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1903.] MARINE REVIEW AND MARINE RECORD. 33 OFFICIAL REPORT. OF KEARSARGE'S RUN. On Saturday last the navy department received from Capt. J. N. Hemphill the official report of the record run of the battle- ship Kearsarge. The report, which is of great interest because the performance of the Kearsarge was very unusual, says: "From the beginning to the end of the journey we encountered head winds, head seas and head currents, and were further handi- capped by a gale, and later by icebergs and a dense fog while in their neighborhood. The total distance to run from the Needles to Mount Desert Rock was 2,885 miles. Mount Dcsert Rock was reached in the midst of a dense fog at 12:45 in the afternoon, Sunday, July 26, thus making the actual running time, allow- ing for the difference in longitude, 9 days 4% hours. This gave an average speed of 13.1 knots per hour for the total run. Had she been going to the eastward with wind, sea and current, instead of to the westward, she would undoubtedly have averaged 14 knots, for the average revolutions per hour of the engines would have given her in still water 13.6 knots per hour. The head wind varied from a force of 2 to 6 every day, ex- cept two, and on one day, that of the gale, the force was estimated at 8. In this gale green seas washed over the forward turret, when it became necessary to slow down, although the etigines were be- having beautifully and also the ship herself. This reduced speed was maintained for 4 hours. "Shortly after starting on the first day out, from 1:30 to 2:10 p. m., the port engine was slowed for a hot bearing. In the fog and among the icebergs above referred to, the ship was slowed to 10 knots for 10% hours. 'The first berg, quite a large one, was sighted about 5 o'clock in the afternoon on the 23rd. Fortunately at that time the weather was quite clear,:and I carefully noted the water temperature as we approached. When within 2 miles of the iceberg the temperature dropped 9°. At 6 o'clock this iceberg was abeam, distant about one mile to the southward, latitude 42° 42' north, longitude 48° 06' west. Shortly afterward a dense fog set in and continued through the night, and as the changes of the water temperature showed that we were passing in the vicinity. of ice several times in the night, I deemed it necessary for the safe- ty of the ship to slow down to 10 knots, as the fog was so dense that it was impossible for the greater part of the time to see a ship length ahead. As soon as I felt that we were clear of ice regions I went ahead full speed, although the fog was as dense as ever." TEN YEARS GROWTH IN EXPORTS. Editor Marine Review :--In 1803 fiscal year our total exports amounted to $847.000,000, and in 1903 to $1,420,000,000, an increase for 1903 over 1893 of $573,000,000. By world divisions the com- parative figures are as follows: Increase 1903. 1898. per cent. AGIA cA ey ae Ree ete ees $ 60,000,000 $ 16,000,000. 275 Geeanica: to a eee ee 36,000,000 '11,000,000 230 Worth Amefica". 20) 2 Se eer 21 5:000,000".- PFO,000;000 > "a0 Rurope: 63. 3 ee. ee 1,000,000,000 662,000,000. 60 41,000,000. 32,000,000 30 38,000,000 6,000,000 533 South. -Atmerica 15 ak aes PT ICA oe koe oe eee While exports to Africa lead immensely in percentage of in- crease in 1903, allowance must be made for the peculiar conditions in South Africa, where nearly all our trade lies, owing to the Boer war. The real point of encouragement in. these figures is the ~ gain of 275 per cent. in export to Asia, and 230 per cent. in ex- ports to Oceanica. Can we not fairly attribute those large in- creases to the favorable position and prominence we have obtained in Asia and the orient by reason of our acquirement of the Phil- ippines? It is certain that the increases in question cannot be at- tributed to a prominence of American trading ships in those wa- ters. Take China and -Japan, apart from the other countries' of Asia and the orient, and we have: : Increase 1903. 1893. percent. ae ee ee ay eg eee $21,000,000 $3,000,000 600 Me eras tes qes 19,000,000 4,000,000 375 But figures for China are not complete without they include exports to Hong Kong, which is really a port of primary entry for China. The Hong Kong figures are: 1903, $8,000,000; 1893, $4,000,000 ; increase, $4,000,000, or 100 per cent. © This 100 per cent, increase is not as encouraging as it looks, as our exports to Hong Kong were only $8,000,000 since 1899. What is the reason? Is it not because American trading vessels are so seldom seen in the port of Hong Kong? Hong Kong is busier today than ever before, but we are not getting our proper share of the increased and increasing trade of that busy port. No increase for five years in American trade with that gateway of British commerce in the orient is discouraging. : Referring to China and Hong Kong the figures given us by the department of commerce and labor, through its bureau of sta- 'tistics, are: Exports to Exports to China. Hong Kong. TBO3 Dye ee a $ 3,900,457 $ 4,216,602 1899 . REP a re Pe a eek 14,493,440 7 732,525 TOOO "i en oes Sper RES ae 15,259,167 8,485,878 LOO + 1 QOS ie eee dae 35,128,740 16,039,957 PODS restr se pen patie eee 19,000,000 8,000,000 __ The exports to China show steady, though not large increase. The years 1901 and 1902 must be reckoned together and averaged, owing to the disturbance of trade conditions on account of the Boxer troubles. We are progressing in the development of our trade in the far east without an appreciable American merchant marine sailing those waters and advertising American goods every time the stars and stripes are'seen flying at the masthead of American vessels in the ports of Asia and the orient. But with such vessels and plenty of our smart "Yankee drummers" regularly visiting port after port, our oriental trade would increase by leaps and bounds. On the Pacific and in the far east lies the future of American for- eign commerce, WALTER J. BALLARD, - Schenectady, N. Y., July 30. = UNITED STATES SHIP BUILDING, To build a craft the bankers and the shipwrights did assume, On modern Wall street lines it was designed; The bankers were to furnish the largest sort of boom, And a sale-plan of the most expansive kind. Now, many a craft the shipwrights skilled had fashioned in their time That sailed the stormy seas without mischance, From Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral clime, But--it's different on the seas of high finance. And the bankers oft had rigging done--too often, it would seem, The dearth of raw material was such; For the timber left for making booms was scarce in the extreme, And their canvas(s) didn't. promise very much. They launched the ship; alas! instead of floating proudly, she © Just simply sank; the waves inglorious hide her: And the reason for her sinking was (the critics all agree)-- Within she had more water than outside her! --Boston News Bureau Poet. The Carley Life Float Co., New York, announces that it has sold one of its largest floats to Balmer's bathing beach at Coney island. The float measures 9 by 14 ft. and will safely accommo- date forty-five persons. The float was installed by Capt. Riley, champion swimmer, who has charge of this resort and who is always on the lookout for appliances to render deep-sea bathing safe. # Miss Mary B. Bixby, a former resident of Skowhegan, Me., now living in Casadena, Cal., has written to Gov. Hill telling him that she has found in California a document of historic value to Maine. It is said to be the first commission issued to a light- house keeper in this country, bears the signature of George Wash- ington, and appoints Joseph Greenleaf keeper of the light at Port- land Head. Towing Machine for Sale. _ For Sale--One Shaw & Speigle towing machine, latest type; size of cylinders 12x12. | ries 250 tons. never used. Cost one year ago $2,500. Ad- Small Steam Barge for Sale. I have for sale a small steam barge Car- [ Address, Capt F. E. Wood, Hawser 5% in. Placed on board ship but | Alexandria Bay, N. Y. t PITTSBURGH WHITE METAL CO, f > MANUFACTURERS OF THE BEST dress for further particulars and price, James Reilly Repair & Supply Co., 229 and 230 West street, New York City. Aug 6 WHITE OAK TIMBERS, PLANK DIMENSION STOCK F. S. SHURICK; 18 Broadway, NEW YORK CITY BABBITT and ANTI-FRICTION Vietals Known for any Purpose. Made from the Best Materials, Price and Quality Guaranteed and Always Consistent with the Market. PITTSBURGH, - PA.