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October, 1909 IMPROVEMENT IN SHIPPING. H. E. Moss & Co.in their latest steamship circular give voice to quite a feeling of optimism over trade con- tions. They say: In our circular of January 1 last, we stated that the year 1908 had been about the worst on record for ship- ping, and the cr-sis was then: most acute. We also gave our reasons for saying that we were on the eve of a gradual improvement. The interven- ing six months have certainly been bad enough in the majority of trades, especially in the North Atlantic, but at the present time, without doubt, there is a better feeling throughout the world, and freights in many direc- tions have sensibly improved, al- though still far below what they should be, or what we may reason- ably expect them to 'be. Modern tramp steamers can now be worked in order to at least pay interest and depreciation, which for some time past has been impossible. The ton- nage laid up has been reduced to less than one-half, and what remains. is practically out-of-date, and compete with modern vessels. The amount of obsolete tonnage is st'll enormous, fully 1,000,000 tons. Many companies and owners have realized that the sooner it is demolished the better, and they have been gradually selling their older steamers for this purpose, and replacing them by more modern vessels. The sooner the rest are disposed of the less will be the ultimate loss. There is no doubt. that the late American crisis, which was mainly responsible for our recent troubles, has passed away, and trade in the states is now gradually assuming its normal aspect. We have always main- tained that any improvement in the United States is a good harbinger. We are glad to say that this improve- ment has already reflected on trade, not only in this country,, but also abroad, and the severe depression we have so long endured is gradually dis- appearing, These facts, combined with the lessened output of new ton- nage, prove to our mind that we are on the eve of better times, which will not be long in coming, and steam shipping is always the last to feel the effects of any general im- provement in the trade of the world. Ship 'builders have felt the depres- sion more than ever before. They still feeel it, and will continue to do so, though Jess acutely, until the sup- ply and demand for steam tonnage are again balanced. Many yards have been practically without orders, and cannot. TAE Marine REviIzw the contracts which have been taken have been at a loss, in order to keep the estabishments going. Some far-seeing owners have taken advantage of the low prices ruling and ordered new tonnage, a fairly large amount having been placed in the early part of the year, chiefly on the Clyde, and recently on the east coast. The result of th's has been that many builders have secured a few orders, but at. wretchedly low figures. The prices for building steamers were never lower, mainly through the improved means of construction build- ers have now adopted. Undoubtedly the bottom has been reached. .New- steamers of 6,000 to 8,000 tons with fair specifications can now be placed at about £5 5/- per ton on the dead weight, and other sizes in proportion. Most of 'the new steamers left on builders' hands two years ago, have been disposed .of, and the majority of bargains in the way of comparatively new steamers have been picked up, indeed, throughout the recent crisis, it is astonishing how few forced sales have taken place, thus proving that the bulk of shipping is held in much stronger hands than formerly. | Sec- ond-hand steamers have been difficult to sell, and there are few buyers. The depreciation of this class of prop- erty is far greater than that of new tonnage, and large numbers of old steamers are presently for sale. Not many new developments in sh'p building and marine engineering have taken place, except we may instance the unrivaled performances of the Cunard Co.'s latest turbine steamers --the Mauretania having recently av- eraged 2514 knots across the Atlantic. Great results are expected from the mixed engine (turbine and reciprocat- ing combined), but these remain yet to be proved. The internal combust'on engine has made much progress, and for small craft especially has been successfully applied. A great future is expected from this class of ma- chinery. TRANSPORT DOCKS IN SAN- FRANCISCO. The United States are now having constructed three very large transport docks opposite Old Fort Mason, in San. Francisco, which, when completed, will be the largest on the Pacific coast. These immense piers will cost, when finished, in the aggregate about $2,000,- 000, and will require over two years in building. The contract for the bitilding of the docks proper was let last Octo- ber to the San Francisco Bridge & 397 Construction Co., of San Francisco, for the sum of $1,182,200. The contract calls for the completion of the three piers within 30 months from the date of the award. Active work was com- menced at once, and has been pushed forward with all vigor ever since. The above price does not include the complete improvements to be made at that point--according to plans made for the same by Messrs, Rankin, Kel- logg & Crane, architects,, of Phila- delphia. Contracts for the full comple- tion of the work will soon be let-- when the present improvements are suf- ficiently progressed. .The entire work is in charge of Major George' McK. Williams, constructing engineer quar- termaster,. assisted by Otto W. Degen, civil engineer, quartermaster department. The sea wall will be -1,023 ft. long, constructed of the best reinforced con- crete, and will start from the north- east corner of Laguna and Tonquin streets, thence along the north edge of Tonquin street 688 it, and north %'23 ft, and thence 212 ft. to the Old Fort Mason military reservation. . This wall will be 25 ft. at the base, and 57 ft. high; depth in front ot the sea wall will be 32 ft. at low tide. A crib wall will be constructed on the east side of Laguna street, to the reser- vation line about 600 ft. of sunken timber and stone crib, with reinforced concrete. wall%on top. The area en- closed by these walls will be filled in and warehouses erected thereon. The wharves proper will start from the face of the sea wall, each 500 ft. long; two will be 81 ft. wide, the middle one having a width of 118 ft., the basins between each 200 ft. in width. These wharves will be constructed of 'conerete cylinders, each 7 ft. in diame- ter, and on an average 35 ft. long. These cylinders will be placed 18% ft. on centers. The entire superstructure will be built of reinforced concrete and steel beams; the great sheds will also be of reinforced concrete and steel --well lighted, and contain two railroad tracks each. The top of the docks will be placed at an elevation of 105 ft. from the mean sea level, and the entire area is to be dredged to an average depth of 32 ft. below mean tide level. The Southern Pacific Railroad Co. is now constructing a tunnel under Old Fort Mason, and tracks are to be soon laid so as to connect later with the immense piers. This tunnel will be 1,828, ft. long. The dock contractors are crowding forward the work with all vigor--day and night shifts being em- ployed. :