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Pe Oe ee eT eT ee PL heal THE MARINE RECORD. es LS enssssnssesesssnseseeesneeeenseessnnnenenennennssenus stuns SHIP BUILDING AND REPAIRS. THE OUTLOOK GROWS WORSE. The sudden falling off in shipments which is compel- ling a large number of large as wellias small craft to go into ordinary, has, for the present, at least, put a dam- per upon the prospect of shipbuilding for next season. There is a little talk about new tonnage for special trades, but itis not well backed up. The Goodrich Transportation Co., however, expect to have a new steamer to take the place of one of their old side- wheelers by next spring, although work on the plans has not yet begun. The daily newspapers have been giving currency to a story that two new steamers, with sleeping capacity for 500 people, are to be built for night runs between Milwaukee and Chicago, the traffic to be helped out during the day by the Christopher Columbus. As this route is already pretty well covered, and as the profits of the Columbus have not been at all commensur- ate with the sum of money invested, there seems to be but little confidence that the project will be pushed to constummation, these dull times. The Hurson line, which is referred to in connection with the plan, has means at its command for going into the passenger business without building new boats, and will undoubt- edly act conservatively in the matter. A meeting of the directors of the American Steel Barge Co. will be held at New York to-morrow, July 31, at which plans with specifications will be presented by Capt. Alex. McDougall for a new steamship which it is proposed to build on the company’s account. ‘The pro- posed boat is to be 408 feet in length, or four feet longer than the John Ericsson, by 48 feet bean, and 28 feet depth. Work is being rushed on the Ericsson, and the installation of her machinery is well forwarded. Ad- ditional dredging is being done to enlarge the floating capacity of the yard. It is not likely that there will be any great haste in the construction of the car ferry steamers for the Cen- tral Michigan Railroad Co. ‘The road itself as yet _ exists chiefly on paper, and the prospects for any actual construction, in the present state of financial uneasi- ness, are that nothing is likely to be done for some time. Other car ferry projects are simmering, but no progress is being made at present. N. I’. Palmer, of Bath, Me., is laying the keel fora four-masted schooner, to be about the size of the Wm. B. Palmer. LAUNCHES AND TRIAL TRIPS. Srr WILLIAM SIEMENS.—The Globe Iron Works Co. launched the steel steamship Sir William Siemens at their yard at 10:30 o’clock last Saturday morning. The Siemens is the second of the two steamships built by the Globe people forthe Bessemer Steamship Co., (Rocke- feller syndicate) and is in all respects a duplicate of the Sir Henry Bessemer, which has already been in com- missin for three weeks, and which was fully described in THE RECORD of May 14, The following are the prin- cipal dimensions: Length over all, 432 feet; between perpendiculars, 412 feet; moulded beam, 48 feet; moulded depth, 28 feet; from keel to sheer strake, 28% feet. APppoMATtTox.—Capt. James Davidson, of West Bay City, launched on Saturday, July 25, at 4 p, m., the larger of the two wooden steamers he is building on his own account. The only mishap was the falling of the smoke-stack, which had not been sufficiently guyed, but the damage done amounted to very little. Capt. Davidson’s rule is tolaunch his boats in as nearly com- pleted shape as possible, and the Appomattox will prob- ably be in commission in another week. She is 340 long over all, by 43 feet beam and 26 feet molded depth. Her engines are triplex, built by the Frontier Iron Works, of Detroit, the cylinders measuring 20,33, and 54 inches in diameter, with a common stroke of 42 inches. Her boil- ers are Scotch type, 124%x12 feet, built by Wickes Bros. of Saginaw, and fitted with the Howden hot draft, The ship registers 2,643.37 tons gross and 2,082.17 net, and is thoroughly modern in all respects. In addition to a complete electric lighting plant,steam windlasses, steer- ing gear and capstans, she has a Chase steam towing machine and 1,300 feet of cable for towing consorts. SENATOR.—The new steamship Senator, built by the Detroit Dry-Dock Co., to the order of the Wolverine Steamship Co., left the Orleans street yard last Sunday morning, and proceeded to South Chicago to load oats. The Senator is a handsome boat, and is one of the larg- est class afloat. In her construction the ultra-abandon- ment of deck houses has not been resorted to, although her deck, including fuel hatches, is clear from texas to engines. She hasa roomy topgallant forecastle, and there is one cargo hatch between that and the texas. There is no gangway connecting the bridge and top gallant forecasile, both being reached by steps from the spar deck. A novel feature of the Senator’s equipment is the steering engine, which is of a type entirely new to the Great Lakes. It is known as the Sentinel and is manu- tured by Allen & MacClellan, Polmadie, Glasgow, Scot- land. Unlike nearly every other steam steerer, the machine is located, not directly below the wheel in the pilot house, butin the fantail of the ship. It acts likea huge capstan, with grooved drum about six feet in di- ameter, and is set just forward of the quadrant of the rudder, from which the chains, after crossing, pass around the drum. ‘The action of the steerer is directed of course, from the pilot house, where a small crank handleis attached to one side of the small steering wheel to facilitate its operation in an emergency. ‘The wheel operates, by means of a bevel gear, a shaft run- ning fore andaft the ship, which turns in bearings hung to the deck-beams, the bearings being sufficiently loose to allow for any moderate vibration or bending of thehull. At the after end the motion of the shaft is communicated to the throttle by means of a worm gear, and, as before stated, steam is admitted which works the steerer in much the same manner as a steam capstan is operated, save that the motion is reversible and: pawls areabsent. It is considered that accident is less liable to happen to a good two-inch shaft of this length (nearly 400 feet) than to wheel chains, in any link of which there is a possibility of flaw. But even should the shaft break the steam steerer, in this posi- tion, is still available for use, there being a small steer- ing wheel attached directly to the machine. There is of course, the usual hand wheel aft as required by law. The Senator is also equipped with a light anchor astern, which will enable her to make sudden stopsin the Sault and other close quarters, without the necessity or dan- ger of swinging about as would follow the dropping of the anchors from her bow. VAILIMA.—The new steam yacht Vailima, designed by William Gardner, of New York,was recently launched at Ogdensburg by the Spalding Boat Works. She was constructed by W. H. Post, and is 60 ft. in length over all, or 55 ft. on the water line. She has a fore- and-aft compound engine, built by T. S. Marvel & Co., of Newburg, which willdevelop about 100 horse-power, and steam will be supplied by an Almy water tube boiler of the latest design. There will be two auxiliary feed pumps, duplex air pump, and an improved condenser. She has ball bearings to take the main thrust. The hull is oak, garboard and sheer stroke yellow pine to the load water line, and cedar the balance. The deck has ma- hogany partners and covering boards, the balance being pine strips. ‘The pilot house, stateroom and engine room are finished in mahogany. RosEMOUN’T.—The new steel screw steamer Rosemount built by Wood, Skinner & Co., of Bill Quay, Newcastle- on-Tyne, for the Montreal Transportation Co., of Kings- ton was taken out on her official trial trip on Wednes- day, the 8th inst. engines, which were built by the Northeastern En- gineering Co., Limited, developed speed which was most satisfactory to both builders and owners. GENERAL REPAIR WORK. CLEVELAND.—The barge Sagamore, which struck in the Sault a few days ago and had to be lightered off, is in the Cleveland dry-dock. The Globe Iron Works Co. is making the repairs. Itis necessary to remove thir- teen plates. At the Ship Owners’. dry-dock the Glad- stone got a new wheel, and the ferry Superior was in to -stopaleak. The H. A. Tuttle, which received some bottom damage by stranding at Bailey’s Harbor, has been ordered here from Buffalo to lay up, and will re- pair at leisure. BuFFALO.—The Samoaisin Mills’ dry-dock for sur- vey, and to repair damages caused by striking in the St, Lawrence River. The survey is being made by Messrs, Parsons and Gaskin. Half her keel is gone, and more than thirty broken frames have been fotind. The She is 238 by 41 by 21% feet, and her: damage has not yet been reduced to figures. A survey was held on the schooner Mautanee by Edward Gaskin, representing Thomas Madden, the owner, and W. J. Wood, on behalf of the Goodrich Transportation Co., whose tug Arctic inflicted some injury to the side of the barge. The damage was assessed at $900. The dry- dock bill for repairs to the Canisteo, which struck a lock in the Welland, was about $700. CuHICAGO—At the Chicago Ship Bui!ding Co.’s shipyard the Goodrich Co.’s twin screw steel steamer Virginia was in dock for a new blade on one of her wheels and the Marcia for some repairs. At Miller Bros.’ shipyard the Dunham Co.’s tug L. B. Johnson was in dock and received seven new frames and 13 new outside planks on the port side, opposite the boiler house; also considerable repairs to her fantail. Ww. DeEtTRoIT.—The rebuild of the engines of the steamer Merida, which was done jointly by S. F. Hodge & Co. and the Frontier Iron Works, was completed in time to allow the steamer to leave last Saturday night. ‘There was little left Lf the Merida’s engines for use in the new, one old cylinder and a few connections constitu- ting about all the old material. The accomplishment of the work in such a limited time is a great card for both establishments. AtS. F. Hodge & Co.’s planta new high pressure cylinder is being made for the engines of the steamer Thomas Wilson, which will have it put in at the end of her present trip. This establishment has also been putting general repairs in the machinery of the Gettysburg and Norseman. ‘The steamer M. Sieken was on Oades’ marine railway for a new wheel, which was furnished by the Frontier Iron Works. The steamer St. Andrew (Br.) was in the Detroit dry-dock to have a leak stopped. The Peshtigo is now in dock, getting a new keel on. STURGEON Bay.—The scow which Rieboldt, Wolter & Co. built for their own use was launched last Thursday. The barge Emerald was docked Thursday for an over- hauling below the water-line. Two planks were put in on either bow, and her bottom was recalked. The tug George D. Nelson will receive a thorough rebnild next winter. She will be raised about 16 inches forward, and new decks, deck-beams, stanchions and rail will. be put in. Her boiler will be moved aft several feet to improve her time. ‘The dry-dock people are getting a quantity of Michigan oak from Muskegon for use in this and other ship-yard work next winter. REPAIR NOTES. The Canadian steamer Alaska broke her shaft Sunday of last week, 15 miles off Detour. Repairs were made by Hickles Bros., Sault Ste. Marie. The work on the hull of the steamer Jim Sheriffs, at Milwaukee, is almost completed, and she will be ont of the shipyard in another week. She has cost her new owner, J. W. Squires, of Marine City, less than $18,000. = > a VISIBLE SUPPLY OF GRAIN. As compiled for THE MARINE RECORD by George F, Stone, Secretary Chicago Board of Trade, July 25, - 1896: WHEAT. | CORN. OATS, RYE, BARLEY CITES ei ™ | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels, | Bushels, | Bushels, Albany .....ccceceeee| terest ees 30,000 125,000) ..........]... Sciecieass Baltimore .......00.65 944,000 384 000 283,000 39.000). 0... cee BOSOM Ee accesses en 875,000 195 000 216.000 42,000) .......... Buffalo. .... see.| 1,494,000) 144,000) 132,000) 118,000) 226,000 Caer ti fej \ Pane wana mee bey 7 [mee ison gac fisia's.s apiawin|abis pins Binal Rete ae eee Chicago,......ceseee: 13,874,000] 4,979,000] 1,211,009] 303,000!" *" 12,000 «~ afloat Cincinnati Detroity. seis “« afloat... ; Duluth and Superior, .| 7,018,000: “ ‘ é 6,000 185,000 309,000 112,000 QHOat |. ssi: win wale once = tres) o cease ancl Memuniies Ooh as Cer lotus Indianapolis,........... 388,000} 101,000 2000). cseseecsleas coseue Kansas City,... 910,000 28,000 7,000 5,000)... .. eae Milwaukee... “| 398,000 2,000|.......+.-| 868,000)" 95,000 “ afloat Mogae ene | Qebsoe aw slags Rape eaels Setarae ele cos teen Minneapolis, ......... 15,136 000 21,000) 226,000 67 000 9,000 Wontresle S. SIE] 314.000] 23,000] 276,000! 6,000] 45.000 New York... 1,746,000] 293,000] 1,652,900] 30,000 “000 “ afloat 32,000 33,000 122,000) 25,000) oe sc aces QEWERO Sei cccsaccns 5, i Peoria... 24. 5 Philadelphia . St, Louis....... 3. 90,000 154,000) ....... cose oo 663,000 37,000 4,000 122,000)......... ° 150,000].......... 71,000} ........0- 22,000 568,000 249,000 789,000 90,000 41,000 1,651,000 882,000 15,000 150,000 878 ,000 Riau LSO00 Sos one st lates esecaes .| 47,142,000} 8,810,000) 6,537,000) 1,557,000 740,000 Grand Total, ....... Corresponding date 1895...... Bn 39,229,009) 6,207,000) 4,887,000} 155,000 40,000