trade between Hongkong and Manila. Of course the plans of the Philippine Transportation & Construction Co, contemplate business other than the mere operation of the canal boats in the lighterage trade. MR. BAKER ON THE MORGAN SHIPPING COMBINE. Mr. Bernard N. Baker, president of the Atlantic Transport line, in an interview upon the Morgan shipping combination in London, said: "We are contemplating various steps which will be greatly to the TURRET STEAMER POPLAR BRANCH WITH TWO STEEL CANAL BOATS ON DECK. other business associations, a thorough knowledge of the hemp trade in the Philippines. This prompted an investigation of the lighterage condi- tions, in which Mr. Lyman was joined by Mr. C. E. Wheeler, manager of the canal boat company. Satisfied that modern methods must be applied to the business, a movement to interest capital in New York was undertaken, and the result was the formation of the Philippine Trans- portation & Construction Co., and the sale to that company of the fleet of steel canal boats--four steamers and fifteen 'barges--that had been carrying sugar, grain and general merchandise between New York and Hoisting Steel Canal Boat to Deck of Turret Steamer Poplar Branch. Cleveland by way of the Erie canal and Lake Erie. Mr. Lyman is presi- dent of the new company, Mr. Wheeler manager in the Philippines, and Mr. Ira Taylor in charge of the New York office, which is at No. 20 Broad street. _ For moving the canal boats to the Philippines two large ocean freighters--the Poplar Branch and the Melbourne--were chartered, Of course, these vessels took out general cargo from New York, but they had to be chartered outright on account of the special conditions attend- ing the transport of the canal boats, which are of 400 to 450 tons capacity each. Four of the canal boats were carried on the deck of the Melbourne and two on the deck of Poplar Branch, which, it will be noted, is one of the turret type of ship. The service of the Merritt & Chapman Wrecking public's convenience and economy. Before long the benefits of the com- bination will become patent to every individual crossing the Atlantic. As to the rival, all-British combine, I can only say that we welcome it. The Atlantic is big enough for us all. If they think they can do better by com- bining, they would be foolish if they did not. If they intend to depend on increased government subsidies rather than on diminution of expenses and improvement of the service, I think they are mistaken. But I suppose they know what they are about. We are not worrying. Prior to the formation of our combine we had the opportunity of acquiring several more lines than were eventually included, and some of those which were not acquired are now prominently mentioned as factors in the rumored rival combine. However, when the latter materializes into something more than mere suggestions it will be time enough to discuss it. One of the motives attributed by a section of the English press as constituting the necessity for an all-British trust, namely, the likelihood of the Morgan organization putting all its vessels under the American flag, is absurd. We would not do it if we could, and we cannot. There seems to have been quite a little hysteria over here on the subject of our combine, though I am glad to find it is not shared by the leading or thinking people." BRITISH EXPORTS OF RAILS. Exports of rails from the United Kingdom in May showed a sub- stantial increase, having amounted to 59,961 tons, as compared with 40,695 tons in May, 1901, and 34,586 tons in May, 1900. American competition has accordingly, says Engineering of London, not counted for much, but this is probably due to the fact that American rolling mills are for the present so pressed with orders that they cannot undertake any fresh business. The principal shipments of rails from the United Kingdom in May were: May, 1902. May,1901. May. 1900. Country. Tons. Tons. Tons. sweden and Norway ..<.....<..... 9,907 6,340 1,455 RCs ei oe ce es 14,130 29 95 Areentinag 2.5.65 esa dee 6,116 8,158 3,086 Dts ie ce sk ee es 16,128 21,734 7,466 The aggregate shipments in the five months ending May 31 of this year were 215,590 tons, as compared with 178,667 tons in the correspond- ing period of 1901. The deliveries of British rails to British South Africa have been rather disappointing this year, but better results may, no doubt, be now anticipated. The Indian demand has been good, and the same may be said of the Argentine; there has also been an inquiry for British rails in Mexico. The value of the rails exported from the United Kingdom to May 31 of this year was £1,209,421, as compared with £1,135,- ote the first five months of 1901, and £954,901 in the first five months of At the personal suggestion of President Roosevelt, Lieut. Comd'r Albert Gleaves will be ordered to command the yacht Mayflower, which is to be fitted out for the president's special use. The Mayflower was pur- chased for the Spanish war for $450,000. The president will use her in August to observe the operations between the army and navy on Long Island sound.