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THE MARINE RECORD. $ SHIP BUILDING AND REPAIRS. TEN MILLIONS IN NEW BOATS. The tabulated statement of ship building in American _ yards, which accompanies this issue of the RECORD in supplement form, will perhaps give the friends of lake shipping an adequate idea of the importance of the fresh water fleet in the commercial world. The ships which will certainly go into commission this year, added to those already ordered for delivery as soon as possible, but which will probably not be completed until winter, give at moderate valuations a total of $9,837,000. The fleet includes a number of passenger steamers, tugs, one large car ferry; and other craft not ca'culat- ed for bulk freight ; but exclusive of these, the capacity of the legimate bulk freight carriers is estimated at 170,200 tons on fifteen feet draft for a trip. This estimate is open to the charge of extravagance, and the fact that ' the addition of so heavy a tonnage to the lake fleet has not had any bearish effect on freights, except in theory, is sufficient evidence of steady and lasting commercial growth. : The values of ocean-built tonnage of course far ex- ceeds the lake total of about ten millions, but this is due to the battleship construction, each of these great structures costing about $3,000,000, The salt water merchant fleet séems to have a healthy growth, however, and with the appreciation of its importance that is shown in Congress, there shou'd be no fears for the future of the American Merchant Marine. : TWO LAUNCHES ON ONE DAY. . The Globe Iron Works Co., Cleveland, have issued very handsome invitations to the launch of the Sir Henry. Bessemer, the first of the Bessemer Steamship Co.’s fleet, at their yard, foot of Taylor street, Saturday _afternoon, May 9, at 3 o’clock sun time. The Bessemer _ is in nearly all respects, a sister ship of the steamer -. Coralia, which has just made a new cargo record. “At the Cleveland Ship Building Co.’s yard the steam- -.-er Queen City, building for the Zenith Transportation ~Co., Duluth, will be launched about the same hour. A small strike of laborers occurred this (Thursday) morn- ing at the Cleveland yard, but the Queen City is so well forward that this will, itis thought, hardly delay the work, | The steamer EK. W. Oglebay, building by F. W. Wheeler & Co., West Bay City, will be launched next Saturday, May 16. The City of Bangor, built for the Eddy Bros. at the same yard, left Bay City on her initial trip Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Eddy, and Mr. - and Mrs. N. A. Eddy, going to Duluth on her. It is ex- pected that she will carry 3,200 gross tons on a draft of thirteen feet. Her deck is clear ‘of houses back to the engines. Officers’, guests’ and crew’s quarters are all aft. ‘The City of Bangor is commanded by Capt. Wm. Cavers, with John Burnsas first mate and George M. Tilton chief engineer. The tug-yacht Edna G., building at the Cleveland . shipyard for the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad, will be ready to go to Iwo Harbors about the 25th inst. She is rapidly nearing completion and is now being painted inside. ‘Two of her most noticeable features are the large engines and ample engine room. Laird & Sons, of Ashtabula, set to-day (Thursday) for launching the large fueling scow they heve been build- ing for M. A. Hanna & Co. The scow is equipped with two screws for self-propelling. It is said that a fast system of handling coal has been designed for ‘her. The first launch of the year at James Davidson’s ship- yard, West Bay City, occured last Saturday, when the schooner Armenia was placed in the water. The launch was delayed nearly two weeks because of the fire in the shipyard, which scorched her a trifle. On the evening of the launch, by the way, the yard had another narrow escape from burning. Fire broke out in the paint shop, in a box of waste and rags probably originating spon- taneously. It was discovered at once, and the box was carried out of the building... Had the fire been allowed ten minutes start, all the buildings adjacent would have been destroyed, as the place was filled with inflamable materials. Abram Smith & Sons, of Algonac, announce that they will have their new modern schooner launched and ready for sea by the middle of the month. She meas- NS Nn ne ae A Sa SS EN TE LT CETE PaO eS single conservative rather than ures 210x37x14 ft. and is built entirely of white oak. She will be schooner rigged, and will be equipped with a steam windlass and capstan, as well as a deck hoist and two 8-inch pumps. She has been named the Vinland, and will tow behind the steamer Viking. GENERAL REPAIR WORK. The steamer Simon J. Murphy is in the Ship Owners’ dry-dobk for bottom repairs. The damages appear to have been exaggerated in the daily press. Five plates which came off and the sheathing which covers them must be replaced. The repair bill will amount to about $2,000. Mr. Robert Logan is looking after her. The A. P. Wright is also at the Ship Owners’ dock. The Samuel Math+r. which struck at the Sault, isin the Cleveland dock. Right plates had to be removed and her stay in the dock will be about a week. She will get out Friday night. Joseph R. Oldham is inspecting the job. MILWAUKEE.—The'steamer Lora has been given some extensive improvements, including new plank sheer, *tween-deck stanchions and quick work, part new cabin roof, a sky-light in the after cabin, new fender strakes, and a Solid rail around the promenade deck. She has been painted white, with acream colored stack. The schooner T'win Sisters has been docked here to locate a leak. BuFFaLo.—The steamer C. F. Bielman has been get- ting anew wheel. The W. L. Scott was in for repairs to her stern-bearing. DErRoIt.—The Hodge was placed in the upper dry- dock Monday for examination. It was found that the leak which almost caused her to sink in deep water was the working loose of the packing around the stern pipe. Her wet corn was in good shape when taken out. SUPERIOR.—The steamer J. J. McWilliams had to make repairs to her high-pressure cylinder, which gave out here. The steamer Chili smashed her rudder last Wednesday and was delayed two days for repairs. ‘The Simon Langell disib’ed her machinery aud repaired at the Clyde Iron Works. CHICAGO.—The steamer F. & P. M. No. 1, Capt. Chas. Thompson, recently purchased by the Hurson Trans- portation Co., is running between Milwaukee and Chicagoin connection with the steamer City of Fremont. The ship joiners are on board the No. 1 making altera- tions and improvements. The saloon cabin will be re- arranged, especially with a view to the convenience os the travelling public. An elaborate after cabin will be putin, and awash room and smoking room go in for- ward. She will also receive a new pilot house and texas with captain and mate’s quarters. Her hull will be painted green and her upper works white. The No. 1 has been so well kept up and is in such good shape at the present time that she appears to be quite a recently built steamer. The City of Fremont is also having her cabin facilities enlarged. Capt. James S. Dunham is giving the schooner America extensive repairs and a thorough overhauling. Capt M. Abrahamson has given the schooner Radical new stanchions on her starboard bow, new frames on her port bow, and new plank from the light water mark up, and're-calking. At Miller Bros.’ shipyard the U.S. tug Charles Williams is in dock for repairs and re-calking. The schooner W. A. Goodman has received a new mizzenmast. At the Chicago Ship Building Co.’s shipyard the steamer Soo -City isin dock for a new stern bearing and repairs to her shoe and rudder. REPAIR NOTES. The stermer Maud Preston has been docked at Toledo for a spring overhauling and necessary repairs. The little ferry steamer Gracie Barker, which burned last fall and was rebuilt during the winter, was launched last Saturday. The Langell Boys was picked up disabled by the Glidder on Lake Huron and is now repairing her en- gines at Port Huron. A collapsing derrick at Port Huron let a heavy boiler fall upon the new tug building for Loud & Sons, of Osceola, last week. About $300 damage was done. The tug Carrie, which the Booth Packing Co. built during the winter, was launched at Bayfield, Wls., Monday. A short-lived strike occurred last Friday at the American Steel Barge Co.’s yard, the dry-dock men demanding an increase of from $2.50 to $2.75 per day. Hee The demand was granted, the company reserving the light to put the men on p’ece work at any time, About 2C0 men were affected. : Improvements in the tug Barnes at Manistee cost $1,000. j : The steamer Charles Reitz has been receiving repairs on the floating dry-dock at Manistee. The steam barge Dan Kunz will probably be trans- formed into a sand sticker at Detroit. Capt. James Davidson has already set about repairing his burned machine shop at West Bay City. The steamer D. F. Rose is getting anew deck and other repairs at Gilmore’s dry dock, Toledo. The schooner Delaware has been in Gilmore’ s dry- dock, Toledo, receiving a thorough recalking. The barge Emerald received some calking and paint- ing and had a leak stopped at Sturgeon Bay last week. The schooner City of Grand Rapids has been getting a new centerboard box, hatch coamings, and some new deck at Racine. The schooner J. S. Richards has received about $600 in repairs at Toledo. She bad her floors calked, sister Keelsons put in, and other repairs. The boiler recovered by the schooner Dewey from the wreck of the steamer Johnson, near Kenosha, is to be placed in the tug Com. Jack Barry at Chicago. The barge Unadilla is being repaired at the Homer & Daniels dock in Tonawanda. She will be fitted up with a new deck. a new cabin and new masts. She will be ready to go about May 15, When the steamer George Farwell was placed-in the Detroit dry-dock it was found that she had sustained some very bad cuts in the bow from the ice last fall. Several new planks and a new forefoot will be put in. ——. nn 0 SHIP BUILDING IN GREAT BRITIAN According to the returns complied by Lloyd’s Regis- ter, and just received, there were, excluding war-ships, 400 vessels, of 769,264 tons gross, under construction in the United Kingdom at the close of the quarter ending 31st March last. The present figures exceed those reported twelve month ago by about 113,000 tons. At the end of Decem- ber last there were 377 merchants vessels, of 711,562 tons gross, and at the end of September there were 356 vessels, of 716,575 tons gross, and at the end of June last there were 339 vessels, of 707,079 tons gross, under construction. There were at the end of March 68 war- ships, of 182,805 tons displacement, under cOnstruction at private yards, so that altogether there were 489 ves- sels, of 952,969 tons, under construction at the close of March. TEED oO The following coast builders report nothing doing at present: Continental Iron Works, Brooklyn; J. C. V. Minott, Phippsburg Me., International Steamship Co., Portland, Me.; McBride Bros., Philadelphia; Wm. BE. Woodhall, Baltimore; N. H. Timbs, ‘Fairport, Va.; Maryland Steel Co., Sparrow’s Point, Md.; Portland Steamship Co., Portland, Me.; Oregon Railway & Navi- gation Co., Portland, Ore. Clay & Johnson of Kissemee, Fla., and S. Gildersleeve & Sons, Gildersleeve, Conn., built small barges, Chas. J. Rossiter & Co., Baltimore, have been building a set of facts forthe United States Revenue Steamer Wm. H: Windom, a ed DREDGE APPOINTMENTS. Appointments for George H. Breyman & Bros., dredge fleet have been made as follows: Dredge No 1—Captain Geo. Grierson; runner, Dougal McLaughlin; cranesman, Frank Beade. Dredge No. 2.—Captain, Charles Rogers; runner, Eddie Gorman; cranesman, Fred Parrow. Dredge No. 3.—Captain, Thomas Murphy; runner, Robert Foster; cranesman, William Constantine. Dredge No. 4.—Captain, John Finley; cranesman, Thomas Reed; runner not named. Tug Marinette—Captain, John Robertson; engineer, Joseph Sayen. Tug Goldsmith—Captain, Charles Abair; engineer, William Iron. Tug Blazier—Captain, named. ‘Tug Dexter—Captain. not named; engineer, Jo. Har- mon. Tug Shelby—Captain, Chas. Jarriatt; engineer, Alex- ander Whalen. John Covell; engineer, not