The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

nection with us. - (ESTABLISHED. 1878. ) PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY ne a RECORD PUBLISHING CO., {INCORPORATED.] GEORGE L. SMITH, President, Cc. E. Ruskin,” » 3 - - Manager. ‘Capt. John Swainson, -— - - - Editor. Thomas Williams, Chicago, : - - Associate CLEVELAND, CHICAGO, | WESTERN RESERVE BUILDING. ROYAL INSURANCE BUILDING. SUBSCRIPTION. Oe copy, one year, postage paid, $2.00. . $3.00. us eB: one year, to foreign cotintries, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. ~ ADVERTISING. Rates given on application. All communications should be addressed to the Cleveland office. THE MARINE RECORD PUBLISHING CO., _ Western Reserve Building, . = = CLEVELAND. of i "4 j so Entered at Cleveland Postoffice as Second-Class Mail Matter. : : CLEVELAND, O., NOVEMBER 12, 1896. eS PUBLISHERS’ NOTICE. : - phere are but few men engaged in the literary ie. “ala matine,’’ who are entitled to more credit than the scribe who again assumes editorial ‘charge of these columns. During his past ownership of THE RECORD, “which extended over several yeats, eighteen months ago, Capt. Swainson had taken the prior to about lead in’ writing up and otherwise advocating matters strictly marine, not only from a national stand- ‘point, but more especially as the Great Lakes were or would be affected, and in so doing he earned and re- ccived the thanks of the chiefs of the departments under the governinent, as well as a general expression -of satisfaction over his labors from all of the marine element with whom he was in close touch, and also of his confreres on the marine press. The publishers of Tum RecoRD are therefore highly pleased and gratified 'to-have been in a position whereby they have secured the captain’ s services at this time and they feel certain that’ an extension of the many courtesies received by “Tux RECORD. in, the past will not only be continued, but augmented: on account of Capt. Swainson’s re-con- ‘eo: THE MARINE RECORD Pus. Co. EEE Tux officials of the light-house service don’t seem to know how to moor gas buoys, or at least they are not doing so, as we have to record the second buoy to break away from its moorings since being placed. In this in- ystance the gas buoy at Cloes light broke adrift from its moorings and was afterwards picked up at Oak Point. -Thereis possibly a too parsimonious system being used ‘am Mane anchorage of these iids to navigation, « .5. 3, bw dosed wes ay a swould’ and: does, idwnwn liye make-a~ sailor tines! to ‘hearsor-read some of the verbiage which land-lubbers ‘petoffirvrelation tomatters: maritime. The daily. pa- opersought to considerthe adaptibility of the man they appoint to report on marine, otherwise they sink crews, make red gas buoyshinto black gas buoys, get aprons ‘over holes instead Of canvas jackets, or a paunch mat across.a break iti‘a’ Collision case, and do all kinds of obnoxious things. A marine column should be con- ‘aucted with some degree of the ethics of ‘sailorism, ‘other wise ‘it's becomes a burlesque. This feature is ‘noticeable if the-reported loss of three tow-barges and “heir crews, also'in making thé blow of a few days' ago if ) Me, an equinoctial gale, etc. THE MARINE “RECORD. A NORTH PACIFIC STEAMER LINE. Any development on the Pacific slope whereby the transcontinental fréight and passenger service ‘can be handléd niay be considered ‘as ttibutary in a measure to the commerce of the lakes. Up*to the present time, the Great ‘Northern Railroad Co., president J. J. Hill, fas made more advanced strides in connecting the lakes with the Pacific coast trade than any other single enterprise; and it is easy to see that this connection will prove a valuable ig eaiel to lake \gldeet gi at no distant date. Following up the obvious advantages to be gained by a prosperous occidental trade, it is now learned that American capitalists are considering a proposition to establish on the Pacific a line of steamers connecting ‘with the new trans- Sibérian railway and thus make it a vital and effective part of a great round-the- world system of communication. This new proposition which ~ has long since passed the stage of preliminary discus- sion, bids fair to be in full operation before any Pacific port bas welcomed the first of the much-talked-of Jap- anese.liners. This new project had its inception in Chicago, and among its supporters are Marshall Fie'd and other Chi- cago millionaires. The New York end of the enterprise is being equally taken care of and in Philadelphia the project is supported by Wm. Cramp. & Sons, ship- builders. It.is the intention of. these capitalists, to establish a new trans-Pacific line superior to anything afloat. Their plan calls for the construction of steamers of not less than 8,000 tons burden and of 20 knots speed, which will make them eligible to the benefits of the - United States mail subsidy of $4 per traveled mile. It is proposed to begin the enterprise with four twin-screw steamers, capable of carrying 5,500 tons of freight, 200 first-class passengers and 1,200 steerage passengers. As originally proposed the line was to run from San Diego to'the ports of China and Japan, but recently the company has opened negotiations to make San Fran- cisco the terminus of the Pacific coast. The San Francisco Chamber of Commercehas just adopted a vigorous memorial to congress, appealing for action in behalf of a Pacific Ocean mail steamship ser- vice under the national flag—in other words, asking for a subsidized line of steamers. The memorial sets forth that Japan is entering the field with modern steamships to be operated under a subsidy law so liberal that a 5,000-ton vessel with fifteen knots speed will be paid $31,000 for a voyage from Yokohama to San Francisco and return. It also calls attention to the fact that Great Britain has a heavily subsidized steamship line between Vancouver and Japati and China, and that an- other is about to be established between Vancotver and Australia via New Zealand and the Fiji Islands, also calling at Honolulu. The metorial declares that the contest for maritime control ‘of the Pacific is at hand and asks congress to enact such meastires as will per- mit American mail being carried’ by Anierican ships. The project only requires” the faith and backing of capitalists to make it an ultimate success and if sich is granted the lots experienced by Americans in losing the Atlatitic trade may be counterbalanced in the de- velopment ofa brisk trade on the Pacific. rr oe TO FORTIFY ‘LAKE PORTS. At stated periods | oriedne with miore or less appear- ance of authority or officialism riishes into print with a screed of how easy it would be for English naval vessels to-force a passagé into Lake Erie, bombard and destroy the towns and cities thereon, a and paralyze’ AG “entire cominerce of the lakes. ©"! 7° The latest of these séeins to be (ease © Pr Cotton’ of the First Artillery, who in’ an article in the Journal of the Military Service Institution on the “Proximity of England to the United’ States,” describes thé rapidity with which England could ‘strike a Stunning blow at the United States after having collected a large fleet in American waters in anticipation of an act of Congress that could’ be éotistrued ds a declaration’ of war. In the coursé of thé startling picture he ‘draws Capt. Cotton says? ‘A°few cruisers would ‘stir’ up our coast, anda dozen gunboats passing” through the Welland Canal, thave’ the ‘cities of Lake’ Brie‘undér “their guns; and there would have to be sharp ‘work {6 save the tipper “akes from invasion by obstructions at Detroit.”’ In’advancing argunients of this sort it is attempted to be shown’ and with somedégree of reason that the lower ‘lake ports at least shonld be strongly fortified, et “py and permit a hostile fleet to ascend the St. Lawrence, 3 “not render the Welland Canal impassable before the “under any circumstances venture to send a fleet against ‘about entering upon the construction of a handy, mod- “date style, and with other work’ on hand employment and the pursuits connected therewith, is likely to show ; placed at the Golden Gate, San Francisco bar. » Adi Bd . throughout the entire district. sitics willnot'intervene so as to unsettle a present: satis- through the tow line parting and as the steamer was un- "rode out the gale in first fate shape until the ‘wéathér : “route for New York. Now atiy person who will take the trouble to glance ata map of the lake region will not be alarmed by this’sort : of talk. In case of war With England, the first point at which our naval and military authorities would strike would. probably be the Welland Canal. It is difficult - enough to imagine that our Government would sit” idly however ‘sudden the attempt; to suppose that it could | enemy’s vessels reached that point requires too great | AAs mental strain altogether. That Great Britain would the Anierican cities on the Great Lakes is extremely improbable, and in fact it is quite certain that there will | never be occasion for another Perry battle and ‘victory on Lake Erie. “LORE GS AS OUTLINED in our issue of Nov. 5, lake shipbuilding is by no means to remain itiactive during ‘the winter months. Besides the keels for two large wooden vessels, one of which was laid on Wednesday, the same™ yard is erate sized steamer to be equipped in “a modern, up-to- for 800 men is assured at this one yard alone for the en- tire ‘winter. In addition to thé foregoing another yard expects to announcein a few days having secured the contract for two steel vessels, while specifications for other tonnage are being figuted on, so'that shipbuilding, up quite brisk before the holidays.. Lake shipbuilders will also have a chance to figure on the plans and speci- fications for three composite lightships and two steel tenders for the light-house service, which are to be sent out within the month. ‘These vessels will be modern and first-class in every particular. There was appro- priated $80,000 for each of the lightships and $75,000 for each of the tenders. One of the lightships’ will’ Bo eg ee oul Sree THE coroner’s inquest on the bodies of the lost ‘sea: men of the barge, Sumatra, which sunk’ off Milwaukee harbor on the morning of October 1, resulted in a? ver- dict that the sinking of the vessel and consequent loss of life was due to the fact that the Sumatra ‘carried a larger cargo than her condition warranted at that sea- son of the year. It isa matter of grave doubt whether a coroner’s jury composed of men: who may have but a scant knowlege of vesséls and their: condition could passintelligently upon the condition of the Sumatra and as the vessel had frequeritly carried a larger cargo it would appear evident that the gentlemen who com. posed the jury did not understand the difference’ be- tween a vessel’s tonnage measurement and her Carrying capacity. There is also an injustice inflicted on vessel owners by the finding ofan tac mpetrett juty in a case of this: sort. £ ——— 0 i < Iv appears that assistant’ local inspectors of steam- boats have been assuming a trifle more authority than the supervising inspector-general thinks is quite right; hence, a calling down in:the form: of "a circular letter has: been: found necessary. This, however, ‘applies to New York and not to:any Offices on the lakes, where it appears that officers know and perform their actwal duties according to Gunter. Capt. Galvin; supervising inspector of the Buffalo and Cleveland: district, is fully alive to the important position which ‘he occupies, and theres is a complete ‘absence of friction in» any fotm It is to ‘be hoped! that with the change of the ministry, or presidents, that pol- factory condition of the inspection service, - vat least in the above mentioned district. SSE eS ee ee ee ‘SEAWORTHY CANAL BARGES. | The small canal barges of the Cleveland Steel Chaai Boat’ Co., proved their seaworthiness “this week, by reaching Buffalo all well, after being abandoned ‘in a ‘gale of wind by the towing steamer. When off ‘Erie the tow of three barges were left to take care of ‘themselves ‘Able to pick thein up again, they’ came to anchor and tnodérated when they were towed ‘of ‘to Bi ffalb, en