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18 with a view to considerably developing efficiency in gripping the water.--Liver- pool Journal of Commerce. NAVAL EXPERTS IN CONFER- ENCE. A special board of officers repre- senting the seagoing element as well as the construction experts of the navy has been appointed to consider modifications in the present type of battleship in order to meet the criti- cism directed against the present method of construction. The mem- bers of the board are as follows: Rear Admiral Casper F. Goodrich, com- mandant New York navy yard; William S. Cowles, chief of the bureau of equipment; Albert R. Couden, presi- dent of the examining and retiring boards; William Swift, commandant of the Boston navy yard; Capt. Roy- al R. Ingersoll, of the general board; Capt. Nathan E. Niles, commanding the training ship, Hancock; Capt. Charles J. Badger, superintendent of the naval academy and Constructors David "W. Fawyor and. Richard H: Robinson. Capt. Ingersoll served as chief of staff of 'the Atlantic fleet and Constructor Robinson was on the flag- ship Connecticut during the cruise to the Pacific recently. Instructions have been issued to the board to dis- cuss all questions which tend to pro- mote the fighting efficiency of the ships as well as the safety of the men on board. The location of the armor belt as well as its width and thickness will be considered as well as the relocation of guns and_ search- lights. The first meeting of the board was held at the naval war college at New port, Rr k. - July 11. OIL FUEL ON CUNARD LINERS. It is not generally known that the giant Cunarders Lusitania and Maur- etania would have been fitted for the use of oil fuel but for the fact that the company could not make arrange- ments for the regular and adequate supplies of oil. Sir William White, who was consulting naval architect for the Mauretania, states that the ques- tion-.of using oil fuel was carefully considered during the designing stage. "It was recognized," he says, in the course of an article on the subject, "that by the use of oil there would be a considerable gain in weight and space required for fuel, large econo- mies of labor in the stokehold and the numbers Jin its staff, easier regu- lation of the steam, and more uni- form production, as well as consid- -of regular Tae Marine REVIEW in shipping fresh supplies of fuel in port. Guarantees supplies at acceptable prices could not be obtained, however, and the use of coal was decided upon; but it would be an easy matter to adopt oil fuel at any time either wholly or as an auxiliary to coal, if the conditions favored that course." erable. advantages DEATH OF REAR ADMIRAL THOMAS. Rear Admiral Charles M. Thomas, UU; 3S: > N., who died " at-- Del" Monte, Cal., July 3, .1908, from a stroke of apoplexy, was one of the most popu- lar officers in the service and will be remembered for his efforts to im- prove the condition and efficiency of the enlisted personnel as well as for the many important duties which he performed during his career. Admir- al Thomas was second of the Atlantic fleet in its voyage to the Pacific and assumed command of the fleet after Rear Admiral Evans was obliged to retire therefrom. This post he voluntarily relinquished in order that Rear Admiral Charles S, Sperry might have an opportunity to familiarize himself with all the detatis of the command prior to the date of Rear Admiral Thomas' retirement for age which would have occurred Oct. 1, and which therefore prevented his assuming permanent command of the fleet on the trip to the Orient. Rear Admiral Thomas was born in Philadelphia, Oct. 1, 1846, was gradu- ated from the naval academy in 1865 and in November, 1874, was married to Miss Ruth Simpson, daughter of Rear Admiral Edward Simpson. Af- ter promotion through the different grades he became Rear Admiral Jan. 125. 29055. 2 - Nos NEW STEAMSHIP SERVICE TO PANAMA. That the two steamship companies which have headquarters at Valpara- iso, Chile, are contemplating the idea of a 12-day service between Valparaiso and Panama, is announced by Vice Consul Stuart K. Upton, of the for- mer port. "The plan is to send the. Atlantic vessels of the Pacific Co., whose itin- erary has been between English ports and Valparaiso, on to Callao, with a possible stop at Iquique. At Callao mails and passengers will be trans- ferred to one of the regular west coast liners, which will call at Payta, Fer, and at Puna, the port for Guayaquil, only. This will avoid the delay incident upon calling at some in command: 20 small ports on the coast of Chi and Peru. If there is no hitch ; the program the new service will b gin some time in September or Oct ber." IMMIGRATION FALLING OFF The very large falling off in immi- gration during the first six months of the year 1908, as shown by the state- ment prepared for the steamship com- panies, is very noticeable and if there is not a decided increase in immigra-_ tion during the next half year over what is shown for the previous six months the total immigration for. 1908 will be less than 400,000. ae On the other hand almost double the number of stéerage pasengers -- __ representing the laboring classes of the country--have returned to their native -- lands, as compared with the number of aliens who have arrived during the same period. The exodus is also twice as great. during the first half of 1908 as for the entire year 1907. MORE DOCKS AT TACOMA. The Chicago, Milwaukee &.St. Paul Railroad Co. has plans well under way which when completed will give to Tacoma, Wash. the most extensive dock and wharf facilities owned and operated by any dne railroad on the Pacific coast. Included in the plan is the dredging of a private waterway to a length of 3,200 ft. at a depth of 35 ft. and when the project has been completed there will have been added to the city's docks and wharfs 19,005 ft., or a little less than four miles. The railroad company's holdings on the water front -- itself would have permitted of but 2,000 ft. of dockage facilities. NEW WHARFAGE RATE AT NEW YORK. The department of docks and fer- ries of the city of New York has just issued an order applying to all vessels over 98 ft. in length and which pro- vides that they shall hereafter pay wharfage to the city at the rate of one cent per running foot. The purpose of this order is to exclude coal barges and several other classes of harbor craft from the 50 cents a day charges. accorded to canal boats under charter. Over a year ago the one cent per running foot rule for all except canal boats was made but coal barges and some others, for the reason that their owners had made contracts far ahead based on the 50 cents per day basis, were allowed to continue at that rate