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A RIVER POSTAL SERVICE AT DETROIT. For some years past the question of inaugurating an official marine post office service at Detroit has been $talked about and the project has been looked upon gen- erally as a step in the right direction. The postmaster at Detroit favors the installation of such an office and the Free Press in touching on the subject very perti- nently, puts the question in the following manner: “The number of persons employed upon the vessels constantly passing Detroit areequal in number to the population of a good-sized city, and they are certainly entitled to the best mail service that can be given them Under the existing circumstances they are obliged to depend chiefly on receiving their mail through the offices of those owning the vessels, which must be unsatisfactory at best, and especially so to the “men who are changing from one vessel to another at almost every port on the lakes. Under the system proposed by Detroit’s postmaster, such persons would receive their * mail, no matter on what boat they might pass Detroit. It is natural that in an attempted innovation such as is proposed, some opposition should be encountered. It is claimed by the friends of the scheme that those inimical to it are interested in the present service that is being given, and therefore opposed to a change from selfish reasons. The postmaster is in receipt of a num- ber of letters applauding the movement, and urging its adoption. It would be well under the circumstances for vesselmen and others directly interested to make known their views on the subject more fully that the prevailing sentiment may be definitely ascertained. The post- master has moved in the matter with a conviction that the service would be greatiy improved by the adoption of his plan, and those who are to be served should not permit themselves to be mis-represented, should there be any disposition to that end.’’ Thousands of letters are delivered every season free of cost by the Westcott Marinereporting bureau. It is generally known that any letters addressed to Capt.’ Westcott will be placed on board the vessel at the earliest opportunity and the relatives and friends of those sailing have availed themselves very liberally of this privilege. Of course there ought to be a general expression of opinion aud the entire matter pro and’con carefully weighed in the balance of public opinion irrespective of any or all private interests which might be vitiated by the installation of the service if the departure is recommended. The service is now gratuitous and therefore unofficial, it is alsoexpensive and very danger- ous for a small boat to approach large steamers going at a great speed, yet in conjunction with other business mail has generally been delivered accurately and promptly by the river reporters and this more par- ticularly so of late years. - On the whole it would appear that the postmaster at Detroit was working towards a worthy end and we can see no reason at this time why a properly organized river postal service would not bea good thing for Detroit. ee RETALIATORY, Considering the aggressive action taken against Canadian labor at several lake ports though in many instances the cases were of the most paltry sort, itis not surprising that a retaliatory element is gaining ground in Canada and an Alien Contract Labor Law is soon likely to be enforced as the Dominion Government has been petitioned to enact legislation, which will prevent American citizens from competing in the Canadian labor market. Although there are but few Americans gaining a livelihood in Canada, the clauses of the intended bill shows the spirit in which the Canadians regard the law of deportation. The bill presents many of the clauses contained in the American Alien Contract Labor Laws, providing that no contracts previous to his arrival in the Dominion, shall be entered into with an alien. ‘*’'The master of any vessel who shall knowingly bring within the Dominion of Canada on any such vessel and land or permit to be landed from any foreign port or place any alien, laborer, mechanic or artisan who previous to embarkation on such vessel had entered into contract or agreement, express or implied, to perform labor or service in Canada, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and on.conviction thereof shall be pun- ished by a fine of not more than $500 for each and every THE MARINE RECORD. such alien, laborer, mechanic or artisan so brought, and may also be imprisoned for a term not exceeding six months at hard labor,”’ ‘‘'The Collector of Customs at any port in Canada, in case he shall be satisfied that an immigrant Has been allowed to land in Canada contrary to the prohibition of this act, shall cause such imigrant, with the period of one year after landing or entry, to be taken into custody and returned to the country from whence he came at the expense of the owner of the immigrating vessel, or if entered from an adjoining country at the expense of the person previously ORM ACHR RG for the services. There are the usual exceptions for professional and skilled labor, etc., but the bill on the whole appears to be quite as inclusive as the United States Legislation on the subject. -_ ro + oe ; BOAT LOWERING APPARATUS. The North German Lloyds taught a lesson by tla slowness of lowering the life boats when the Elbe foun- dered, is experimenting with a boat which it is said can be lowered in fifteen seconds. By aniron rod the two davits are connected so that they remain the same dis- tance apart and may be turned in any direction. ‘To the after davit is attached a cogwheel moved by an end- less screw, and a fly-wheel with a handletoit. The davit tackle falls are of the old style. The eyebolts in the bottom of the boat are fastened to a rod with arms moved by a lever. When the boatis placedin the chocks inboard one movement of the lever closes all the lash- ings and fastens the boat to the blocks. In getting the boat out one movemeént of the lever and several revolu- tions of the flywheel are all that is necessary. By this means the boat isswung over the side and the operation of lowering proceeds in the usual way. The company has purchased the sole right to use the device and will equip all their steamers with it. Ooo ie NOTICE TO MARINERS. | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA—NORTHERN LAKES AND RIvERS—MICHIGAN. MUSKEGON LAKE BEACON LiGHT —Notice is hereby given that, on or about May 10, 1895, a fixed red lantern light will be established, 25 feet above lake level, on a post in line with the two pierhead lights, and at the B. extremity of the boom piling on the N. side of the inner entrance to Muskegon Lake &. side of Lake Michigan. By order of the Light-House Board: JOHN G. WALKER, Rear-Admiral U. S. Navy, Chairman. OFFICE OF THE LiGH’t-HousE Boarp, WASHINGTON, D. C., May 1, 1895. ‘Buoys In Kast End oF LAKE SUPERIOR. The following buoys were placed by the Canadian government, in Canadian waters in the east end of Lake Superior, on the 6th September last, and will hereafter be maintained in position during the season of navigation each year: 1. A red wooden spar buoy moored in two fathoms water on the edge of the shoal about a mile south of Gros Cap, opposite Iroquois Point. ‘This shoal is about ¥% mile long with about 2% feet water on it. 2. Ared wooden spar buoy moored in 2% fathoms water on the N. W. edge of the shoal between Parisian Island and Sandy Islands. 3.. A red wooden spar buoy moored in 2 fathoms water on the south extremity of the shoal off Corbay Point. 4, A steel bell buoy painted red, moored in five fathoms, off the southwest edge of Pancake Shoal. Lat. N. 46° 54’ 30/’ Long. W. 84° 47’ 45’. Pancake shoal has only 4 to 6 feet on it and is of considerable extent. The buoy is rung automatically by its motion on the waves. 5. A red wooden spar buoy moored in 2% fathoms on the west edge of a shoal about 4 miles north of Coppermine Point. 6. A red wooden spar buoy moored in 2% fathoms on the west edge of the shoal between Point aux Mines and Montreal Island, described in part 3 of Notice to Mariners No. 9 of 1894. Wo. SMITH, Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Department of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa, Canada, 25th April, 1895. ABSTRACT OF BIDS. | ; P. M. Church & Co., of Sault Ste. Marie, teteda the lowest proposals for hardware to be used by the government in the operating and care of St. Mary’s Falls Canal, andthe work on the 20 and 21-foot channel near the ‘‘Soo.”’ The bids opened by Gen. O.'M. Poe, are as follows: NO. 1. ’ , P.M: Church & Co;: 2.05. Wem eee al) .$ 983.20 Ferguson Hardwate'Co. vi40 tee ee 983.64 Wood & Thoenen......... sans tegnrveain s gagyaen age Aaa sta’s' £09112, No. 2. P.M. Chunchi Cou. cics nae mings eR ED A. TU $1,359.97 Ferguson Hardware Cows. .eisiae ses secs es, 1,442.60 Wood & “Tncenena tc. ee a ee toe ee ee 1,509.54 Je Be Wing & Course a rerener re eae ere ee 1,654.05 Iss NO. 3. scmtaity g P.M Church & Corso. oe Fade EN Barn t bs $506.14 Ferguson: Hardware: Corso. iit ack fis 508.88 Wood & ‘Thoemen). 9 eet ieee suds 584.39 NO. 4. Pe Ms Church 8. Coie sh, devant is nes ahem ey $836.32 Ferguson Hardware Co............::.:++:5.4;- 879.12 The contracts will be awarded from Mashing ton, As P. M. Church & Co. were the lowest bidders on all numbers and they are a responsible firm, it is a fore- gone conclusion that their terms will be accepted. + PROPOSALS FOR DREDGING. Abstract of proposals for dredging Cheboygan Har- bor, Saginaw River, above Bay City, and bar at mouth of Saginaw River, Mich., received in response to adver- tisement dated April 12, 1895, and opened May 2, 1895, by Lieut. Col. G. J. Lydecker, corps of engineers; Cheboygan Harbor, Mich., per cubic yard.—Hingston & Woods, Buffalo, N. Y., .24; Carkin, Stickney & Cram, East Saginaw, Mich., .35; Christopher H. Starke, Mil- waukee, Wis., .14;,C. E, Mitchell & Co., Ludington, Mich., .12 9-10. Saginaw River, Mich., arate ae City, per cubic yard.—Charles H. Hubbell, Kast Tawas, .Mich., 45; Hingston & Woods,. Buffalo, N. Y., .30; Carkin, Stick. ney & Cram, Hast Saginaw, Mich., .34; Bay City Dredg- ing Co., Bay City, Mich., .33%. Bar at mouth of Saginaw Riyer, Mich., per cubic yard.—Charles H.. Hubbell, .Kast.Tawas, Mich., .35; Hingston & Woods, Buffalo, N. Y., .44; Carkin, Stick- ney & Cram, Kast Saginaw, Mich, .33; Christopher.H. Starke, Milwaukee, Wis.,..35: Racine Dredge Co,, Ra- cine, Wis., .41; Bay City Dredging Co., Bay City, Mich., :50; Edmund Hall, Detroit, Mich., .23. —_— rrr COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF COMMERCE EAST AND WEST BOUND THROUGH ST. MARY’S FALLS CANAL MICHIGAN. 1895. FOR MONTH OF APRIL, SEASONS OF 1894, EAST BOUND. Item , Designa- Season of Season of tion. 1894, 1895. Copper. ian hes ere Net tons 650 665 COMM. ko wee Bushels 163,300 Building stone....... Net tons Mout .. 6G eee ee Barrels 302,480 36,900 Tron Ore riivaiin. Gin. cs Net tons 56,501 AW efoye Wy ev Sie ers SANE Ey aes SS hea Luniberscsics 2.ccck. se a Mattos 1,159 492 STIVER‘OLe fies co ts es Net tons Wheat. .irfies7: & *... Bushels 921,466 Unclassified freight...Net tons. 6,586 842 PasseCn@ers. oi sisecaes = Number . 48 37 WEST BOUND, Item, Designa- Season of Season of tion. 1894, 1895. Coal, anthracite..... Net tons 27,398 Coal, bitunino0us.. 3 ea 31,052 5,145 WIGUN OS. eee Barrels 36 Grains aqa-ag eas: - Bushels Manufactured iron...Net tons 133 Salts cc sada. sues eee Barrels 3,000 3,150 Unelassified freight...Net tons 8,311 2,181 Passengers: ) 0/512, £: Number 108 28 East bound freight, net CONG faces Fs ee 5,992 West‘ ES CT ee eee ara 7,906 Totals: 75 ts Oe Pe ae eet en ae 13,898 Remarks: Canal opened April 17, 1894, and April 25 1895. rn i ee a Tue Cunard liners Compania and Lucania have been added to the list of subsidized steamers, their owners agreeing to hold the vessels at the disposal of the Ad- miralty. In the event of being placed in commission they will be equipped with five-inch Vereen ease eee and Nordenfeldt machine guns.