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* ; lakes, the shippers, June, 1909 best time that has ever been made in hand- ling a cargo of that size, the nearest approach to it being the record of the Wolvin which took on a cargo of 10,000 tons in 90 minutes. The steamer Joseph G. Butler Jr. of the Hutchinson fleet arrived at Ashtabula at 2 A. M. June 8 with a cargo of 10,000 tons of ore. She discharged the cargo and was at the coal docks in Cleveland taking on a cargo of coal the same afternoon, ' Such dispatch shows conclusively that not- withstanding labor difficulties the vessels are able to care for the trade. The Lake Carriers' Association reports that 263 of its vessels are in operation. It has an enrollment of 620 vessels, of which 90 are tugs, so that practi- cally one-half of its bulk tonnage is now moy- ing. Additional vessels are steadily going into commission and the indications are that the labor leaders are with difficulty holding their men in line. The center of interest during the week has been in Marine City where a number of engineers live. The re- port was current during the early part of the week that a number of them were going to their boats. Some of them have gone, but not aS many. as reported. There is no ques- tion but that the engineers individually would prefer to be at work. Some that are at work have received threatening letters from un- known sources. Vessel owners will pay $1,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. Disturbances on the docks are growing less. The longshoremen are taking a _ referendum vote which may naturally be supposed to be in favor of the striking element, but the dock managers declare that the outcome cannot seri- ously cripple the leading unloading points. It may somewhat delay the unloading of ore, but it cannot stop it. The coal trade is quite active and there is a better demand for small carriers to Lake Michigan points. MAY LAKE LEVELS. The United States Lake Survey reports the stages of the great lakes for the month of May, as follows: Feet above tide Lakes. water, New York. SuUpenlor 2s seek oe sae le ee 601.65 MAChisan Huron: 6 Boe es ee 580.84 TIES eke tie PAE eRe ents 572.54 Ontario | sue sc wees ae one 247.16 Since. last month, Lake Superior has risen 3% in., Lakes Michigan and Huron have risen 7 in., Lake Erie has risen 6% in., and Lake Ontario has risen 1134 in. ; During June, Lake Superior is likely to rise about 334 in., Lakes Michigan and Huron 3 in., Lake Erie 2%4 in., and Lake Ontario 1 in. Lake Superior is 834 in. lower than the av- erage May stage of the past 10 years and about 414 in. lower than lest year. It is 3% in. higher than in May, 1892, but 10 inches lower than in 1906 and 8% in. lower than in 1902. Lakes Michigan and Huron show a_ stage y%-in. higher than the average May stage of the past 10 years and 6% in. lower than last year, but 15% in. higher than in 1896. In May, 1886, the water was 32% in. higher. Lake Erie is "%-in. below the mean May stage of the past 10 years and 1134 in. lower than in May last year, but 1234 in. higher than in 1895. It is 1434 in. lower than in Mey, 1878, and 18 in. lower than in May, Lake Ontario is 7% in. higher than the av- erage May stage of the past 10 years and 15% in. higher than in May last year. In 1870 it was 21% in. higher and in 1886 18 in. higher than in 1909. In May, 1897, it was 21 in. lower than this year. WORK OF WEATHER BUREAU. That. the weather bureau is a real help to navigators was proved by the spontaneous expressions of vesselmen at a meeting of the Ship Masters' Association in Cleveland on April 30. Mr. Harvey D. Goulder outlined the work that the bureau is doing in all Parts of the country and a number of vessel Owners testified as to its efficiency on the great lakes. The weather bureau has latterly been made the object of attack by a leading Magazine, but while meteorology is not an exact science it approximates exactness espe- cially in the prediction of general storms. Ocal storms, of course, cannct be foretold Owing to the very small area that many of them cover. The Ship Masters' Association adopted the following resolutions: "Resolved that in navigation on the great managers, and the masters Pp close watch of the storm signals and weather forecasts of the government weather "THE MARINE REVIEW bureau service and greatly rely on the same in the navigation of the ships and find the same usually correct and so trustworthy and reliable that we have come to depend very much on the service; and "Resolved that we deprecate criticism in generalities regarding the efficiency and value of the service, and give this voluntary testi- mony of our appreciation of the reliability and great value of the service as we find it in actual conduct and important use from day to day over so large and important a field as the great lakes." SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR DE- TROIT RIVER, President Livingstone of the Lake Carriers' Association is sending out the following letter of instructions to masters and pilots as to sailing directions for the. lower Detroit river: _"Downbound vessels will pass the Lime- kiln crossing rock cut following the range 150 ft. from the west side of the channel, marked _by the westerly targets (with red and white lights) at Texas dock and by the targets near the east shore of Bois Blanc Island. After passing Bar Point shoal light- ship, they will keep the black spar buoys close aboard and enter Lake Erie via the channel passing to. the west of Detroit river lighthouse. "Upbound vessels will leave Lake (Erie via the channel passing to the east of Detroit river lighthouse; and those of deep draught, after passing the red and black spar 'buoy north of the lighthouse, should keep within 400 ft. of the black spar buoys until the Bar Point shoal lightship has been passed. In passing through the Limekiln crossing rock cut, they will follow the range 150 ft. from the east side of the channel, marked by the easterly targets (with green and white lights) near Texas dock. "That part of the channel between Bar Point shoal lightship and Detroit river light- house will be under improvement during a part of the season of 1909; and care should be exercised by all vessels when passing the dredges. Also, at of Bois Blanc Island along MHackett range, all vessels should keep west of a line 150 ft. east of the Amherstburg range." REGULATIONS FOR DULUTH- SUPERIOR HARBOR. The war department, through Lieut. Col. Graham D. Fitch, government engineer at Duluth, has issued a revision of the rules and regulations for the canals and channels in the harbor of Duluth-Superior. The new mat- ter is contained in paragraphs 32 to 36 as follows: Dragging Anchors. 32. No vessel shall be towed while the anchor of such vessel shall be down or drag- ging at the bottom of the cnannel. Towing Through Bridges. 33. Freight steamers shall not tow consorts astern while passing through the bridges of this harbor, the aerial bridge excepted. Tow- ing alongside the steamer will, however, be permitted. Patrol Signals. 34. Three distinct blasts of the steam whis- tle when sounded from a patrolling vessel will indicate that the vessel to wu...ch such signal is given is proceeding at too high a rate of speed, and such vessel must immediately moderate her speed accordingly. : 35. Three long blasts of the steam whistle followed by two short blasts when sounded from a patrolling vessel, will indicate that the vessel to. which such signal is given must stop until further orders from the pa- - trolling vessel. 36. Pons long blast followed by four short blasts, when sounded from the patrolling ves- sel, will indicate that the vessel to which such signal is given may proceed on. her course. NEW INSPECTION RULES. Local inspectors of steamboats yesterday received a copy of the new rules of the in- spection service. They are as follows: "Section 53. It shall be the duty of the master of all loaded vessels to see that all hatches are properly covered and secured as soon as practicable after leaving port. Failure by the master of any vessel to observe this regulation shall be sufficient cause for sus- pension of his oe on a charge of inat- i his duty. Paes: section 52, of rules and regu- lations: It shall be the duty of the master about one-half mile south' Ky., 177 and the chief engineer of every steamer of over 50 gross tons to keep a log book showing where said steamer was navigated and dates of arrival and departure, as well as occurrences of importance concerning which evidence may be_ required. "Revised Statutes, 4405--All steam vessels of over 100 gross tons, having sleeping ac- commodations below the main deck for pas- sengers or crew, shall have such quarters equipped with a bell (electric or otherwise) to be operated from the bridge or pilot house of such steamers in case of disaster, such as fire, collision or foundering. "Revised Statutes, 4417--No repairs or al- terations affecting the safety of the vessel either in regard to hull or machinery, shall be made without the knowledge of the local inspectors, Notice of such repairs and changes is necessary, even if: such work does not require the vessel to be placed in dry- dock, and even if there are no licensed offi- cers attached to the vessel." NEW CHANNEL AT ERIE. The Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., Cleveland, has just completed dredging a 22- ft. channel from the harbor line to the Anchor line elevators at Erie, Pa. These elevators which have a capacity of 1,250,000 bu. will now be able to handle the largest cargoes of grain that come down the lakes without delay to vessels and without tug expense. The gov- ernment has just completed 'soundings at the harbor entrance at Erie showing a depth of water ranging from 22 ft. to 28 ft. below mean lake level, so that the largest boat should have no trouble in getting into the harbor. The Anchor line elevators are equipped to elevate 16,000 bu. of grain per hour. There- fore with a shorter haul and with no tu expense, it would appear to be economy for vessel owners to charter cargoes of grain for transfer at Erie. GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WORK. The bids opened by Major Charles Kellar for the repair of north pier in the harbor of Manistee were' as follows: Robert Love, Muskegon, Mich., $10,887.87; Bert Smith & Nelson, Muskegon, Mich., $11,424.69; Stand- oo gece eee Co., Chicago, Ill, $20; 00.88. The bids received by Lieut. Col. Graham D. Fitch, government engineer at Duluth, for furnishing rock for the government -piers at Grand Marais, Mich., were as_ follows: W. <A. Barney, Grand Marais, Mich., $1.35 per cu. yd.; J. F. 'Chisholm, Grand Marais, Mich., $2.20; W. C. Davidson, Grand Marais, Mich., $1.67. The bid of W. A. Barney was accepted, Bids opened by Lieut. government engineer at constructing Lock No. 13, Kentucky river, together. with three dwellings, three out houses, three cisterns and one office building, Col. J. G. Warren, Cincinnati, O., for were as_ follows: Ohio Contracting Co., Evansville, Ind., $291,015; J. C. Thomas, Louisa; Ky., © $292,850; H... B. Palbot Go, Dayton, O., $317,590.98; IE. G. Nave Bros. Co., Portsmouth, O., $314,633; Sheridan Kirk Contract Co., Cincinnati, O., $283,345; Bates & Rogers Construction Co., Chicago, IIl., $351,115; Mason & Hanger Co., Richmond, $284,235; Hollerbach & May Contract Co., Evansville, Ind., $296,755; Smith, Tolles & Co., Roderfield, W. Va., $272,960. Contract has been awarded to L. D. Camp- bell of Duluth for the construction of a lighthouse near Split Rock on the north shore of Lake Superior about 50 miles from Duluth. Major Charles S. Bromwell, government en- gineer, Milwaukee, Wis., opened bids for ° dredging 75,000 cu. yds. at Manitowoc harbor on May 18. The bidders were: Samuel O. Dixon, Milwaukee, Wis., $10,785; Greiling Bros. Co., Green Bay, Wis., $13,500; Fitz- simons & Connell Co., Chicago IIl., $13,500; Great Lakes Dredge Dock Co. Chicago, $12,937,50; Ernest Schmidt, Two Rivers, Wis., $10,125. : The rebuilding of the federal pier of the interstate bridge, Duluth-Superior harbor, is now in progress. Scows are working along- side the pier, but one opening or t-e other will be clear the full width of 200 ft. at all times. The annual report of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. shows that its net earnings for the year were only $12,207. Charges for depreciation and extraordinary repairs for steamers amounted to $351,892, so that the total charges for the year were $339,684 in excess of the year's receipts.