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SAILORS': Institute to cost $350,000 is to be establishea in Cleveland by the leading lake interests . including ves- sel owners, dock operators and_ coal and ore shippers. Work on the plans has been going on actively for several months and a large part of the money is already subscribed. The commit- tee in charge of the project con- sists of Samuel Mather, E. W. Ogle- bay, WW. Gy Pollock, HH: Coulby, D.. R. Hanna, Gen. George A. Garretson and J. H. Sheadle. = The institute will be located near the water front, several available sites being now under consideration, and work upon the structure will be act- ively begun early in spring. There is a possibility also that some time in the future a home for aged and. invalid seamen will be established in conjunction with the institute. Lake interests have long had the plan in mind, but financial and other difficul- ties have prevented an earlier frui- 'tion. The general scope of the plan 'has been outlined in a prospectus is- | sued by its projectors. This pros- pectus says: "During the past decade the com- metce of the great lakes has increased two and one-half times, and there is every indication of freight during the season of 1910 will approximate 100,000,000 tons. The United States government has spent millions of 'dollars in improving and deepening the connecting waterways. New ships have been built, increas- ing the cargo capacity from 4,000 to 12,000 tons per trip. The same pro- gress has been made in cargo hand- ling facilities, so that today ships of 10,000 tons are unloaded in half the time it took ten years ago to' unload a ship of 3,000 tons. "For the sailor much has been done on board the ships in- the way of better food and quarters and it may be said generally in respect of wages, roomy, sanitary quarters and conven- iences, with abundance of good food, we ate in advance of any other part of the world. The government marine hospital service furnishes treat- ment in cases of injury or sickness to the point of convalescense, but there is no provision for the con- valescent or the superannuated. For the active workers little has been done ashore for men who by tradi- tion and habits growing out of the transitory character of their work, have not opportunities or induce- ments to the more stable relations that the movement. TAE MarRINE REVIEW Sailors' Institute on the Lakes and habits of those whose employ- ment and manner of life require and promote fixed residence and habits. "In the early days of lake naviga- tion the work was done in wooden sailing vessels, whose crews were of the same type as trained anywhere in sailing ships; and during our operat- ing season sailors came from England, © Norway, Sweden and Germany and seaport towns of the old country. During the winter season there was plenty of work for the sailor who desired to stay on the lakes, in rig- ging work, overhauling, caulking and other repairs, which was part of the sailor's education,: "The advent of the steamship and the development of the steel ship, of rapidly' increased size, literally trans- formed all this. Not only the engine force, for the deck officers are re- quired to be licensed after a rigid government | examination. Repairs and overhauling of steamships is the business of a separate trade, neither requiring nor imparting any. know- ledge of navigation. "The work of lake navigation has become -specialized, and the practi- cal training on ship board must be augmented and go hand in hand with study, the reading of books, and know- ledge of rules and theory. In every other profession training schools have been provided ashore available . for young men. Nothing has been done systematically along this line for the young man who desires to follow the water for a livelihood. During the w-nter season there is little work for the crew, except laying up of the ship in the fall and fitting her out in the spring, leaving the sailor with three to four months of idle time in the winter when it is almost im- possible for him to find employment on shore, which time can and will be utilized to full advantage by many young men with suitable practical oppor- tunity for study and training at a rea- sonable cost, "Such principal ports as Cleveland are crowded during the winter months with young men who have worked in subordinate capacities the ships; and also in the spring when naviga- tion is about to open, sailors gather in large numbers like all members of the human family they gravitate gether and mingle with their own people, and dissociated by the radical difference character of employ- ment and habit of life, they are not found in the public librabries, read- ing and social rooms and such insti- on to- in December, 1909 tutions, or in the boarding houses and similar places frequented by peo- -- ple with shore opportunities and hab- its; but their invitation and ever pres- ent opportunity is to the traditional sailors' boarding house and saloon of the waterside, where they must and do congregate under conditions which, denying opportunity, even choke in- centive to thrift and individual de- velopment and independence in ob- taining the comforts and_ essentials of life, so freely open in fixed occu- pations ashore, "With this brief preface we will now outline the project under contem- plation. The raising by subscription of the sum of $350,000 to be used for the purchasing of land necessary and for the construction and equipment of a sailors' institute, to be located © in the city of Cleveland, in which will be provided reading rooms, writing rooms, some kind of recreation, such as bowling, billiards and pool tables, adequate bathing and sanitary accom- modations and an assembly room in which meetings can be held and classes of instruction arranged during the winter months. Also to have an arrangement with some _ responsible bank to open a branch in the insti- tute, to encourage men to save their -money and facilitate, during the ship- ping season, the transmission of their savings to their families. "During the closed season it is pro- posed to arrange for lectures in prac- tical engineering and navigation, so as to give the young fellows every . opportunity of advancement in their calling. A number of sleeping rooms to be provided, similar to those in the Mills hotels in New York, to be placed at the disposal of the men at a reasonable cost. No intoxicating liquors to be allowed on the premises, and a man's affiliation or non-affilia- tion with any religious, trade or other organization not in itself to con- stitute a bar to admission. A. charge to be made for sleeping rooms and meals, but the institution not to be run for profit, but if any surplus reve- nue or funds accrue, these to be used for the purposes of the institute, or if the trustees deem wise, in the ac- quirement or maintenance of a home for aged and invalid officers and sea- men." Capt. Perry Denner died at his home at Chippewa Bay near Ogdens- Dire Ne ¥en Dec. 63, He 'had sailed the great lakes for many years, beginning fifty-seven years ago in sailing craft. He was over eighty years of age.