THE MARINE RECORD. = fo eS y . E = ESTABLISHED 1878. PUBLISHED Evrery THurRSDAY at 144 SupERIOR ST., (LEADER BUILDING), CLEVELAND, oO. GEO. L. SMITH, IRVING B. SMITH, WILLIAM L. McCORMICK, _ - BRANCH OFFICE, CuHIcaAGco, ILL, - - - - 238 Lake Street. THOMAS WILLIAMS, Associate Editor. 2 - - PROPRIETORS. - = EDITOR. SUBSCRIPTION. One’copy, one year, postage paid, - = ~ One copy, one year, to foreign ‘countries, Invariably in advance. ADVERTISING. Rates given on application. All communications should be addressed to SMITH & SMITH, 144 Superior Street, CLEVELAND, O. Entered at Cleveland Postoffice as Second-Class Mail Matter. CLEVELAND, O., JANUARY 23, 1896. A RESOLUTION has passed the House asking the Sec- retary of the Treasury to inform that body whether steam vessels carry enough life-boats to accommodate passengers and crew in case of disaster. This was di- rected at ocean: steamers, but is not so worded, and will probably result in a rigid inspection cvery where. Es ee CongREss is taking up with great enthusiasm the ques- tion of raising lake levels by dams, jetties, locks and other works. ‘Phe general approval given by the engineer corps to this method adds to the popular confidence in it. Such works would be comparatively inexpensive, as com- pared with the great amount of dredging which would then be unnecessary; they would be rapidly constructed, and their effect would be almost immediate. Congress- men Burton, Towne, and other lake Representatives on the River and Harbor Committee are doing good and effective work. Let it go on. aut rrr 0 cm 0 ei A MOVEMENT is well under way on the lines suggested in the RECORD some time ago, when it was argued that in connection with the $9,000,000 State appropriation for the Erie canal improvement, the United States Govern- ment should, appropriate sufficient money, to still further deepen the channel so as to permit the passage from the ocean to the lakes of torpedo boats and light draft gun boats. A bill to this effect has already been drawnup in Washington, carrying with it a $2,000.000 appropriation, which would not only be wise as a war measure, but would at,once come back.to the people in time of peace in the increased, ¢ommercial facilities and lower frefghts afforded by a deeper channel. oe 3. <a 6 een Iv hasbeen hinted that the resolution offered by Capt.. W.S, Mack at the Lake Carriers’ annual meeting might result in the latter receiving a snub when they open cor- rasp)2113n33 to secure action by the Dominion Govern- ment in annection with obstructeons to navigation near Pomte Au Pelee andin Detroit River. This is taking a very narrow view of our Canadian neighbors. The pro- position to tender Lake Carriers’ vessels to the govern- ment in the event of war was provoked by the Toronto vessel masters, who had taken similar action. The reso- lution was offered in a jocular manner by Captain Mack and was so received by. the members. Of course this merriment was due to the unlikelihood of hostilities breaking out, and the resolution was intended as entirely sincere should need arise; but loyal Canadians will appre- ciate loyalty in Americans. The movement on either side might be called by the cynics ‘‘making a virtue of necessity,’’ as either government would help itself to ‘such vessels as it required. -Nevertheless the movement on-both sides of the lakes was inspired by loyalty and patriotism and need be productive of no ill feeling. OBSOLETE AND UNJUST. The law which a master of an American vessel, either steam or sail, is precluded from libeling the vessel for his wages,is one which should be removed from the statutes. Atatime when the master had the handling of all moneys and transacted all the business of the ves- sel, such a law was in good standing. But inthe present day of pursers and ship’s agents and brokers, the master is no longer the custodian of the ship’s funds and there- fore should have as equal a chance to recover his wages as the rest of the crew.—Maritime Register. A case was decided only last summer in connection with a libeled Lake Michigan vessel, in which the law compelled the court to deal unjustly in just such an in- stance. The matter cannot be given too prompt attention. Soe ee INLAND LLOYDS ANNUAL MEETING, The annual meeting of the Inland Lloyds’ Association of Lake Underwriters occured at Detroit last Thursday and Friday. J. J. Clark of Detroit, was chosen presi- dent; J. S. Gasden of Chicago, vice-president, and A. H. McDonnell, of Detroit, secretary. The executive committee comprises David Vance of Milwaukee, George L. McCurdy, J. S. Gasden and C, A. Macdon- ald of Chicago, and Henry S. Sill of Buffalo. Capt. Daniel Mcleod was retained as inspector. A move- ment to give the inspectorshipto Capt. A. R. Manning, of,Cleveland was defeated. The inspection board this ~ year will consist of gentlemen representing the various insurance companies as follows: Capt. C. M. Davis for companies represented by David Vance, of Milwaukee; Capt. Cyrus C. Sinclair for companies represented by Cc. A. Macdonald, of Chicago, Capt. John Perew for com- panies represented by Worthington V. Sill, Buffalo; and Capt. George McLeod for the Smith, Davis & Co., gen- eralagency. Several additions will be made later to this board, including representatives from companies having no salaried inspectors. A.W. Fitch will repre- sent C. W. Elphicke & Co., of Chicago. The board will’ consist in all of about twelve members, each of whom will have an equal voice with the chief, inspector in all classifications where controversy arises. Classifications will be fixed by a two-thirds vote. Work on the register for 1896 will begin at once. A proposition to create a special inspectorship for steel vessels was voted down. A communication signed by a number of owners, who entered protest against lowering a vessel’s rating every ten years, was considered; but it was not found that the system could be improved in this respect. The disasters of the past season were informally discussed, but the question of rates and changes in policies will ‘be de- cided upon at a later meeting. _ oe 0 5 VIEWS FROM OVER THE SEA. The REcoRD is in receipt of a very interesting letter from Mr. Samuel I. P. Thearle, the well-known survey- or.to Lloyds Register of British and Foreign Shipping. After referring to a-few personal matters and changing the address of his paper, he says: Ihave been hoping and hoping that circumstances would lead to my making a visit to your very busy and go-ahead city. Iread the paper with the greatest pos- sible interest, and every time I take it upI am reminded as I read it of: people and places I saw when in Amer- ica, and of interesting incidents that occurred at the time. My memories of the Great Lakes and more espec- ially of Cleveland, Detroit, Saginaw Bay City, Duluth, Chicago, and Milwaukee, are of the pleasantest kind, and I cherish a loving regard toward the many kind friends I met there. : OL presume the message of President Cleveland to Con- gress is not going todestroy private friendships, and I should hope ic will not destroy anything but mistakes and misunderstandings, and these are always better out of the way. : Iam watching the progress of the deep waterway movement, and am curious to know what the lake ship- builders think of a deep channel connection with the seaboard. So far as I can take in the situation it seems to me they are far better off as they are, competing only among themselves, than they would be with the wide competition the deep waterways would open up. Of course the Western farmers’ interests are all the other way. If not too late permit me to wish your paper and your- selves a very happy New Year. Very truly yours, S. I. P. THEARLE, Glasgow, 9th January, 1896. ED There is a movement on foot to form a harbor at Rocky River, with extensive docks, etc. It would be hard to get a government appropriation, for some time, owing to the shallow depth of the river there, and the absence of commerce for it toserve. More needy har- bors will be looked after before new ones are created, . tion of $78,450 for the canal for the fiscal year end MILWAUKEE’S LAK= COMMERCE. ~ Mr. James F. Trowell presents a neat little pa relating to Milwaukee’s commerce for last year. : ing 1895 there were 5,485 arrivals, with a total to ing 3,715,315. a The receipts of lumber, etc., by lake were as fol Lumber, feet, 145,609,000; shingles, 5,827,000; lath, fi 6,355,000; posts, 383,730; ties, 20,350; bark, cords, 36,‘ wood, cords, 78,554. Coal receipts were: — ee Anthracite. Bituminous. Tot T8050 eee ee 852,078 483,864 — 1,335, DOA ey weet cutee ca esti eters 783,818 453,141 1,236, Salt receipts from Manistee were 338,707; Ludingt 173,133; Buffalo, 49,870; Cleveland, 9,645; total 571,355 3,279,645 harrels. The grain movement up to Dec. was as follows: d Receipts, Shipments, In elevate Rail and lake. Rail and lake. Dec. 21, Wheat... 20. >. 9,406,179 2,686,255 Corn. rr tne 1,213,550 64,290) 2 aes Oats...3.......- 8,680,075 4 fO4, 9084 ches ee Batley: co.cc. ... 10,013,872 4,380,744 RYCisa ces eee ea I eo eloy eae 425,719 steamers and 66 schooners and barges, besides har and fishing tugs and scows. Included in the list ar the steamers Thomas Cranage, City of Venice, Elfin Mere, and schooner Scotia, which will get over to Ch cago during the first six weeks of 1896. ‘The City o Paris, W. H. Gilbert and Twin Sisters are loaded w grain. Beside this fleetin ordinary there are four of steamers in active commission during the win —the F. & P. M. line, with five steamers; the D., G. H & M. line to Grand Haven with one steamer; the Van dalia line, two steamers; Goodrich line, four steame Hurson line, two steamers on the west shore, betw Chicago, Racine, Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Manitow Kewaunee and Ahnapee. ioc Dredging in Milwaukee harbor was done as follow Milwaukee River, 86,824.6 cubic yards; Menomi River, 50,027; Kinnickinnic River, 15,885.1; to 152,736.1. bak eee ; A PROGRESSIVE CHIEF. oe General Craighill, Chief of Engineers of the War De partment, is a broad man anda true friend to the. co: merce of the Great Lakes. He has sent to the Ho Committee on Rivers and Harbors a strong express in favor of investigation of’ the falling levels of th Great Lakes. This is contained: in his report on th Griswold bill, practicalty the same.as the bill int duced by Senator Brice and published last week. I his communication General Craighill says: that the question is the most important and momentous that, now arises for the consideration of. Congress and the’ department in connection with navigation interest He suggests the possibility of checking the subsidenc of the waters of the lakes by the construction of win; dams in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers in order t hold the waters in the upper lakes, and also to plac similar dams at the entrance of the Niagara River tc raise the waters of Lake Erie. It has been shown! the satisfaction of the sub-committee of the committee on rivers and harbors, which made the report recentl published in favor of the Griswold bill, that a raisin of the levels of the lakes three feet would make a difies ence of 30 per cent in the possible increase in carriag by the vessels of the lakes, and what the cost of the proposed wing dams would be much less than the cos of dredging in the harbors where navigation has bee impaired. : < _ ED oe a STURGEON BAY CANAL. : : The approximate value of the shipping which sough : refuge at the head of Sturgeon Bay during the seaso: of 794, and which came in via the ship canal was $2,353, 350. The value of the cargoes which these vessels h on board was $398,83lin round numbers. These fig were obtained from the official report of the engin incharge. The latter has recommended an appropria- June 30, 1897, The total amount appropriated bj government since work began on the harbor pier, 1872 is $178,182.50, this being exclusive of the $8 which the company received for turning the. work o to the government. Pe: