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= TT) " LAUNCHES OF THE WEEK. LAUNCH OF THE STEEL, SCHOONER MALTA, The steel schooner Malta built to the order of the Minnesota Steamship Co., Cleveland, O., was launched from the stocks of the Chicago Shipbuilding Company’s shipyard on the Calumet, Thursday afternoon. ‘The dimensions of the Malta areasfollows: length over all, 320 feet; length on keel, 302 feet; breadth molded, 40 feet; depth molded, 24 feet. Her dead weight ability equals 3,000 tons on 14% mean draft of water. She has nine cargo hatchways, each eight by twenty-eight feet. constructed in a manner, so as to secure extra longitud- inal strength in the hull without curtailing the loading and discharging facilities. The double bottom is 54 inches in depth, and is especially strengthened, the plating being heavy and supported by six girders on each side, in addition to the center keelson and half- breadth intercostal keelsons. One special feature of this vessel is that her frames are extra strong, and she is triple riveted at the butts of every strake of plating. These strong points and her large stringer plates will make her class as one of the strongest vessels on these waters. Among the visitors at the shipyard to witness the launch of the Malta were Sinclair Stuart, of New York; chief surveyor efor the U.S. Standard Register, the classification society under whose rules she was built Joseph R. Oldham, naval architect and surveyor, and Captain H. A. Root, of Cleveland; W. L.. Brown, W. I. Babcock, and many of the residents of Chicago attend- ed the launch, which was in every way most successful. A sister vessel to the Malta is nearly conipleted and will be launched from the same yard in about three weeks. pee fe DEE, SANDuSKY-Isvanp*STHAMBOAT Co’s NEW PASSENGER STEAMER. The Detroit Dry Dock Co., launched on Saturday a fine side-wheel steel passenger steamer. The craft that the Wyandotte yards have been working on all winter for the Sandusky-Island Steaniboat Co.j was launched on Saturday afternoon, and was one of the prettiest launches made at thse yards. |The new boat is 175 feet over all, about '30 feet beam, and 30 feet 6 inches in depth. She will havea Fletcher-Harrison engine, and the latest pattern feathering paddles. The steamer was towed to the Detroit’"yards Monday, where her boilers will be set and her cabins built. The Arrow, is the name chosen for this new candidate for public favor. She will ply on the route so long cared for by the City of Sandusky, running from San- dusky to the Lake Erie Islands. Her owners will spare no expense in fitting her up. She will be ready for business at the opening of navigation. Not much is said about the speed of the Arrow, but her designer, Frank EK. Kirby, consulting engineer of the Detroit Dry Dock Co., her builders and her owners, think the nameisnotamisnomer. Capt. George Brown will com- mand her. LAUNCH OF THE TWIn SCREW STREL PASSENGER STEAMER NortH LAnNp. The event of the week in Cleveland marine and ship- building circles has the successful launch on Saturday afternoon from the yards of the Globe Iron Works Co., of the splendid twin screw steel passenger steamer North Land sister ship to the North West, the latter ship being launched just a year previous to the day. It is estimated that 2,500 people attended the launch although the weather was cold and bleak. The launching arrangements were similar to those of one year ago. Opposite the vessel, amidship, a stand had been erected, where the launching party, represent- ing the builders were seated. This party consisted of President H. M. Hanna, of the Globe Iron Works Co., Mrs. Hanna, Miss Lillian Hanna, Miss M. Gertrude Hanna, Mrs. John F. Pankhurst, Mrs. Wright, Miss Harriet Wright, and Mrs. E. C. Pechin. On the christening stand, directly under the bow, were officers’ and social representatives of the owners, the North- ern Steamship Co., General Manager John Gordon, Assistant General Manager and Mrs. F. P. Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Ryerson Ritchie, Miss Lucille Dunbar, Mr. Cristy, of Buffalo, and Miss M. Payton, of Duluth. Promptly at 2:30 o’clock Miss Gertrude Hanna press- edan electric button on the launching stand. ‘This set ringing gongs at the bow and stern of the ship and the great ship, freed from the stocks, glided steadily THE: MARINE RECORD. and evenly down the, ways. As she moved passed the christening stand, Miss Payton struck her bow with a beautifully decorated bottleof champagne. Anda flood of the sparkling wine splashed over the stem an instant before she took the plunge, making one of the most exact launches ever witnessed in this or any other ’ country. As we have stated, ‘the North Land is a sister ship of the North West, which was launched at the same yard ayearago. The only difference is that the new boat will have twelve more large staterooms, with baths, etc. The principal dimensions of the boat are: Length over all 383 feet, length between perpendiculars 360 feet, niolded breath 44 feet, molded depth 26 feet. Her engines are two vertical quadruple expansion, each of 3,500 H. P., higher pressure forward, followed by first and second intermediate andlow pressure. Thecylinder sizes are high pressure 25 inches, first intermediate 36 inches, second intermediate 51 1-2 inches, low pressure 74 inches, stroke 42 inches. The crank shafts are of wrought iron, built up in four duplicate interchangeable parts, 13% inchesin diameter, with a crank pin 14 inches in diameter by 16 inchesin length. The crank shafts have solid forged couplings and are fitted with straight turnbolts. The propeller wheels are four-bladed, sec- tional, 13 feet in diameter by 18 feet pitch. by The boilers are the Belleville patent water-tube sys- tem; their nominal evaporative efficiency will give the main engines 7,000, horse power and the auxiliaries 500 horse power more, with natural draft. The boilers are arranged in three separate batteries, of which it is necessary to tise only one between Buffalo and Port Huron. 44 =a While the cabins and wood work of the North Land are farther advanced than on the North West at the time of,her launch, the machinery is said to be hardly so near completion. According to present arrange- ments she will be delivered ‘to her owners about June 1, and will go in a regular service on. the third Friday of that month, nearly a month after the North West goes into commission, she beginning her first trip on the last Tuesday in May. A number of out-of-town people witnessed the launch, among them being Mr. Sinclair Stuart, of New York, representing the United States Standard Register of Shipping, which gives the ship the highest class. Offi- cers of the Northern Steamship Co., besides those already mentioned, were present, as follows: T. P. Carpenter, general passenger agent, Captain J. S. Killerain, marine, superintendent; W. S. Cartright, purchasing agent; Stewart Murray, general freight agent; J. M. Bartle, R. S. Hair, all of Buffalo; Abner Crossman, agent at Chicago; K. B. Clark, agent at De- troit; and Robert Logan, superintendent of construc- tion, Cleveland. Among the visiting newspaper men were Eben P. Dorr, Buffalo Times; C. lL. Daniel, S. G. Blythe, Buffalo Express; Charles H. Ball, Buffalo In- quirer; T. G, O’Brien, Buffalo Courier; and W. D. Coch- ran, Toledo Bee. Prominent among the visitors who witnessed the launch were, Col. and Mrs. George A. Garretson, Mr. Ly. E. Holden, Col. James Pickands, Capt. and Mrs. George P. McKay, Harvey H. Brown, Miers Coryell of New York, Robert Wallace, A. C. Saunders, H. B. Nye, Ll. Dean Holden., W. A. Luce of Erie, EK. B. Holland, P. J. Benbow, F. lL. Lehman, of New York, F. A. Sterling, W. D. Taylor, H. H. Rudd, Howard Eells, G. O. Baslington, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Gilchrist, Miss Richmond of Grand Rapids, Miss Marion Smith, Miss Anna Smith, Miss Lena Martin of Oberlin; Ollie Smith, R. I. Ireland, Christian Martin, Major,'W. B. Stockman, Capt. Munson, U. S. Army, Mr. and Mrs. Ly. W. Sheldon, Ll. P. Smith, Frank Wright, C. C. Harris, Capt. Campau, Frank Brobst, B. B. Inman of Duluth, Herman Holmes, D. Jay °Collver, Capt. James Lowe, Capt..Frank Brown, LL. C:;sHanna, M. A. Hanna, J. D. Connolly, J. N Ashmun, T. F. Newman, Harry Rogers, Capt. Chris Allen, officials of the Globe Iron Works Co., W.'’F. Herman, E. L. Pattergon, Capt. W. B. Guyles, and Miss Wilson. Captain Murch, with, as the common parlance states others too numer- ous to mention. e rr : ACTING-SEGRETARY of the Treasury Peaddtin; has de- cided that owners, masters, etc., of American vessels, in order to receiveSthe benefits of the’law providing for the free withdrawal of supplies in foreign ports should they become dissatisfied with the decisions of col- lectors of customs, must within ten days after payment of the duties file notice of objection, and appeal to the secretary of the treasury within 30 days, to receive con- sideration. | 7 TOSUSPENDA CLAUSE IN THE FOG SIGNAL RULES. At the regular weekly meeting on Friday of the Ship- masters’ Association of Cleveland, Lodge No. 4, the en- tire session was consumed in the furthér diséussion of the steering and sailing rules followed by ships under the law of 1863, and talking over such changes ,as are generally desired. While the Cleveland ship masters have taken the initiative in this matter, they do not wish to be looked upon as fixing up a set of rules to which they will ask the assent of all others. Their sole object is to cover as well as they may every point that will come upin navigation, and to suggest rules therefor, which will not conflict with the existing steering and sailing laws any more than is absolutely necessary. The rules, when they are Unanimously endorsed will be submitted to the Lake Carriers’ Association at its an- nual session in Detroit this week with the request that acommittee of practical men be appointed to go over the proposed code, and carefully consider each rule, af- terwards to make such suggestions regarding revision as they may see fit. The rules will also be presented to the Grand Lodge of the ship masters, at its meeting at De- Deroit a week later. It would, of course, be morein form to submit the rules to the grand lodge first, but the Cleve- land shipmasters are doing this work chiefly from an in- dependent standpoint, and desireto save time and secure for the rules the greatest amount of consideration and criticism possible before they are finally sent to Com- missioner of Navigation Eugene T. Chamberlin, as what the lake ship masters desire. The proposed rules are not nearly in shape for publication, but the following statement, as adopted by the Cleveland lodge, copies of which will be sent to sister lodges for indorsement, will explain their position, and set forth the especial provis- ions to be embodied in the new sailing rules which they desire. We, as lake pilots, feel sure that the rules issued last spring forbidding ‘the use by steamers of passing sig- nals in thick weather invite danger in navigating the crowded waters and thoroughfares of the Great Lakes. We ask that these rules be suspended and we suggest the following as cardinal principles to be followed in formulating rules applicable to the lakes. That in thick weather the only fog signal to be used by asteamer or craft propelled by machinery shall be three distinct blasts of the whistle with an interval of one minute. That every-vessel in tow of another vessel shall, in thick weather, make a fog signal at intervals of one minute by sounding four bells on a good and efficient and properly placed bell as follows: By striking the bell twice in quick succession, followed by a little longer in- terval and then again striking twice in quick succession (in the manner in which four bells is struck in indicat- ing time.) That the following passing signals be used in all weathers: One blast to mean “I am directing my course to starboard,’’ two blasts to mean “I am directing my course to port’”’ and that neither of these signals be ever used with any other meaning or purpose under any cir- cumstances, ; That each such craft when inspected by government officers be provided with a plain whistle which can be heard in ordinary weather at least two miles, and that such whistle be used for making all signals to other vessels, except that all raft towing steamers shall be provided in addition to such plain whistle with what is known as a modoc or schreeching whistle, which shall always be usedin making the fog signal of such steamer when towing a raft. : That a steamer with a raft in tow, instead of the ver- tical bright lights required for other towing steamers, shall carry two mast headlights arranged in a horizon- tal position athwartships at least eight feet apart,and so fixed as to be visible all around the horizon at a distance of at least five miles. That each vesssel in a tow, including the steamer, shall carry a single bright light at her stearn which shall not be visible forward of the beam. That in all narrow channls (where there is a current) and in the rivers St. Marys, St. Clair, Detroit, Niagara and St. Lawrence, where two steamers are meeting, the decending steamer shall have the right of way, and shall before the vessels shall have arrived within the distance of one-half mile of each other, give signals sig- nifying which side she elects to take. The following resolution, which was also presented met with a unanimous adoption. ‘Resolved that section 4404 of the revised statutes be revised or amended so that there shall be an equal rep- resentation of pilots on the board of supervising inspec- tors, who shall be selected for their skill in navigation and the handling of steamers on rivers and the Great Lakes.”’