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that the open shop principle be, adopt- ed, and adhered to on our docks." . "Second, that the dock managers stand for the open shop principle. "Third, that it is the intent of the dock managers to pay a fair and just rate of wages, to insist on such rules and regulations as shall conduce to the well being of their employes and shall enforce a system of discipline re- quiring faithful and diligent perform- ance of duty. "Fourth, and at this meeting, repre- senting all the docks on Lake Erie, it is voted to adhere to and observe this action." ed _ LAKE LAUNCHINGS. The steamer Wm. H. Wolff, build- ing for Capt. D. Sullivan, of Chicago, was launched from the Lorain yard of the American Ship Building Co. on Saturday last and was christened by Wm. H. Wolff Jr. eight-year-old grandson of the late Wm. H. Wolff. This vessel has the distinction of be- ing the first to be christened by a boy and the first to hail from the new port of Gary. The Gartland Steam- ship Co. of Chicago has been organ- ized to operate her. The Wolff is 524 ft. over all, 504 ft. keel, 54 ft. beam and 31 ft. deep. She has 30 hatches spaced 12 ft. centers. . Her engines are triple-expansion with cylinders 22%4, 36 and 60-in. diameters by 42-in. stroke, supplied with steam from -Scotch boilers, 13 ft. 9 in. by ll ft. 6 in., equipped with Ellis & Eaves draught and allowed 180 Ibs. pressure. She will carry 9,000 gross tons of ore. _ In the launching party were: Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Beecher, Mrs. Charles - Dyer, Frank Pingree, W. H. Wolff Jr., _ TT. M. Sheriffs, Capt. J. H. Wanwig, of Milwaukee; Capt. and Mrs. D. Sulli- _van, Mr. and Mrs. Scott J. Dow, Capt. and Mrs. W. Anderson, James Mowatt, : of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sul- livan, Robert Logan, Miss Stone, W. .B. Davock; Miss Clara Davock; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dumpner, Capt. Wm. Hill, Capt. Tom Johnson, of Cleveland; Capt. J. J. H. Brown, of Buffalo; Capt. Edward Fitch, Capt. Tom Beggs, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Townsend, - of Cleveland. The launching of the steamer Wm. Livingstone from the Ecorse yard of the Great Lakes Engineering Works. On Saturday next will be an event of. 'unusual importance. The vessel will be christened by Mrs. Livingstone. The guests will include vessel owners, _ bankers and men distinguished in pub- lic life with whom Mr. Livingstone "THE. Marine. REVIEW has been in contact for many years. The Great Lakes Engineering' Works has chartered the steamer Pleasure to convey the guests. to the ship yard and in the evening will tender them a din- ner at the Hotel Pontchartrain. The bulk freighter Howard M. Han- na Jr., building for Capt. W. C. Ricn- ardson, of Cleveland, will. be launched at the Cleveland yard of the American Ship Building Co. at noon on Tuesday VEX te The bulk freighter John A. Donald- son, which is building for W. H. Beck- er, of Cleveland, at the Lorain yard of the American Ship Building Co., is scheduled to be launched on Satur- day, May 2. The bulk freighter Rufus P. Ranney, building at the West Superior yard of the American Ship Building Co. for the Triton Steamship Co. of Cleve- land, of which J. R. Davock is mana- 'ger, will be launched on Saturday next. The new steamer building for W. A. & A. H. Hawgood will be named for W. R. Woodford, vice president of the Pittsburg Coal Co. The boat is sched- uled to be launched from the Bay City yard of the American Ship Building Co. on May 16. LITIGATION AT THE SAULT. Justice Holmes of the supreme court of the United States has handed down a decision in the case of the United States versus the Chandler-Dunbar Water Power Co., affirming the ruling of the United States circuit court for the sixth circuit, whose opinion was favorable to the company. The case involved a number of interesting ques- tions, including the treaty rights of Great Britain in St. Marysriver, Mich., and also the rights of riparian owners to the bed of that stream. The com- pany claimed through a grant made by the government in 1883 to one Chandler, a tract. of land lying along the St. Mary and opposite islands, known as Nos. 1-and 2, in that stream. The islands themselves are insignifi- cant, being nothing but barren rocks of small surface, but there is a rapid "fall of the stream at this point and a _ sharp rivalry between two power.com- panies for their possession has devel- oped. * The Michigan-Lake Superior Co. originally began the proceeding in an effort to control the stream, and the government. was drawn into. the case through that company's. allegations that the Chandler company was not In legal possession of the stream. The suit was brought by the government to "quit its title." It was contended on behalf of the aL government that the ownership of the main land did not carry with it title to the' bed of the stream and the islands lying between, but it was al- leged that the assertion of private ownership would not only interfere with commerce, but might affect Great Britain's rights, because this is a boundary stream between the United States and Canada. The government sought to obtain a ruling against Chandler's rights on the islands. The court of appeals, however, held against the government on all the contentions, and the swpreme court has now ac- cepted this view of the case. _ Justice>Holmes' did not discuss the question as to whether the fights of Great Britain were involved, but held that the Michigan law granting the 'beds of streams with contiguous lands should control in the case. The water rights involved are very valuable and important legislation by congress has been waiting for some time on the decision of this case. The decision of the supreme court was rather unexpected, though every effort has been made to secure a de- cision before adjournment of congress, as the whole Sault tangle is in the hands of the rivers and harbors com- mittee. The case was heard. three. weeks ago. If the government now should conclude that the needs of nav- igation require an unrestricted water- way in the St. Mary's fiver, it .can start condemnation proceedings and acquire the holdings of the Chandler- Dunbar Co. AROUND THE GREAT LAKES. The passenger steamer Missouri was the first boat to pass into the Straits -- of Mackinaw this season, reaching Che- 'boygan on Sunday last. Capt. George Kunia, of Detroit, has sold the schooner Herschel to the Peninsula. Tug & Towing Co., of Wiarton, Ont. The Great Lakes Towing Co. has chartered the tug James Byers to But- ler Bros: & Huff Co. contractors, who are building the Detroit river tunnel. The Northern Navigation Co. has engaged Frank E. Kirby as consult- ing engineer on the big passenger steamer which the Collingwood Ship Building Co. will build for them this year. Louis Keil, of Detroit, will have charge of the interior decorations. The Detroit & Cleveland Navigation -- Co. has issued a post card announcing the opening of navigation of the Mack- inaw division. Sailings occur regular- ly from Toledo on Mondays and Thursdays and from Detroit on Mon- days and Fridays. ;