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78 in the lower Detroit river by 150 ft., making it 450 ft. in width. The straightening of the five-mile course in the Detroit river from Fighting Island to Amherstburg was recom- mended and a resolution was adopted asking congress to appropriate $500,- 000 to the work. Assurances were also received from the Canadian government that the Southeast Shoal lightship which has been maintained by 'the association would hereafter be maintained by the Dominion government. Col, C. McD. Townsend, government engineer with headquarters at Detroit, addressed the members on the deep waterways of the lakes to the gulf which is so vigorously advocated in certain quarters. Lake vessel interests have never manifested much interest in this project. .Col. Townsend de- elared that if the projectors had visions of the great steamers of the lakes carring ore and grain ito New Orleans and returning with oranges and lemons, they were indulging in the idlest of dreams. Even were it pos- sible, he said, to dredge a 24-ft. water- way from Chicago to the gulf, the in- Suranee rate upon a lake «steamer would be absolutely prohibitive, so numerous would .be the chances of accident in a stream 1,600 miles long, full of bends and cross currents. He thought, moreover, that such a water- way would be of no value to. lake vessel interests but a positive detri- ment to the channels of the great lakes. Turning his attention to the Sault he pointed out that owing to greater depth, the Canadian lock is now carry- ing a large share of the commerce, having increased from 6,000,000 to 27,- 000,000 tons in the past few years. He felt that the third lock when completed would be crowded to its utmost, owing to the greater draught which it will offer, and he urged that steps be taken to deepen the Poe lock. He also thought that two sets of gates should be located at each end, saying that the habit of vessels run- ning up upon the gates of late had be- come a trifle monotonous. He also stated that the contractors complained that vessels approach. too close to the dredges at work in the channels, and that the carrying away of buoys and lights is a common practice. The following resolution, offered by G. A. Tomlinson of Duluth, was adopted:--"Resolved that the Lake Carriers' Association appreciates the earnest endeavor of its president in behalf of the efforts: to secure the fourth lock at the American Sault and THE Marine REVIEW that this association herewith ex- presses its unqualified endorsement of the project". The discussion of the Welfare Plan occupied a large share of the pro- ceedings. This plan was put into effect at the opening of navigation last year and has proved an unqualified success. Out of the total: of 11,000 men employed on the steamers and barges of the association, 9757 or nearly 90 per cent were enrolled in the Welfare Plan. This movement has as its cardinal object the better- ment of working conditions aboard ships to the end that men of character may be attracted to the service with consequent increased efficiency. The plan involves a bureau of registration, each member holding a certificate which among other things entitles him to financial benefit in case of accident. Assembly rooms were established at a number of lake ports for the con- venience of the men, the rooms being supplied with the usual appurtenances of club life. J. € Sheadle. has taken great personal interest in this movement. In a little talk with the Carriers he declared that the leading thought was to get better men, as the work of the lakes was annually growing more com- plicated. As the greater part of the detail of the Welfare Plan was worked out by George A. Marr, secretary of the association, W. E. Lloyd of Buf- falo and E. C. Collins of Cleveland, he called upon them for an account of the work. Mr. Marr outlined the details of the work of the year in most comprehen- sive form, giving the number of years each man enrolled in the plan had served aboard lake ships, and _ the care that had been exercised to find the relatives of those who had been injured in service. Mr. Lloyd described the "progress of the plan in Buffalo, where it met with great hostility from the union, but finally triumphed. Mr. Collins outlined the many little conflicting problems that the committee had to face during the year. In conclusion Mr. Sheadle stated that eleven places are open this winter for the conveni- ence of the men and that the sole thought of the projectors of the plan is to give everyone a fair deal. Harvey D. Goulder, general coun- sel for the association, spoke without preparation but with fine eloquence upon the Sailors' Institute it is proposed to establish in Cleve- land. The purpose is to found this institute entirely free from debt, from rent or interest-bearing charges and February, 1910 to provide at actual cost, instruction in navigation and engineering. The institute will be supplied with all the apparatus of the technical school of the highest character and its corps of instructors will be the best obtain- able. The purpose of it is to open the doors of opportunity to the young man who is determined to follow lake trade and to provide a home as well for those who may have become super- annuated in service. About $350,000 will be required for the institute, but the money has all been subscribed. . Mr. Goulder was followed by C. M, Heald of tthe Mutual Transit Co., of Buffalo, John Craig of Toledo, EF. CG Collins of the Pittsburg Steamship Co., G. A. Tomlinson of Duluth, and CE. Dyer of. Pittsburg. Capt: Jana Mitchell, W. B. Davock, E. C. Collins, J. W. Prindiville, Arthur Hawgood, F. W. Smith and Arthur C. Sullivan were appointed as a nominating committee for the nomination of officers. It was decided to increase the board of directors from twenty-five to thirty and the following were elected: A. B. Wolvin, H. Coulby, J. H. Sheadle, S$. P. Cranage, C. W. Elphicke, D. Sali van, L. 1. Morford, Fe W,. -Smith,. W. A. Hawgood, John Mitchell, William Livingstone, Edward Morton, H. D. Goulder, H. S. Wilkinson, G.-A. Tom- linson, W.-H. Becker,. John Craig. FF W. Gilchrist, J. S. Ashley, WH Me: Gean, © D. Dyer. S.-P. Shane; [oy H. Brown, C..M. Heald, W. E. Lloyd, WG: Richardson, We M. Mills. A. Fe Harvey. and. H. 1: Shaw. Before the board of directors re- tired for the election of officers the association instructed them to elect William Livingstone , president. The following officers were elected: Wil- liam Livingstone, president; J. H. Sheadle, vice-president; Harvey D. Goulder, general counsel; Capt. George P. McKay, treasurer; George A. Marr, Secretary. The executive committee consists of Messrs. H. Coulby, J. H. Sheadle, €: M. Heald, J. J. H. Brown, D. Sullivan: John Mitchell and S. P. Shane. 'The alternates are A. F. Hatvey, (W. © Richardson, W. E. Lloyd, W. A. Haw- good, G A. Tomlinson and J. 3 Ashley. The tonnage enrolled in the Lake Carriers' Association numbers 597 vessels of 2,017,273 gross tons, classi- fied as follows: 451 steamers, 56 barges and 90 tugs, lighters and wreckers, As legislation is contemplated to tax all corporations by their earnings, Mr. Goulder brought up the subject of uniform depreciation of ships. He felt