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10 NEW INVENTIONS. Capt. Alex McDougall. nf the American Steel Barge Company, West Superior, has obtained a patent (No. 560,362) on a Hatch Coaming, for which he filed applica- tion nearly a year ago. The claim is as follows: 1. The combivation with a vessel having vertical stanchions arranged on each side of the line of hatches and extending above the main-deck, of vertical hatch- coamings secured to said stanchions above the main- deck, and removable hatch-covers adapted to be bolted to said batch-coamings. 2. The combination with a vessel having vertical stanchions arranged on each side of the line of the hatches and extending above the main-deck, of vertical hatch-coamings secured to said stanchions above: the main-deck, elevated decks mounted on said hatch-coam- ings with spaces between them, and removable hatch- covers adapted to be bolted to said. hatch-coamings be- tween said elevated decks. 3. The combination with a vessel having vertical stanchions D, arrangedon each side of the line of the hatches and extending above the main-deck, of vertical plates F, F secured to said stanchions above the main deck, angle-irons G, G at the joint of said plates and the main-deck, angle-irons H, at the upper edge of said plates, and removable hatch-covers O adapted to be bolted to said angle-irons H. 4. The combination with a vessel having vertical stanchions D, arranged on each side of the line of the hatches and extending above the main-deck, of vertical plates F', F secured to said stanchions above the main- deck, angle-irons G, G at the joint of said plates and the main-deck, angle-irons H, at the upper edge of said plates, angle-irons J, on the inside of said plates, and bearing on the upper ends of the stanchions D and removable hatch.covers O, adapted to be bolted to said angle-irons H. 5. The combination with a vessel having vertical stanchions D, arranged on each side of the line of the hatches and extending above the main-deck, of vertical plates F, F, secured to said stanchions above the main- deck, angle-irons G, G, atthe joint of said plates and the main-deck, angle-irons H at, the upper edge of said plates, angle-irons J, on the inside of said plates, and bearing on the upper ends of the stanchio_s D, wooden pieces K secured within said angle-irons J, and removable hatch-covers O, adapted to be bolted to said angle-irons H. 6. The combination with a vessel having vertical stanchions D, arranged on each side of the line of the Hatches and extending above the main-deck, of vertical plates F, F, secured to said stanchions above the main- deck, angle-irons H, at the upper edge of said plates, liner-ironsI on said angle-irons H, plates L, at the front and rear of the hatches, angle-irons M at the upper edge of said plates L, elevated decks N ‘secured to said angle-irons H and M, and removable hatches adapted to be bolted at their edges to the elevated decks N and liner-irons I. Patent No. 560,391 coversa Life-Line,or Safety Device invented by Richard S. Checkley, New York. The claim is as follows: 1, A block or check consisting of a plate bent out of a straight line and provided with a hole at or near each end, one to receive a rope and a fastenlng device in the Abie for the attachment of the block or check to the ody. >: 2. The combination with a block or check bent:out of astraight line and having a hole therein at or near THE MARINE RECORD. each end, of a rope passed through one hole, a ring in the other hole, and a belt or band passed through the Ting. ities: Luce, of Nehalen, Ore., hasinvented a Swim- ming Device (Patent No. 560,590),) comprising a frame equipped with suitable harness for attaching the ‘device to the limb, a semi-circular band attached to the frame, a series of ribs each having an eye at its outer end, op- positely deflected portions and bent ends at its inner end, which bent ends are looped into openings in pri- mate relation to one edge of the said supporting band and a web attached to the said ribs and having its outer edge corded and secured to the eyes at the outer extrem- ities of the ribs. The structure is adapted to be folded for convenience of carriage. rr Oe oa NOT\1CE TO MARINERS. peas LITTLE TRAVERSE LIGHT STATION. Notice is given by the Lighthouse Board that on or about June 1, 1896, a fog bell will be established at this station, on the extremity of Harbor Point, N. ‘side of Little Traverse Bay, E. side of Lake Michigan, to be struck by machinery a double blow every 30 seconds, during thick or foggy weather. The bell is suspended in the upper part of a small, square, pyramidal, wooden tower, 20 feet high, painted buff, with red roof, and standing about 190 feet SEK. % S. from the light tower. TWEHNTV-FOOT CHANNEL IN LAKE ST. CLAIR. The following notice has been issued by Commander Folger, of the Eleventh Lighthouse District: The 20- foot channel being open to navigation from Windmill Point to buoy No. 16, the Grosse Pointe lightship No. 10 has been placed to mark the edge of the cut on the east side near the buoy. Sixteen white lights are shown from the three pile clusters recently driven by the Lake Carriers’ Association on the east side of the southwest entrance. Vessels using this channel are requested to pass on the west side, in order not to interfere with the sweeping on the east side. The Grosse Pointe beacon light has been discontinued. NOTES FOR NAVIGATORS. The work of removing the shoals near Crossover light-house, St. Lawrence River, has begun. Drilling and blasting are in progress on the Hog’s Back, and on another reef near the Whale’s Back. The new Ferris wheel on the north side, Chicago, will be a mark for sailors day and night. ‘The wheel will be lighted by 3,000 incandescent lights from dusk to mid- night daily, Sundays and holidays included, regardless of the condition of the weather. . The Hydrographic Office Bulletin for May contains a fine sketch-chart of Mud Lake and Little Mud Lake, on ‘a large scale, with all ranges, depth of water, etc., very clearly outlined. The ranges and beacons about which so much com- plaint is being made by Duluth tug men, should not be confounded with the buoys, which mark the channel, and which are in their proper places. rr 0 0 According to Dr. G. Schatt, who has been making a special study of ocean waves, their speed in a moderate breeze is 16.8 miles per hour. Their size and speed in- crease proportionately to the velocity of the wind. Ina strong breeze they increase to 260 feet in length, and reach a speed of 36 feet per second. In heavy storms their length increases to 400 feet, and the speed to 28 miles an hour, mum. height of the waves is very great; his maximum is just 32,feet. He believes that-in great tempests waves of more than 60 feet are rare, and that even those of 50 feet are exceptional. In the ordinary trade winds the height is 5or 6 feet. The first ore cargo of the W. D. Rees was 4,487 gross or 3,886 net tons, loaded at Two Harbors. Dr. Schatt does not think that the maxi-, GRAPHITE IN ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES. Graphite, whith is one of the forms.of carbon, ahd more generally known as plumbago or black lead, has come to be an important factor im eleotrical industries. It isa graphite crucible which is used for electric 1 smelting, and it is a graphite pencil or rod which is port ‘ as an electrode in the process of electrical smelting. TE is graphite pulverized to an impalpable powder that is used in electrolytic work by the copper smelters, ‘Pure flake graphite is also used for lubricating cylinders and- bearings of engines and dynamos, and the same material also forms the pigment for protective paints for trolley poles, electric light poles, and roofs of dynamo plants and trolley car sheds. Graphite would therefore seem to be a very important factor in electrical indus- tries. During the last year or two the demand has very greatly increased for graphite resistance rods. Unlike German silver, it is not nécessary to take into account the factor of quantity. For instance, a six-inch rod one-fourth inch in diameter may be made to haye one ohm resistance or 10 ohms, or 1,000 ohms, or in ‘fact almost any resistance that the electrician may require. The only reason for changing the dimensions of suc : rod would be either convenience, or for radiating the heat when it, is necessary to carry a current of con- siderable quantity at high resistance. The Joseph Dixon Crucible Co., of Jersey City, N. J., which was the originator cf the graphite industry, and is now the most extensiye miner, manufacturér and importer of graphite, has paid particular attention to the’ requiré- ments of electrical engineers and is “supplying the electrical industries with large quantities of material. — THE LAKE SUBMARINE BOAT. A company has been organized in. Baltimore to build a stibmarine boat of a type invented by Simon Lake. The corporation is to be known as the Lake Submarine Co., and if the efforts of its promoters to obtain money for the enterprise are successful’ the’ boat will very. probably be built by the Columbian Iron Works, of Bal- timore. The design has special reference to a vessel for raising wreckage and also for discovering coral sponge and other valuable submarine: deposits. “The boat will be cigar-shaped and of ‘steel. It will be pro- pell d by steam on the surface and by: electricity from storage batteries under the surface. According to-the plans, it will be possible to work it at a depth of 150 feet, The trial vessel will be about 40;feet long and 10 or,15 feet in diameter.. It is to be made small.in ord r to be transported easily to Rurope on a steamer after.a trial im the port of Baltimore. It will carry a crew of six men, and will be capable of staying on the bottom forty hours without renewing, the air... Wm. T. Malster is, financially interested in the boat. = a nS Gok = PROPOSAUS.. car cchor U. S. ENGINEER OFFICE, 1637 Indiana. Ave , Chicago, Ill., May 26, 1896. Sealed proposals for dredging at entrance to Calumet Harbor,’ Ill., will*be received - aoe here until 12, noon, June 9, 1896, and... ..«= then publicly opened. Information fur- __ nished on application. W. Ll. MARSHALL, .. Maj. Engineers. Sg eee ba SEE U. S. ENGINEER OFFICE, 213°Woodward Ave., Detroit, Mich., May 19, 1895. Seal- -; ed proposals for furnishing all labor, materials and appliances for (KE) widen- ing channel below Islands: at Little Rapids; (F) widening channel at angle, ; foot of Hay Lake; and-(G) widening: ©» 1 channel from dike to angle at Little . Mud Lake, will. be received here until 2 p. m., June 18, 1896, and then publicly opened. Information furnished on ‘ap- plication. G.J. LypECKER, Lieut. Cols oo) yen Engineers. 23-04. ae OFFICE OF THE. LIGHTHOUSE, ENGI- | NEER, 71H AND 8TH DistRICcts, 349 Caron- i delet Street, New Orleans, La., May 11, °°. ©"? 1896. Proposals for the erection of = | ? eight square and seven triangular bea- . cons for lighting the Mobile Ship Chan-__. nel, Ala., will be received at this office : until 12 o’clock M. June 8, 1896, and then” 7: publicly opened. Forms of’ proposals,’ >: plans and specifications |}showing what... is required, can be had or seen: by ap- plying to this office. JAMES B. QUINN, **”' Major and Lighthouse Engineer, 121-24 005.0,