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_this making a total of 27 miles. THE GRAND LODGE OF SHIPMASTERS. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3) —___—_—l.. _ counts, and how well the grand treasurer had guarded the funds, He said he had had the same experience ‘with the ritual that his predecessor had, and suggested _ more careful memorising of it. + GRAND SECRETARY’S REPORT. The report of Grand Secretary W. A. Collier, of Cleveland, showeda steady growth of the organization and an encouraging condition of finances. The mem- bership was about 520, or nearly 60 to each lodge. Death claims to the amount of $10,000 had been paid last year, and on December 31 there was a balance in the treasury of $608. The receipts in the general fund were $3,651.01, and the disbursements $1,662.13, leaving a balance in the Treasury of 1,988'88. The only unpaid- obligation was one death claim. * PATROL OF THE SAULT. Early in the session the following was offered: Resolved, That the navigation of the St. Mary’s River is dangerous on account of its length, unavoidable feuds, and marrow dredged channels, it being for 22 mi'es only 300 feet wide, with five miles of Hay. Lake, In this dangerous channel there occurred, during last season many costly collisions. We fear that with the large increase in the number of boats, and their increased speed, under pres- ent manner of navigation in the channel the collisions willincrease. The great danger to life and property compel us to ask for some regulation of navigation in this channel. G@. W. McCullagh, C. M. Davis, J. A. Holmes, H. F. Loftus, Henry Root and F. D. Welcome were appointed a committee to act with the Grand President in prepar- ing a more extended expression of opinions. Later this committee reported a set of resolutions substan- tially the same as those adopted at the annual meeting of the: Lake Carriers’ Association, and added the fol- lowing: This matter can be regulated by the government, which is making these artificial cuts by dredging, and which should regulate the passing of all craft and rafts using the same. It should make such regulations as wi!l _ keep navigation free from danger to life and property. 2 Your committee recémmends that a committee of yotir Ship Masters’ Association call upon the Treasury De- partment ann solicit them to establish such suitable, racticable and safe regulations, and provide the neces- ary number of its officers to enforce the same at all times during the entire season of navigation. THE RAFTING QUESTION. Captain A. J. McKay, Henry Root, and W. S. Mack formed a committee to which was assigaed the matter of rafting abuses. They report as follows: 1—That the past season the large rafts that were used through our rivers werc a constant dread to mas- _ ters of leve steamers and a fearful menace and source of dread to masters having the boats in tow. 2—The law permitting large sack rafts, filling up the whole navigable channel of our rivers; the delay and damage this has caused to owners is, to say the least, very unreasonable and unfair on the part of the raft interests. Laws are strictly enforced against our steamers if infringments of navigation rules are repor- ted, while these rafts are permitted to be moved in sizes so large as to practically stop the passage of our boats. _ 3—We hope that your grand body will do allin their power to prevail on the government to be fair to the craft that navigate these rivers by framing such laws ss as will compel the owners of these rafts to make them of the size that will give half.of the channel to other craft that are compelled to pass these slowly moving objects; and that perhaps, too, in a down current, in a channel so narrow that other craft cannot stop or turn around. This leaves our steamers the alternative of going onthe rocks or ashore, causing great expense. -Innumerable cases of this kind have occurred, and the danger stares us in the face every day during the season of navigation. DETROIT RIVER BRIDGE. Capts. Duncan Stalker, EF. D. Welcome and Robert Young were appointed a committee to make recommend- ations in connection with the effort to bridge Detroit river by placing piers in the water. Its report in full was as follows: To the Grand Body of the Ship Masters’ Association:— Your committee beg leave to report as follows: _ 1—We submit the following preamble, as masters and pilots of craft continually passing and repassing up - and down through the Detroit River in some cases 70 times a season, in all kinds of weather. This particu- lar channel is always crowded with moving craft in all parts of the river, the sides near the Canadian shore being a fayorite place for some, the middle for others. It is difficult for us to navigate. First we pass one, then another passes out when it is hard over the wheel, this way. and that; this danger is increasing every day as the fleet craft increases in our inland waters, and from all points must pass here in this narrow strait. To augment the very serious danger that did not ex- THE MARINE RECORD. ES er SS RPS SSS SE EU EIST NINISESETOSTSG ome ist formerly for navigators, large glaring electric lights are now shining on each side of the river, causing shad- ows and glares to fall here and there, so that no man can with certanty tell just what an object is or where it is. ‘This, with the smoke of the city and mists and darkness, rains and snows that, as you know, occur so frequently that to navigate with safety the vast and ex- pensive fleet that we have requires the utmost vigi- lance, and the terrible nervous strain that is attached to this work is wearing us out before our time. We sin- cerely hope that your honorable body wi'l seriously look fairly and honestly at this matter, and do all that is possible to keep these obstructions (piers for a possible bridge) out of the passage. We say fairly, because Detroit River is a natural highway of commerce, made so by the Creator. It is made very narrow for the vast amount of traffic that is continually passing in both di- rections. We are humble servants guiding the fleets engaged in this traffic, and to do this safely requires the utmost care and watchfulness. To multiply the danger by placing huge obstructions in the shape of abutments or peers near a bend of this river, thereby shu ting out and almost obstructing the view up and down, is an injustice to our marine com- merce, a hardship to us who earn our livelihood, and subsistence for our families, in this our chosen vocation, simply to save some corporations that have unlimited wealth at their call from putting a few more dollars into their project to stretch their bridge from shore to shore, so as not to obstruct our water way. That this is the only reason is well known. ‘The river is only 1900 feet wide; bridge spans can be built much longer than that, and are so built elsewhere, where no stitch a numerous fleet ply. : We are honest in this our appeal to you, for we do know the danger of such obstructions are more than any under water, which could be buoyed. This would be monstrous. Our government is continually helping us by spending millions of dollars annually to remove obstructions from our, rivers, so that we can safely navi- gate the craft in our charge; and now that a dangerous obstruction is being talked of to putin this most danger- ous plece is to our minds incomprehensible. We therefore ask your. honorable body to at once com- municate with the honorable chief eugineers and the Department of War, placing this before them for their perusal. WEATHER BUREAU APPRECIATE. A committee'was appointed to communicate with the chief of the Weather Bureau, and express the apprecia- tion and thanks to the members for services rendered last season. ‘The letter drafted is as follows: Prof. W. Ll. Moore, Chief of Weather Bureau: Our Grand Lodge of the Ship Masters’ Association, now in session at the city of Washington, wish in this way to tender to you our sincere thanks for so kindly placing at the disposal of Masters of the Lake Marine the use of the telegraph at the Bureau’s expense, to get information valuable to them at times. ‘This is of incalculable value in finding out the direction of severe storms, and we know that many, many lives have been saved, and also much property saved from damage by this privilege. Your placing’ at Detroit weather maps and warnings was, in our minds, a wise measure. We hope you will continue them in this place, and also ex- tend this valuable service as much as you can possibly due on our western lake, as our navigation is so danger- ous, with its marrow rock-bound coast and limited sea room. GEORGE McCuULLAGH, HENRY LEISH, J. A. WARD, NEW OFFICERS AND MEETING PLACE. The last day’s session (Friday) of the Ship Masters’ Association was devoted chiefly to the election of officers, as follows: Grand President, Capt. George McCullagh, of Detroit; First Grand Vice-President, Capt. W. S. Mack, of Cleveland; Second Grand Vice-Presideet, Capt, W. E. Rice, of Port Huron; Grand Secretary, Capt. W. A. Collier of Cleveland; Grand Treasurer, Capt. Lyman F. Hunt, of Buffalo. - 4 'TPhe next annual meeting of the association will be held in Washington, beginning on the third Tuesday in January, 1897. The committee appointed to remain at Washington to look after legislation matters consists of Capts. C. KE. Benham, W. S. Mack, and J. A. Holmes, of Cleveland; Chas. L.. Wilson, of Detroit; W. E. Rice of Port Huron; Frank Welcome Buffalo,and Henry Leisk, Milwaukee. ED Oe LETTING WELL ENOUGH ALONE. The members of the Lake Carriers’ Association who are most interested in the coal carrying and fueling question, after giving the matter careful consideration, have tacitly agreed to let the Buffalo agreement of last year stand for the coming season, and not to try to ex- tend it to Ohio’s soft coal ports, where fueling arrange- hhave already been made by several parties at $215. rr + ee 2 ae Commander Nicol Ludlow, U. S. N., who is now on ‘waiting orders in Washington, will be assigned to duty on the steel board and will probably be made president of the board later on. Committee. - this winter. LAKE BUILT OCEAN YACHT. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3) awash room. Thecabin seats are made to draw out for use as beds during a cruiser. ; The engine is a fore-and-aft compound,with cylinders 7 and 14 by 10 inches, fitted with Marshall’s reversible gear. The cylinders are close together, the engine be- ing only 32 inches long. The working parts, including the crank and shaft, are made from forged steel. The boiler is of the water-tube. type originated by the builders. The steam coils are made from 1 inch pipe, extra heavy, taking water from a four-inch double thick manifold pipe running all through the bottom, from thence leading to a steam pump 20 inches in diameter by 6 feet long. The boiler will weigh 6,800 pounds, holds three barrels of water in steaming order, and is tested to 400 pounds cold water pressure. It will be allowed 175 pounds steam working pressure, and will occupy a space 4 feet 9 inches wide by 6 feet long and 5 feet 2inches high. It will be fed by a Worthington duplex feed pump and one injector. The machinery will exert 180h.p., and is expected to drive the Mil- tonian 14 miles per hour. She is to be completed in June, and Mr. Knopf is building a boat house 30x80 feet, to house the yacht, provided with lifts, to hoist her out of the water. GENERAL REPAIR WORK, CLEVELAND—The steamer S. S. Curry, finished her extensive repair job and left the Ship Owners’ dry-dock Wednesday night. The Pioneer and atug were then placed in the dock. The Wallula’s repairs will be fin- ished so she can leave the dock early next week. The Grecian finished her repairs and got out of the Cleveland dry-dock, and the Aurora is now in for calk- - ing up to the light water line, some new bottom plank- ing, etc. Thetugs Pinola and Sea Wing were in for _ an overhauling The Cleveland Shipbuilding Co. are putting a new boiler, 14x13 feet, in the Wm. Chisholm. They will also put new boilers in the Spokane. They are replacing with steel the wooden decks over the engines of the Marina, Manola and Matoa. . CuicaGo.—At the Chicago Ship Building Co.’s yard the Chili is in dock for several new frames and plates. a: At Miller Bros.’ shipyard the steamer Parnell isin — dock for some new plank on her-botton, a new shoe and . a new Trout wheel; the steamer Kittie M. Forbes is in for some new plank on her bottom, the steamer John Emory Owen was in and had her rudder shipped; the fire boat Fire Queen received a new stem and bow and some new rail. Business is very brisk with repair work at J. B. Bates & Co.’sshipyard. The schooner Kmma C. Hutchinson received new deck beams, decks and hatches and a thorough recalking all over. The schooner Annabel Wilson is receiving new deck beams and decks and’ hatch coamings and two new masts; the Uganda is having, her topsides recalked. The Germanic is being thoroughly refastened. The D, C.. Whitney is receiving new stringers and rail, new upper deck, and topsides re- calked. The steamer New Orleans is receiving new planksheer, stanchions, and rail and solid quick work and recalking inside and out. is receiving five strakes of new plank around her top sides, new deck forward and top sides recalked. ‘The schooner H. A. Hawgood isreceiving a new cabin, and the schooner John Martin a new rudder stock. MItLWwAUKEE.—The W. H. Wolf which is in dock at the south yard, is receiving considerable new bottom plank- ing, made necessary by a touch-and-go damage received last season. The F. lL. Vance left the dock at the west yard Friday, after being thoroughly refastened andthe - S. F. Hodge went in to stop a leak, and is receiving a good deal of newiron sheathing. StuRGEON Bay.—Leathem & Smith have erected a temporary sawmill for getting out the timbers neces- sary for the extensive repairs being made on their boats The work of removing the huge wooden arches from the Hurd. has been completed, and the steamer’s appearance is greatly improved. Work will © soon begin on the repairs to be made to the schooner H. C. Winslow. The oak timber and planking are now’ being sawed out. rr 0 + The Mutual ship building at the Globe shipyard, Cle- veland, is to be launched early next month. The steamer Iron Duke °°