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ESTABLISHED 1878. A a : VOL. XXIII, No. 4. CLEVELAND---JANUARY 25, 1900---CHICAGO. $2.00 Per Year. 5c. Single Copy. LAKE CARRIERS’ ASSOCIATION. To consider and take action upon all general questions relating to the navigation and carrying business of the Great Lakes, maintain necessary shipping offices and in general to protect the common interests of Lake Car- riers, and improve the character of the service rendered to the public. PRESIDENT. W. C. FARRINGTON, d Buffalo. 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT, Capt. J. G. KEITH, Chicago. SECRETARY. CHARLES H. KEEP, Buffalo. TREASURER. GEORGE P. McKay, Cleveland. COUNSEL. HARVEY D. GoULDER, Cleveland. EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. JAMES CORRIGAN, Chairman, Cleveland. COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION. G1Bson L. Dovucras, Chairman, Buffalo. COMMITTEE ON AIDS TO NAVIGATION. GEORGE P. McKay, Chairman, Cleveland. THE LAKE CARRIERS’ ASSOCIATION ENDORSES THE PLANS OF THE CHIEF OF THE WEATHER BUREAU. At the annual meeting of the Lake Carriers’ Association, held at Detroit, Mich., on the 17th day of January, I900, the following resolution was adopted : Whereas, Representative Wadsworth, of New York, has introduced House Bill No. 3988 for the re-organization of the Weather Bureau, upon plans submitted by Prof. Willis L,. Moore, Chief of the Weather Bureau, who has had over twenty years’ practical experience 1n every branch of the Weather Bureau. The plan of Prof. Moore for the introduc- tion of the merit system and the retirement of meritorious officials after reaching the age limit, is approved by the Lake Carriers’ Association. The value of the Weather Bureau on the Great Lakes, in the investigation of the lake levelsin connection with the rain and snow fall of the lake basins, the display of wind signals and issuance of storm warnings for the preservation of lives and property is thoroughly ap- preciated; therefore, be it Resolved, That the Lake Carriers’ Association endorse House Bill No. 3988, introduced by Representative Wads- worth, of New York, and we respectfully request our repre- sentatives in Congress to use all proper means to aid in the passage of this bill. (Signed ) C. H. KExp, Secretary Lake Carriers’ Association. OO os oe AN INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY COMMISSION. The MARINE RECORD has held forth and persistently ad- vocated the formation of an international commission whose province it would be to conserve the best interests of lake commerce in the maintenance of lake levels. Steps are now being taken to compile the correspondence, communications and other writings on this subject, and to publish same in pamphlet form for the more complete information of mem- bers of Congress, as well as those prominently engaged in lake transportation and commerce. In our six months’ campaign along the lines of the fore- going advocacy, the REcoRD is pleased to acknowledge and thank the influential and old-established northern Ohio daily, the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, for its eminent support of the measure, as set forth week by week in the RECORD. The Plain Dealer’s editorials and articles on the subject of conserving the natural lake levels has been a source of in- formation to thousands of interested persons, who, otherwise, would have been in ignorance regarding the subject, but for the wide reaching influence and circulation, of this, let us say, metropolitan daily. In this connection we are again pleased to quote an edi- torial on this subject from Tuesdays Plain Dealer as follows: “The resolution offered in the Senate yesterday by Sena- tor Platt, of New York, and referred to the committee on foreign relations, is the first step in an inquiry of practical importance to the navigation and commercial interests of the lakes. It authorizes the President to invite the Govern- ment of Great Britain to join in the promotion of an inter- national commission, to examine and report on the division of the waters that are the boundaries of the two countries. “The need for such a joint investigation as proposed is shown by the discussion that has arisen concerning the ef- fect which some enterprises, begun or contemplated, for the partial division or regulation of the waters of the lakes may have upon the waterways or the coasts of the United States or Canada, or both. ‘The suggested series of dams at the foot of Lake Erie, for the purpose of, regulating the level of that lake and of the channels between it and Lake Huron, is one of the works in question. Objection has been already made that the ob- struction to the flow into the Niagara river would lower the levels at Lake Ontario harbors and in the St. Lawrence canals, and would flood low lands on both the Canadian and American sides of Lake Erie. “The projected Canadian canal from Lake St. Clair into Lake Erie, has been objected to on account of its diversion of water from the Detroit river and the consequent diminish- ing the depth over bars and shallow places, which are already sufficiently dangerous. “The power canal cut through the town of Sault Ste. Marie has been the subject of serious inquiry as to its prob- able effect, when opened, upon the depth of water in the Sault canal. Here, also, there is ground for possible inter- national objection as, if it should affect the working of the canal on the American side of the Sault it would also affect the Canadian Sault canal. : “The Chicago drainage canal obtains its supply from Lake Michigan, an exclusively American lake, and therefore is not so immediately involved in the proposed investigation. But it may be claimed that the sending of lake water to the sea by way of the Mississippi, instead of by the chain of lakes and the St. Lawrence, as heretofore, may, in some de- gree, affect the depth of waterin the boundary channels, and is, therefore, a subject of international inquiry. ‘Engineers have differed in their published opinions as to the effect of the several proposed divisions, those who are more or less directly connected with the enterprises minimiz- ing the probable effect, or denying that any perceptible change would result, while others insist there would be an appreciable difference. The possibility of there being an injurious result on one or other side of the boundary makes it advisable that a joint investigation and understanding be had before such works of engineering magnitude and heavy cost are entered upon on either side of the line. SS eo THE CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL. In the case of the State of Missouri vs. the State of Illinois, involving a petition for an injunction against the Chicago drainage canal, the United States Supreme Court on Monday decided to permit the Attorney General of Mis= souri to file his bill making the summons to the defendants returnable on April 2d. Regarding a temporary restraining order prohibiting the operation of the canal during the pen- dency of the proceedings in this court, Chief Justice Ful- ler of the U. S. Supreme Court at Washington, said that it was impossible for the court to exercise original jurisdiction in a suit between states without giving notice; that six days were required for return, and that nothing could be done before the date upon which the service was made returnable in the main proceeding on April 2d. ror or or AFTER presenting the arguments for and against the sys- tem of superimposed turrets, the ‘‘Engineer’’ reaches this conclusion: ‘‘On the whole, then, whilst we are bound to admit that the saving in weight and the reduction of machin- ery is advantageous, we do not see that sufficient is gained to balance the many disadvantages of having all the eggs in one basket and all the weapons in one hand.’ DETROIT SHIPMASTERS ENDORSE THE WORK -OF THE WEATHER BUREAU. - The following preamble and resolutions met with unani- mous approval at a regular meeting of the Detroit Shipmas- ters’ Association. : ' Whereas, It has come to the knowledge of the methbers of the Shipmasters’ Association of the Great Lakes that H. R. Bill No. 3,988 has been introduced by Representative Wadsworth, of New York, for the re-organization of the — Weather Bureau upon the plans submitted by Prof. Willis — I. Moore, Chief of the Weather Bureau, who has had over twenty years practical experience in the Weather Bureau. The plan of Prof. Moore for the introduction of the merit system in the Weather Bureau, based on the experience ob- tained from twenty years active service in all branches of the Bureau, is heartily approved by the Shipmasters’ Associa- tion, Lodge No. 7. The valuable services of Prof. Moore in devoting special attention to the marine interests of the. Great Lakes, for the benefit of vessel masters, is highly ap preciated, therefore be it Resolved, That the members of Shipmasters’ Lodge No. 7 heartily endorse H. R. Bill No. 3,988, introduced by Re- presentative Wadsworth, of New York, and we respectfully ask the cordial support of our Representatives in Congress, to use all means in their power to encourage and assist in the passage of said bill. (Signed) Wm. H. Horrman, Sec. | on oo COMPETITIVE BOILER TESTS. From London comes the statement that the Admiralty is disposed to have a sort of a “‘battle of the boilers,” a com- petitive test of the Highflyer against the Minerva. The two ships are the same in displacement and dimensions, but ~ differ in armament, engines and boilers. The Highflyer’s engines develop 10,000 horse-power with natural draughts ; her boilers are of the Belleville type, 18 in number, fitted with economizers. The Minerva’s engines develop 9,600 horse power, and her boilers, eight in number, are of the Scotch type. There would be six trials in the proposed test. In the last two the duration of the contest would be 12 hours at the highest speed possible. Inone of these two the Mi- nerva is to start with three boilers only lighted, and ata given signal to light up the rest. The Highflyer will start with six boilers lighted, and at the signal will light up the other twelve. This test is to ascertain the speed at one-third the full boiler power, though, as a matter of fact, the Min- erva’s three boilers are slightly in excess of one-third power. In the other, each ship will start with one-third of the boilers alight, but in the Minerva the others will be banked, andin the Highflyer fires only laid. After steaming from 18 to 36 hours at a lowspeed, ata given signal the two will spread firesor light fires and put on all available steam. Each ship will, during the trials, carry an inspector of machinery, two additional engineer officers, and a number ~ of extra engine-room ratings. The trial will be of immense importance, as it will finally and definitely decide whether the water-tube or the Scotch boiler is the better type. oo THE Midvale Steel Co., Philadelphia, Pa., two years ago employed 1,000 hands. They now have 2,800, and will add 2,000 more very soon, when improvements costing $800,@00, now under way, are completed. The improvements, the most important of which will be completed in a little while, include the building of open hearth furnaces for the manu- facture of steel. Lathes and machines for boring cannon are now being put into position. Each is 60 feet long and has jaws 12 feet in diameter. An electrical plant is also being finished that will supply the machinery with the necessary motive power. Recently the company received an order for the manufacture of tires to be used on locomotives in Great Britain.