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THE MARINE RECORD. 7 THE BOYER SECTIONAL TUBE BOILER. (Illustrated.) The competition for speed in vessels still goes on. Last year a boat was launched that created a sensation by mak- ing an exceedingly fast run. Shortly afterwards another boat made her debut and attained even a higher rate of speed, and so it goes. First one and then another, taxing the engine builder’s ingenuity to its utmost, who in turn look to the makers of boilers for assistance. A boiler that fails to supply the requisite amount of steam to keep up with the engines working as the engines of to-day are required to work, is practically useless. Excepting perhaps the steam engine, no mechanical de- vice has been so materially and steadily improved, as the steam boiler. The improvements of boilers have been along the lines of safety, economy, adaptation for carry- ing high pressures, rapid generation of steam and con- stancy of pressure under varying demands. Having in mind these facts and determining to combine these in a boiler capable of driving an engine 1,000 revolutions, L. Boyer’s Sons, of New York, produced their Patent Sec- tional Water Tube Boiler, and built the yacht “Rex” to further demonstrate the fact that this boiler would do all that was claimed for it. That it more than fulfilled their expectations is attested by the performance of the Rex on the lakes in 1893, when she made the remarkable run from Menominee, Mich., to Sturgeon Bay, a distance of twenty-two miles, in forty-five minutes, and ‘that in rough water. Again at Fredericksburg, Va., in the year 1895, the Rex logged twenty miles an hour for two hours, with boiler door wide open, and on the Potomac River, Washington, D. C., she ran a mile in two minutes and five seconds. With these facts before them the Boyers feel that they are safe in claiming that the Boyer Patent Sectional Water Tube Beiler is simple in construction, perfect in work- manship, durable in use, and not liable to require early repairs. All parts are readily accessible for cleaning and repairs. A constant and thorough circulation of water throughout the boiler, so as ‘to maintain all parts at one temperature. A rapid maker of steam (steam having been generated from cold water in 15 minutes). Water spaces divided into sections, so arranged that should any section give out, no general explosion can occur, and the defec- tive effects will be confined to the simple escape of the contents; with large and free passages between the differ- ent sections to equalize the water line and pressure in all. There is another very important point that has been given strict attention by the Boyers in the construction of their boiler, and that is, that they have removed all the joints from the fire. This point is one that appeals to the thinking mind immediately and needs no explanation. In conclusion it mignt be said, that the Boyer Patent Sectional Water The Boiler is each and every one tested ‘before leaving the workshop and subjected to a hydro- static pressure of 600 pounds. . i oO ea OUR MERCHANT MARINE. Every statesman in the country agrees with every ais statesman that the shipping trade of the United States ought to be built up again. They all concur that it is a shame that the American flag has practically disappeared from the seas. Unless seen floating from the masthead of some American man-of-war it is a rare spectacle in for- eign ports. It was different once. The time was when the American merchant marine outnumbered even Great ~ Britain’s, when our clipper ships were seen everywhere, and when American exports and imports were carried in American bottoms. It is the saddest kind of commentary upon our shipping laws to think that the marvelous prog- ress the world has made in shipbuilding, and with the constantly increasing evidence that the United States can beat the world in the construction of the fastest of ves- - sels of modern kind, this country should stand at the - foot of the list in respect of the size of its merchant ma- rine—Washington Times, oo oe EASTERN FREIGHT REPORT. The eastern freight réport furnished the Record by Messrs. Funch, Edye & Co., New York, is as follows: The position of our freight market for steamers has ‘virtually undergone no change since our: last report. Fresh engagements for cargo loads appear to -be out of the question, and the same condition obtains in respect to parcel lots, the offerings of which is slight and at steadily declining figures. At the moment, therefore, more than ever, business in grain is restricted to the carrying out of old contracts, and rates are entirely subject to the mo- mentary requirement of size, position and owners’ views as to ports of discharge. A further boat having been taken for Shanghai on the London market at 33 cents, shippers of case oil appear inclined to hold back for lower terms. The enquiry for berth tonnage to the Far East has been partially met by some boats taken on time, but there is still some demand to move rails and railroad outfit, large contracts for which appear to have been placed in this market. There is some further business do- ing from the timber ports, but orders thence are gradually being filled at about former figures. Deal freights froin fixtures thence latterly. Business for sailing vessels has been rather quiet during the past week, the supply of tonnage, as well as offerings of same, being limited, and we have no particular change to report. Freights for case oil to the Far East form the only exception, as some fixtures show a slight decline, in consequence of more liberal offerings for this branch at the moment. a ENTITLED TO REGISTER. A correspondent inquires: “In what cases does the law of the United States permit a foreign verse to be brought under the American flag?” These classes of foreign-built vessels are entitled to American registry: (1) Vessels which may be captured in war by citizens of the United States, and lawfully con- demned as prize, or which may be adjudged to be for- feited for a breach of the laws of the United States, being AS cs wlll BOYER SECTIONAL WATER TUBE BOILER. wholly owned by citizens; any foreign-built vessel which shall be wrecked in the United States, and shall be pur- chased and repaired by a citizen of the United States, upon satisfactory proof that the repairs put upon such ves- sel are equal to three-fourths of the cost of the vessel when so repaired. The Act of 1892, under which the foreign- built vessels of the American Line were admitted to reg- istry, is general in its terms, but it was made to meet a special case, and’ very few vessels, if any, will ever be ad- mitted to registry under it except those for which it was especially intended.—Ed., FITTING OUT AT THE HEAD OF THE LAKES. All of the vessels at the head of the lakes are fitting out for the season’s business. The yards of the American Steel Barge Co. at West Superior, are a scene of activity. They are fitting out the steamers Joseph L. Colby and E. B. Bartlett of the whaleback fleet and the steamer Matoa of the Minnesota Steamship Co.’s fleet, this vessel having wintered in the drydock. Besides these, work at the yards will soon be. commenced on fitting out the steamer Chris- topher Columbus, which will go on the Milwaukee-Chica- go excursion run in charge of Capt. Robert Smith. The steel barge Constitution, which is being built for the In- ter-Lake Transit Co., of Cleveland, will probably be launched on Saturday, April 17. The plating is now nearly on and the decks all laid. The vessel can be launched as soon as the ice breaks up and efforts are being made to have her in commission by the first week in May. Soon after the launch of the Constitution will follow the re-launching of the 201 and 202, the ocean whaleback barges which were lengthened during the win- ter months until they are now “fullsized” barges. CONDENSED STATEMENT OF LAKE COMMERCE AT HEAD OF THE LAKES, DULUTH AND SUPERIOR DURING NAVIGATION SEASONS OF 1895-96. 1895. Number vessels arriving 5,505 Registered Tonnage...... 5,665,752 “departing 5,481 ef Bere xara eeecy 5,778,520 Total arrivals and depar. 10,986 Total Registered Ton’ge 11,444,272 Receipts, net tons...... .. 2,035,465 Valuation 47sec sa ere $27,443,512 Shipmetits) syncs ct 4,289,886 RES SAS (Sey sia ore) 67,556,488 Totahicug seanpacew wisest 6,325,351 Total valuation .. +.....$95,000, 000 1896. Number vessels arriving 5,527 Registered tonnage ...... 6,626, lor “departing 5,421 a sR Sse 726,967 Total arrivals anddepar. —_10,948 Total Reg. Tonnage ....13,353,068 Receipts, net tons...... 2,407,880% Valuation. °... 473 wares i $27,717,561 Shipments Coo 5,478,953 Pee ava RTOS Bes asa 83,959,339 Lotalnet tons. ace an: 7,886, 833 % Total valuation........ $111,676,900 INCREASE OF VALUATION OF LAKE COMMERCE DURING 1896, AS COMPARED WITH 1895, $16,676,900. TOTALS FOR SUPERIOR, 1896. . Valuation. Net Tons. Receipts wlisisng a alee Wtierg sia PG DOS Rs hs ate eee 1,524,646% $11,556,857 Shipments un cee ee are eee 1,470,421 40,542,545 $52,099,402 Receipts and shipments.................. Passengers ALHIVING vee oceans departing 2,995,067%4 Passengers arriving and departing... ....... 0.0.0. eesee cece eres 4,016 TOTALS FOR DULUTH, 1806. Net Tons. Valuation. REGCLDESE ce corms wouter weet eee 883,234 $16,160,704 SID IMCUtS tae ota e rca beeen eben ees 4,008,532 _ 43,416,794 Receipts and hinment: 4,891,766 $59,577,498 Passengers arriving . ey ae be 23,190) departing ese Gee 22,498 Passengers arriving and departing.... ......... ge cne cnet 45,674 --YESSELS RECORDED AT SUPERIOR, 1806. ENTERING: Steam vessels ca ens ties Metiiese wate wrerbies epee oa reriaate eine 1,57¢ Sail and ofher vessels 28 iirc ccsce wlan) re oe mina enerar stot ae 220 Total vessels os oi cui sie once pet wee nee vee eS net ame winnie 1,790 Total-repistered). TOMNA CE ow cere oe ivoire ore wana sraelaaaee 330,117 DEPARTING: SlGaTMIVESSEIS TS aio sem sia srs ati: wots ie teres titeiele Mint ie ain ein este einer 1,512 Sail and other; Vessels: 5: 93.5. jcrs tsp eccuane Stee wettest ote 223 Total wiesselss.h.\ atte bGray diese betel: hee ester ns Sen ee 1,735 Total registered tonnage ......-. 1... 60: sees ecteeese eee 2,354,140 Total entries and departures ............ 0. cece ee eee 3,525 Total registered tonnager meets eee. ey enone +s 4,684,257 PSSBES tonnage exclusive of tugs......:.......:..05 00% 1,446 "WESSELS RECORDED AT DULUTH CANAL, 1896. ENTERING : Steam vessels f2csii2. Sti ch ae die cole) ner bien ee oleged 3,033 Sail: andsother vessels ic vieac canals vives serie tu eetecsise eens 704 Total VESSEIS eaie in cutee Ned tage Ce ee eee aes eee tena 357. Totalregistered tonnage «5. cen sinc cen sn cic oot vn eleimescrle 4,295,984 DEPARTING: Shear veSs@lse s ccusius sr aarick iia oilencce ratst ebay alahe ns (ope ae ae 2,972 Sail and other vessels 714 Motali vessels uiqacic bh. dees one cee eeemeiote chilean rina 3,686 Total registered tonnage................+5055 CURES ES 4,372,827 Total-entries.iand departures. . <0... ieee tence ete es " 7,423 Total registered tonnage... .. 20.0... elie eee tee eee tne 8,668,811 Average tonnage exclusive of tugs.....-.....:+-.eeseeue 1,257 —$—$ a er TABLE OF DISTANCES AT WHICH OBJECTS CAN BE SEEN ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ELEVATIONS AND THE ELEVATION OF THE EYE OF THE OBSERVER. | Distances, | 1| F Distances, | istanees, dali : Distances, rcs lin eeamtee or | beesy poarch in boa or in Geogra- i | English | a Englis N Feet. A nia miles. | Feet miles, fe Pet | | | : 5 2.958 eee | IIo 13.874 12,03 10 4.184 3.628 || 120 14.490 12.56 15 5.123 4.443 |} 130 15.083 13.08 20 5.916 5.130 140 15.652 13.57 25 6.614 | 5.736 150 16.201 14.05 30 7.245 | 6.283 | 200 18.708 16.22 35 7.826 6.787 250 20.916 18.14 40 8 366 7.255 300 22.912 19.87 45 8.874 7.696 350 24.748 21.46 50 | 9.354 8.112 400 26.457 22,94 55 g. 811 8.509 450 28.062 24.33 60 10,246 8.886 500 29.580 25.65 65 | ~~ 10.665 9-249 || 550 31.024 26.90 70 11.067 9.598 || 600 32.403 28.10 75 11.456 9.935 650 . 33-726 29.25 11.832 10.26 joo | 35.000 30,28 85 12.196 10.57 | 800 | 37.416 32.45 90 12.549 10.88 |} goo | 39.836 34-54 95 12.893 | 11.18 || 1,000 41.833 36.28 100 13.228 Jo. 1.47 | | | ere re he tower 120 feet high will be visible! to an observer whose eye is elevated 15 feet above the water, 17 nautical miles; thus from the table: 15 feet elevation ; distance visible, 4.443 nautical miles. 120 “ ac “ ee 12.56 “ o 17.003 —————m >a The steamer City of Nicollet is being rebuilt at San- dusky, and will be ready to go into commission in about two weeks, An application, it is understood, will be made to the commissioner of navigation in the near fu- ture for permission to change her name.