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January, 1914 ife boat equipment could be launched, provided that they had to carry life boats for everyone aboard. It is understood that this measure is to come before the committee on merchant marine of the house of rep- resentatives during the present month, and that An- drew Furuseth, who inspired the measure, is to ap- pear before the committee in its defense. Furuseth was one of the American delegates to the International Conference on Safety at Sea, in London, and resigned because he could not get the conference to endorse his absurd notions. For 19 years Furuseth has been a habitual attendant of the senate gallery and is as well acquainted with present conditions at sea as any- one else would be who spent 19 continuous years in the senate gallery. Lake Trade The year 1914 certainly opens with an entirely dif- ferent outlook than that which confronted 1913 as far as the great lakes are concerned. At this time last year ore shippers had practically disposed of all the ore that they could promise to deliver and had practi- cally covered their requirements in vessel tonnage. No program has as yet been arranged for 1914 and prob- ably will not be for some time. There has been noted during the past month a steady improvement in indus- trial conditions which it must be admitted were at the close of navigation in a thoroughly depressed state. Stimulated by low prices, buying has been quite active of late and the hope is entertained that by spring the market may assume a normal state. There is consolation in the fact that as far as the vessel owners are concerned the year 1913 leaves little to be desired. A combination of circumstances contributed to make it quite profitable for the vessel owner. It had been quite clearly demonstrated dur- ing 1912 that even the most modern carriers operating exclusively in the ore trade could scarcely break even at 40 cents net, and the rate was accordingly advanced 5 cents. The coal rate to Lake Michigan ports was advanced from 30 to 35 cents, being a restoration of . rate that had prevailed for many years. In addi- tion to this stages of water were unusually favorable, so that a modern vessel carried several hundred tons more per trip than last year. Dispatch also was ex- cellent, very little time being spent in port. The aver- age detention at loading and unloading ports in actual hours was two more in 1912, but it must be borne in mind that they carried more cargo per trip. The movement of both coal and ore was the heaviest on record, while the grain movement exceeded that of 1912, which was almost more than double that of any preceding year. The grain rates, however, did not work out quite as well as the 1912 rate, which is not saying, however, that they were not quite profitable to the ship. The highest rate paid during 1913 was 314 cents, whereas some grain was moved in 1912 at 5 THE MARINE REVIEW 33 cents. | However, the ships were busy from start to finish and everyone enjoyed a good season. The ves- sels also had the advantage of a slightly lower rate for insurance. It looked as though the vessel owners and underwriters would enjoy a season of almost total freedom from serious accident, and up to November casualties were few and ynimportant. Fate ordained, however, that in the second week of November the lakes should be visited by a storm the like of which had never before been experienced. There are appar- ently certain forces in the elements that ships are not designed to withstand. The monsoons of the Chinese sea take down many a craft that is built to withstand gales of measured violence, but occasionally there springs up a storm of such incredible energy that the vessels are fairly shaken to pieces. Such must have been the character of the great storm on Lake Huron, on Nov. 9, when eight vessels foundered. It was un- precedented and unforeseen, one of the awful visita- tions of nature which humble us all. Forward The opening of the year 1914 is in striking contrast to the opening of the year 1913. No year in the coun- try's history began with the impetus that 1913 did and no year has equaled it in material accomplishments. It began with pig iron enjoying an ascending market and furnace interests so eager for ore that they had practically purchased 45,000,000 tons before the year began. It closed with pig iron at the lowest point in several years and with no demand for ore for 1914 requirements. The slump in the iron business in De- cember was very precipitate, the furnaces turning out 1,000,000 tons less than in December, 1912. However, let no one think that this is anything more than a tem- porary let-up. The country has just stopped for breath. Already there are certain little signs to be noted of a quickening in trade and before navigation begins the market may avain have reached a normal stage. There is no such thing as pessimism in the United States. This country is going to get along splendidly. The present decline can doubtless be traced to perfectly natural causes. The uncertainties pro- duced by tariff legislation is undoubtedly one of them; the currency bill may be another, and the fact that the railways have not been liberal buyers has certainly had | an influence. These conditions, however, cure them- selves, and in a little while we will have got again into the usual stride. The law of supply and demand, su- preme to all legislation, is the law that after all gov- erns. The natural tendency of this law is to operate in favor of the United States. This country is a grow- ing one and is an enormous consumer. The output of one year is not sufficient for the next and if there 'should be over-production of any commodity at the present moment, it will be very rapidly digested. The march must be irresistibly onward. He who believes otherwise will be left behind.