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-1901.] a : Believing that the construction of artificial and improved channels in connecting waters of the lakes by the United States government, often times at an expense aggregating millions of dollars, ought logically to be followed by provision for the adequate lighting of ‘these expensive chan- nels, the officers of the Lake Carriers’ Association have sought some remedy to secure relief from the expense to which the association has been put for many years past in lighting such channels as those at Bal- lards reef, Amherstburg and at various points in the St. Mary’s river. With the exception of the Birch point ranges above referred to, same to be replaced by United States government lights, all the lights maintained by the Lake Carriers’ Association are on Canadian soil. Under the pro- visions of the United States laws, the United States light-house board cannot provide for the establishment of lights on Canadian soil, and it has not been possible up to the present time to induce the Canadian govern- ment to take upon themselves the maintenance of these lights, although during the past season a start has been made in this direction by the con- struction, under charge of Col. Anderson, the light-house engineer of the Canadian government, of the ranges hereinbefore referred to on the Canadian side of the St. Mary’s river. To meet the peculiar circumstances of the case, after consultation with Senators McMillan and Hanna at Washington, it was thought that the best thing to.be done was to secure, if possible, an annual appropriation, not exceeding $10,000, which could be used by the United States light-house board in contracting for the lighting of artificial and improved channels in the connecting waters of the lakes. This would allow the light-house board to contract either with the Lake Carriers’ Association or with light keepers direct for the main- tenance of lights on Canadian soil where these lights were essential to the | safe navigation of improved channels constructed by the war department An appropriation of $10,000 for this purpose was inserted by the senate in the sundry civil bill, but in the hurry of the last days of the session the item was stricken out in conference. An effort will be made to have the same item inserted again in this year’s sundry civil bill and to secure its retention by the conferees. will be successful, and if it is, the expense for private lighting which the oo Association has borne for so many years past will be at an end. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. One of the minor matters that have come before the association dur- ing the past year is a project for a suspended cable transfer across the canal entrance to Duluth harbor. This matter was referred to a special committee of the association for investigation, and report, and their report will be presented to the annual meeting. A very important matter which has had the consideration of late of the executive committee is a plan for a benefit fund to be established and partly supported by the association in the interests of employes serving on board of vessels affiliated with the association, who suffer death or disablement from accident arising out of their service. It is estimated that 9,000 men are employed on all vessels of the Lake Carriers’ Association; that the establishment of a benefit fund of this character will tend to pro- mote good feeling between the employers and their employes and to secure steady and reliable men in the service on lake boats. Railroad companies and other large employers of labor who have established sim- ilar systems, have found them beneficial. If the men contribute some- thing to the support of such a fund, it tends to retain in service the steady and reliable employes and makes provision for their families in case of death or disabling accident. The matter is a new one for the Lake Car- riers’ Association to take up and must be dealt with with the utmost care. It has had much consideration during the past few weeks at the hands ot a special committee appointed to formulate a tentative plan, and also at the hands of the executive committee of the association. A report of the executive committee, with some recommendations on this subject, will be presented at the annual meeting. DEATH OF MEMBERS DURING THE PAST YEAR. iCapt. Thomas Wilson of Cleveland was one of the founders of the Lake Carriers’ Association, had been its president, and in the absence of the president of the association, as its first vice president, he presided during a part of the last annual meeting. His sudden and unexpected death in a far off country brought grief to every member of the Lake Carriers’ Association. No member of the association was more interested in its work and no member was more highly regarded and esteemed by his fellow members. ' 'The association has also lost by death during the past year Capt. F. N. LaSalle of Duluth and David Whitney of Detroit, who have been regular members and steadfast friends of the Lake Carriers’ Association for many years past. John Gordon, who recently died at Buffalo, was not a member of the association at the time of his death, but was one of its managers for many years, and took a very active interest in its affairs. The sad misfortunes which have fallen upon one of the ex-presidents of the association since our last meeting have called forth the most sincere sympathy of every one of his associates on the board of managers. Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Board of Managers, By W. C. FARRINGTON, President. CHARLES H. KEEP, Secretary. Capt. M. Mulholland of Cleveland was kept busy at the annual meet- ing of the Lake Carriers’ Association directing attention to his patent hatch fastener. He did not intend to take orders at the meeting but found it necessary to do so. Among his latest orders is one from the Detroit Ship Building Co. for 760 of the fasteners to be used on two of the big steel freighters which that company is building. Capt. Wm. Gerlach of Cleveland has ordered an equipment of the fasteners for the steamer Onoko. Settlers’ rates via the Nickel Plate road—Beginning with Tuesday, Feb. 12, low rate settlers’ tickets will be on sale every Tuesday to and including April 30, to Oregon, Montana, Washington and all points in the Northwest. Write, wire, ‘phone or call on the nearest agent, C. A. Asterlin, T. P. A., Ft. Wayne, Ind., or E. A. Akers, C. P. & T. A., Cleve- land, O. 10 April 30. There is good prospect that this effort. MARINE REVIEW. 19° oon nnn eee FINANCES OF THE LAKE CARRIERS. ANNUAL REPORT OF GEO. P. MG KAY, TREASURER, COVERING THE YHRAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1900. RECEIPTS, Balance.on, hand irom 71809. 220 $ Tonnage dues for 1900: cnc. 46 ee 25,933.1 Extra 3 cents on grain shoveled at Biittalo. 2.0...) 2. 71.1 Extra 8 cents on grain shoveled at Fairport. ... o:....+6+: «0 ; Loaned: trom Union National -Bank::. 2. e255 1,650.00 Loaned from James Gotrigan.Gs, wa Geen 150.00 United States light-house board in payment of three clusters of piles in Lake St. Clair erected by the Lake Carriers’ Association in) 189656) mnie Gate ee ee 890.00 DISBURSEMENTS. Salaries of Officers: C. H. Keep, secretary, balance of 1899......... $ 150.00 C. H. Keep, secretary, in full for 1900.......... 1,500.00 Geo. P. McKay, treasurer, balance of 1899...... 100.00 Geo. P. McKay, treasurer, in full for 1900...... 1,200.00 H. D. Goulder, attorney, balance of 1899....... 150.00 H. D. Goulder, attorney, in full for 1900........ 1,500.00 ——§—_ $ 4,600.00 Salaries of shipping masters: A. Rumsey, chief shipping master, Cleve-. land,.in full for lO00n sake $2,200.00 Wm. F. Wall, assistant shipping master, Cleve- land, in full for )1900-iie cone cate. oe ee 770.00 J. W. Hanson, chief shipping master, Chicago, in. fall, foe 1900... sisaeerdiG ae 1,100.00 M. P. Felt, assistant shipping master, Chicago, in full for” 1900 eee lire a ae cos 704.00 L. F. Rumsey, eget shipping master, South Chicago,’ in full for’ 1900555 wa eas 724.00 Edward Nesbitt, shipping master, Buffalo, in fulletor A900: a eo ae ee 990.00 J. A. co shipping master, Ashtabula, in full fore Q00 Soca eee eae ara en ees 748.00 P. Mitchell, shipping master, Toledo, in full for 1LQ00 a SBE SEO a Bae ee eee 660.00 Wm. Lennon, shipping ane Milwaukee, in Pollestom LOO Sigs tia ces ee eee eee 990.00 ————-__ $ 8,886.00 Incidentals, treastrer!s OMiCe: 4.) ace $ 72.9 Incidentals;, Secretary.§ oniCe: | sae08 ce cca 90.15 $ 163.11 Expenses of shipping offices: Buffalo: Rent in full Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1900........... $ 200.00 Telephone rent and tolls Nov. 15, 1899, to May LoL OOL re eee i iche ete ites Rem taees ones 54.05 Office supplies, incidentals, etc.............4. 120.19 874.24 Ashtabula: Rent in full Jan. 1 to Dec, 31; 1900........... 100.00 Office supplies and expenses..............002 32.48 132.48 Cleveland: Telephone service from oe 1 to Dec. 81, 1900 184.84 Rent in-full Jan. to Deel, 19000, 140.00 Provisions, groceries, merchandise, office sup- plies and other expenses..............0.000% 654.64 979.48 Toledo: Rent;in tull Jan, 1 tocDec; 31, 1000e eo - 100.00 Office supplies: and expenses? i140. as ea 7.40 Telephone rent in full May 2 to Dec. 31, 1900. 47.74 155.14 Milwaukee: Rent in full Jan 1 to Dec. 31, 1900............ 100.00 Office supplies and expenses................- 34.21 134.21 Chicago: Rent in full Jan 1 to Dec. 31, 1900............. 226.68 Telephone rent to July 1, 1900............... 44.70 Office supplies and expenses. ........,.0..00 128.50 399.88 South Chicago: Rent in full April 1 to Dec. 31, 1900.......... 99.00 Telephone: tolls 2:2) ansiG sae a eee ee. 12.79 Office supplies and expenses... ............... 149.45 261.24 $ 2,436.67 EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES. he Private lighting: Maintaining private lights at Lime-Kiln crossing insfull for 1900) 327 $ 2,000.00 Maintaining private lights at Amherstburg in full LOT LOO see ea ee a rece a ee ate er het 1,350.00 Maintaining private lights on Sault River in full fOts COO ces cures ee et ed ceo ee rire eee 1,759.00 $ 5,109.00