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26 THE Marine REVIEW * business to spend $5,000,000 a year to save $50,000,000? Furthermore, every ship is a missionary of trade and steamship lines work for their own countries just as railroad lines work for their own territories. Competing merchants do not employ competitors' wagons to make their deliveries. - By subsidies in land, money and mail pay we have devel- oped the finest railway system on the face of the 'earth, a system which carries our products for much less than the freight rates of the railways of other countries, and pas- sengers with an economy, speed and comfort unknown else- where in the world. On the sea we have starved our carriers, and the percent- age of American products carried in American ships has dwindled from 90 down to 12 per cent, and this with a country having the greatest sea coast in the world; a nation with maritime instincts, with an unbroken record of skill and intrepidity on the ocean, from Paul Jones to George Dewey; a nation whose ship builders made the name of "American clippers" famous, and who sent a little schooner -called America across the ocean and won the "Queen's "Cup," which the ship builders of Great Britain have tried unsuccessfully ever since to win back. Will the patriotism and the business common sense of the American people continue to starve our merchant marine, or will they endorse the view of Jefferson, Calhoun, Harri- son, McKinley and Roosevelt, all of whom believed in foster- ing our shipping, and endorse the sentiment expressed in the dying words of our gallant Lawrence, "Don't give-up the ship." Believing that the republican club and a majority of the American people are desirous of seeing a great American merchant marine established upon the seas, useful in peace and indispensable in war, and believing that our members are willing to accept the meritorious measure devised by the congressional merchant marine commission, your com- mittee on national affairs takes pleasure in commending the reports and bill of that commission, and renews its recom- mendation that the club concur in this approval, and that this approval be expressed to members of the house of repre-> sentatives and to the president of the United States, and that that hope be expressed that the bill may command the support of every member. We further recommend that copies of this report be transmitted to the press of the United States, and to kindred organizations with a request for its consideration and such support for the merchant marine shipping bill as in their opinion its merits deserve. Respectfully submitted by the committee. Attest, Reupen Lestize Maynard. secretary. AROUND THE GREAT LAKES. The machine shop and warehouse of No. 4 dock at Ashtabula harbor, was destroyed by fire this week. The Boutell Wrecking & Towing Co. has sold the sie ost Smith to Frank Perry, of Sault Ste. Marie. Mr. James Nacey, of Cleveland, is holding a survey of the steamers John Crerar and H. G. Dalton at Buffalo. These boats have been chartered to carry steel rails, ok Washington dispatch announces that Capt. Fred J. Meno, of Port Huron, has been selected to 'succeed J. B, Cottrell, deceased, as inspector of hulls at Port Huron. Capt. L. A. Rand will sail the steamer Abraham Stearn, "now building at the Superior yard of the American Ship Building Co., for W. A. and A. H. Hawgood, of Cleveland. The launch of the steamer James Laughlin at the Ecorse yard of the Great Lakes. Engineering Works has' been postponed until April 7, owing to the inability of certain interested parties to be present at ine date originally set, woe was March oy; The steel steamer Theodore Roosevelt; building at the yard of the Toledo Ship Building Co. for the Indiana Transportation Co. will be launched at eleven 'o'clock on Saturday. : The steamer Harvey D. Goulder, building at the Lorain yard of the American Ship Building Co., for the Hawgood Transit Co., of Cleveland, will be launched at noon on Saturday. A special car will leave the Public Square at ten o'clock for the launch. The i fe i. A. Smith Co., of Cleveland, one of the most progressive dredging companies of the lakes, will © be further developed through the introduction of new cap- ital into the business. The details of the reorganization will probably be announced next week. Wm. Tullock, a sailor, was lost on the lakes about thirty years ago, having sailed from Oswego, N. Y., on a vessel that foundered.. His wife, Mrs. Wm. Tullock, 1252 Broad- way, Toledo, O., is now endeavoring to get information concerning this disaster. Does anyone recall it? The iron passenger steamer Mascotte has been sold by the Delray & Belle Isle Ferry Co. to a company composed of Capt. Wm. Lloyd, Capt. Burt Roberts, of Houghton, and Capt. John Wright, of Duluth. She will ply on Port- age Lake and also run to L'Anse, Lake Bakes and the Huron islands. The Chicago Navigation Co. has been incorporated at Duluth with the following officers: D. T. Helman, presi- dent; L. M. Jenks, vice president; J. W. Wood, second vice president; H. R. Spencer, secretary; R. C. Helm, treasur- er. The company is to operate freighters now building by the American Ship Building Co. Contracts for dredging the harbors on the east shor of Lake Michigan and for making the cut from the new Saugatuck channel to Lake Michigan have been awarded to the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., of Chicago. The harbors. to be dredged are Michigan City, White Lake, Pentwater, Manistee and Arcadia. Congressman Burton introduced two bills of importance to navigation on the great lakes in congress this week. The first provides for the establishment of a steam light vessel on Martin's Reef, in the northwestern end of Lake Huron at a cost of $35,000; the second provides for two range lights in the 20-ft. channel in Lake St. Clair at a cost not to exceed $18,000. 'The Toledo Ship Building Co. has closed contract with the Lyman C. Smith Transit Co. for a steel freighter of 7,500 tons capacity. It is reported that the company will build a second steamer for a syndicate formed from among the members of its own company. It is understood that this steamer will be designed by Mr. Frank E. Kirby, along somewhat unusual lines, as a bulk freighter. The Chicago & Milwaukee Steamship Co. has been or- ganized with a capital stock of $200,000 to operate a steam- ship service between Chicago, Milwaukee and Racine, Wis. Capt. John G. Keith, of Chicago, is president of the new company and Myles Barry, vice president and general manager. The company has purchased the steam- er Peerless and is now gee uatine for the purchase o another vessel. The comforts and conveniences which Mr. Frank E. Kirby has provided for patrons of the new D. & C. steamer have been reinforced by private verandas for the parlors on the second deck. These parlors are nearly flush with the rail, so that passengers cannot promenade past them. Occupants of the parlors may. sit outside the door and enjoy as much privacy as on their own porches. They may sleep outside if they desire. -