10 THE MARINE RECORD. SCOTT'S NEW 1896 COAST PILOT BUILDERS OF ALL KINDS OF F.W. WHEELER & COMPANY. IRON, STEEL AND FOR THE LAKES PRICE $1,50. WOODEN SHIPS, FOR LAKE OR OCEAN SERVICE. FOR SALE BY THE MARINE RECORD, CLEVELAND. WESTERN RESERVE BLDG., West Bay City, Mich. F. W. WHEELER, Prest, E.T. CARRINGTON,V.-Prest C. W. STIVER, Seoretary & Treasurer. re pf cae IRON WORKS. MARINE ENGINES, DeEtTrRoiT. Micu. rRON TS] INCORPORATED 1794 Insurance Company of North America. : CAPITAL, PAID UP IN CASH, EE 2 ASSETS, 5 5a soil CHARLES. PLATT, President. | EUGENE L. ELLISON, 2d Vice President. GEORGE H McFADDEN, Vice President. GREVILLE E. FRYER, Sec’y and Treas. JOHN H. ATWOOD, Assistant Secretary. LAKE MARINE DEPARTMENT, GEORGE L. MccURDY, Manacen MARINE AND INLAND INSURANCE. o_o” $3,000,.000.00 9,487,673.53 Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co., Organized 1842. Office 51 Wall Street, NEW YORK, Insures against Marine and Inland Transportation Risks and Issues Policies making Loss Payable in England: Assets over $10,000,000 for the Security or its Policies, _The profits of the Company revert to the assured, and are divided annually upon the premiums terminated during the year; thereby) educing the cos of insurance, until ordered to be redeemed, in accordance with the charter, | J. D. JONES, Pres, W. H. H, MOORE, Vice Pres. A. A, RAVEN, 2d Vice Pres, J. H.CHAPMAN, Sec, For such dividends, certificates are issued bearing interest ~ GORRESPONDENGE. Sar-We do not hold ourselves responsible in any way for the views or opinions expressed by our correspondents. It is our desire that all sides of any question affecting the interests or welfare of the lake ma- rine should be fairly represented in THz Marini Reoorp. DANGER OR DISTRESS SIGNALS. GopERICH, ON’., Oct. 19, 1896. (To the Editor of The Marine Record: I notice a letter from F. Boutin, keeper of life-saving station at Milwaukee. I agree with the said keeper regarding the distress signal. It is the too common error of masters of tow barges when parted from the _steamer having them in tow, to at once hoist a distress signal when their lives are not in danger, but simply require a tug. If you look over your file you will find that I called your attention to this very matter late last fall in the case of the Mike Corrie. I would suggest that all sail craft carry rockets to be used for distress signals by night and the inverted en- sign by day, but for no other purpose should the above signals be given. Shoulda sail craft need the assist- ance of a tug at night let them bnrn the torch and by day drop their fly, then. the life-savers would not run : the risk of losing their lives or being driven from their station at atime when their services are required to save life elsewhere, which is their first duty, hence, they are blamed for not being on hand. You, Mr. . Editor, made some good remarks to my letter last fall on this matter, and still there has been nothing done. yi Capt. Wm. Bass, Volunteer L,. S. S. “ THAT CHICAGO NAVIGATION SCHOOL. 4 : CHICAGO, October 19, 1896, To ‘the’ Editor of The Marine Record: I have beena pretty close reader of your valuable journal for several years, and have admired its spirit of fairness in discussing all matters pertaining to the lake marine. Consequently I have been led to believe that an article which appeared in your columns recently, at- tacking the nautical school installed by Mr. W. J. wil- son, of the Hydrographic Office, was inspired by a mis. taken idea of the facts of the case. Previous to the opening of this school here, there was no place in Chicago, that I could learn of, where navi- gation and all that pertains to its study could be learned in a thorough manner. In opening a school then, Mr. Wilson has wrought no onea hardship on account of his being in the service of the government. ‘Then, Mr. Wilson holds his school after office hours are over, and not in the rooms occupied by the Hydrographic Office, as has been stated. During office hoursI have always found Mr. Wilson at his post of duty, and ready and willing to give all information in his power to visitors, even going farther in some cases than the aims of the service involved. This was all free of charge. It was largely on account of this knowledge so freely given that many vessel masters desired him to open his school last year, as they wished to be able to repay him for his teachings, Iam not a vessel master, nor a member of the naval militia, but an enthusiastic member of Chicago’s Fra- ternity of Yachtsmen. We amateur sailors have to get most of our experience from actual practice, supple- mented by what we can learn from books. ‘Therefore, we hailed the school of navigation as a boon, knowing we could get information there which wouid be of ma- terial aid to us in the summer’s cruises. If we had known of any stich school in the past, we would have patronized that. I know that Mr. Wilson has cheerfully offered to co- operate with several navigators, if they would open schools for vesselmen. In every case they have refused and desired him to keep up his classes as they wished to attend. The whole course of study of his life has fitted him for this work in a most thorough manner, and his teachings cannot but benefit all sailormen. who receive them. It will also tend to cause other schools to be established in all the principal Jake ports, and instead of his monopolizing the business and forcing other teachers out of the field, he will make business for them in the future. YACHTSMAN, _— OEE —e Beeson’s Marine Directory reflects on every page the energy, ability and enterprise of its publisher. It has been largely increased in size so that it now comprises all that is of value in the American Government Blue Book, the Inland Lioyd’s Register and his own work as formerly compiled, sothat itis of value to all people*' whose connection with the lake marine requires on oc- casions a ready reference volume.—Detroit Free Press, For sale at MARINE RECORD office, Western Reserve Bldg., $5. A DAVIDSON LAUNCH. A new steamship, known as ‘“‘No. 77,’’ in the shipbuild- ing yards at Bay City, was launched on Thursday after- noon at the yards of Capt. James Davidson. This boat is fully comp'eted and fi' ted out, but she will remain laid up at the ship yards where launched until the opening of navigution next season. She is rated Al* in the In- land Lloyd’s insurance register, and has, also, the high- est class in the U. S. Standard Register of New York City. No government papers will be issued for this new steamer until next spring, when she will go into com- mission. She will not be named, thus giving purchas- ing parties, should she be sold before the opening of navigation next season, a chance to provide any name they choose. ‘The vessel will probably be valued in the Lloyds at about $125,000. Tne dimensions of the new steamer are: Length over all, 285 feet; beam, 4314 feet, and moulded depth, 25 feet. She has ‘no laid ’tween decks, but she is very sub- stantially constructed, being diagonally strapped and having heavy steel arches, steel cords and double steel keelson plates. “No. 77” is fitted with the latest and most modern machinery, both for easy handling and economy in run- ning. She is furnished with steam windlass and steam capstan, steam steering gear, steam deck hoist and steam pumps amidships, and steam capstan aft. She ‘has also patent stockless anchors. The cabitis are finished in hardwood, oil, etc., and the deck, cabins and hold are lighted by an electric lighting plant which is stationed in the engine room, The engine is of the triple expansion type, with cyl- inders 16, 25, 42 by 34-inch stroke. It is fitted with steam reverse gear, Joy valve gear and others of the latest im- provements. The boat is furnished with a steel boiler 12 feet 3 inches in diameter and 12 feet in length, is allowed a steam pressure of 160 pounds, and she is fitted with the Howden system of forced draught. By means of this system it is possible to burn the cheapest grade of fuel; aud with slack coal or screenings, the engine will de- velop wonderful results, both: with reference to speed and also the consumption of fuel, it being estimated that a saving of at least 25 per cent. is obtained.” This new steamship is built for carrying bulk cargo, and wi.l go into commission at the beginning of next | a season,