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210 that they can be exceedingly wet and uncomfortable. As one stood on the bridge as it rose upon the crest of, a wave and then started to coast down it until it seemed as though the bow were heading straight for the bottom, one felt much as though he were riding on a roller coaster. Each plunge scooped up tons and tons of water, which rushed back over the deck only to be thrown off, as the stern settled in the trough behind, like water falling from a_ small Niagara. Time after time I saw the bow of the Florida, which was next in line to us, disappear under the top of the sea only to rise so high on the next wave that I could see the entire keel for 30 to 40 feet back from the ram. The heavy spray was driving across the navigation bridge e THE MARINE REVIEW. coal to the canal coaling plants was authorized at a cost of not more than $1,000,000 each. The navy department was author- ized to prepare the plans and spect- fications and to advertise for bids from both government and _ private yards. The vessels are to be' ap- proximately 500 ft. long, 62 ft. in beam, and 39 ft. 6 in. deep. They are to have a cargo capacity of 12,000 tons of coal, with reservations space sufficient for bunker coal for a trip from Norfolk to Colon and _ re- turn, and other requisite materials and supplies for operation. Their sea speed, loaded, is to be 14 knots, and their maximum draft is not to exceed 28 ft., in. sea water. The bids, opened on Feb. 2, 1914, ranged from $970,000 to $1,436,000 for 'A DUSTY DAY ON THE ATLANTIC--THE FLORIDA AND THE DELAWARE ame it baffled even the heaviest rub- ber clothing, while the force of the wave was driving the water into the tightly battoned gun ports and hatches until ward room and sleeping rooms were wet and uncomfortable and we were forced to dodge flying water even as we sat at our meals, Although in some ways disagreeable, this experience with the dreadnaught division during-a storm was exceed- ingly interesting. --. Colliers for Panama Canal Contract for building two colliers, equipped ready for service, has been let by The Panama Canal to the Maryland Steel Co, of Sparrow's Point, Md., at the price of $987,500 each. These are the vessels provided for in an act of Congress, appro- priating for sundry civil expenses, ap- proved June 23, 1913, in which the building of two colliers to convey each vessel. The lowest bid was made by the Maryland Steel Co., and a supplementary bid, providing for certain improvements in construction and material at an additional charge of $17,500 per vessel, was recom- mended by the navy department and accepted by The Panama Canal. The ships are to be named Achilles -and Ulysses, in conformance with the ro practice of giving colliers names from Greek and Roman mythology. They will be built according to navy de- partment practice and when com- pleted will be very similar to the Orion and the Jason, which, after extensive service, are regarded as very satisfactory. It is expected that they will be placed in commission early in 1916. Wm. G. Abbott, Melford, Del., launched on May 16, a fishing steamer for the Coast Fish Oil Fertilizer Co., of Lewis, Del. Ot June, 1914 Vessels for Erie Barge Canal The New York & Buffalo Steam- ship Co. has been incorporated under the laws of New York state with a capital of $3,500,000 to operate a fleet of vessels upon the Hudson river and the New York state barge canal now under construction. It js proposed that 30 vessels each of 1,500 tons capacity each will be con- structed for the new line. The boats will be of unusual type in that they will be driven by electricity and will be controlled from the pilot house. They will be 276 ft. overall, 40 ft. beam and 6 ft. draught deep loaded. Tenders now are being asked from different ship yards for the con- struction of the fleet: -Ten of the vessels are tobe. ready by -fall, ten next spring and the final ten in the spring of 1916 when it is expected the complete barge canal will be ready for navigation. The boats will carry both passengers and freight. Charles W. Morse, the eastern steam- ship man, has organized the new company and. Capt. M. Liz Gilbert now president of the Southern Steam- ship Co., will be the general manager. Building Two River Barges The Racine-Truscott- Shell Lake Boat Co., Muskegon, Mich., has just closed contract for the construction of two 150 ft. river barges. These barges will be operated upon the Savannah river between the cities of Augusta and Savannah. They will have a carrying capacity of 300 tons of freight each on a draft\ of 491. They are to be operated by twin screws working in tunnels. The ma- chinery of each barge consists of a pair of Wolverine 3-cylinder engines of 75-H. P. each, operating on pro- ducer gas, which will be furnished by Galusha producer. The boats are intended for freight only, and each barge is fitted with freight house 104 ft. in length, and 15 ft. high. Above this forward is a pilot house, the officer's and crew's quarters. The boats are being built on order for the Augusta Savannah Navigation Co., of Augusta, Ga. They will be completely erected at Mus- kegon, then knocked down and shipped by rail to Savannah where the final assembly will take place. The Keyes Products Co. 71 W. Twenty-third street, New York, is furnishing bulkhead and deck panels of non-inflammable Nevasplit for a river steamer building by James Rees .& Sons, Pittsburgh, Pa.