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THE MARINE RECORD. MAY 17, 1900. © SURVEY OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. Mr. Mason asked leave to call up the joint resolution (S. R. 107) to provide for a survey of the Illinois river. Itisa joint resolution reported by the Committee on Commerce. The secretary read the joint resolution, and, by unanimous consent, the Senate as in Committee of the Whole proceeded to its consideration. It directs the board of three engineers appointed by the Secretary of War in pursuance of a par- agraph in ‘‘An act making appropriation for the construc- tion, repair and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes,’’ approved March 3, 1899, to make a survey and estimates of cost of the improve- ment of the Upper Illinois river and the Lower Des Plaines river in Illinois, with a view to the extension of navigation from the Illinois river to Lake Michigan, at or near the city of Chicago; further, to report the estimates of cost fora channel 10 feet deep, and fora channel 12 feet deep, and for a channel 14 feet deep, through the proposed route, and provides that the estimates shall cover and include a proper connection at Lockport with the sanitary and ship canal which has been constructed by the sanitary district of Chi- cago. The board of engineers is also further authorized and required to make a survey and estimate of cost for the im- provement of the Lower Illinois river from the end of the proposed route to the mouth of the river for channels Io, 12, and 14 feet deep, respectively, and to report the estimates of cost thereof. The surveys and estimates of cost shall be made in pursuance of the provisions contained in the act aforesaid, and the expense for making the reports required by this joint resolution shall be paid out of the appropria- tion of $30,000 contained in the paragraph of the act aforesaid. The joint resolution was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed fora third reading, read the third time and passed. ———— oOo own TRIPLE LAUNCH AT WILMINGTON, DEL. The Harlan & Hollingsworth Co. most successfully launched on Saturday last from one set of ways three tugs for the Pennsylvania R. R. Co., named respectively the Wil- mington, Johnstown and Harrisburg, in the space of 17 minutes from the time the first wedge was driven the last boat struck-the water. The dimensions of these boats are 100 feet in length over all; beam, moulded, 22 feet; depth, 12 feet 2 inches. House on deck partitioned off so as to form galley, boiler room, engine room and cabin; also an upper deck with pilot house, skylight, companionways, etc. Hngine compound, 20” x 40’ and 26” stroke, supplied with steam by two Almy water tube boilers. The various other work in the yard is progressing rapidly. The steamer Whitney for the Metropolitan §. S. Co. will be launched shortly. The Manna-Hata launched last month for the N. Y. & Baltimore Trans. Line, will be delivered this month, and the barges for the Rockland & Rockport Line Co. are being rapidly erected. The new 4o0-foot ship, the first of three for the Mallory Line, will be laid down on the ways just vacated by the tugs for the Pennsylvania R. R. The new yacht for Mr. Charles Fletcher, of Providence, R. I., is going to be one of the handsomest additions to the fleet of rgo1, and will be laid down immediately on launch- ing the first barge. The steamer Foxhall, undergoing ex- tensive repairs, will be delivered shortly. The steamer In- dian, of the Boston & Philadelphia S. S. Co., is being lengthened 4o feet. This with the large amount of car work represents a very busy yard. oo oe on A RIGHTEOUS PROTEST. At the meeting of Lodge No. 9, Shipmasters’ Association, held recently, the following action was taken : ‘Whereas, The common council has made the selection of aman for harbor.master who is not a seaman, fhaving never served any time as such; and, ‘Whereas, It has been a custom prevailing at all ports on the Great Lakes for the last fifty years to appoint captains to such position; ‘and, ‘“‘Whereas, We feel that such positions by right belong to the marine men, as being the best qualified to perform the duties of such office; therefore be it ‘Resolved, That we, the Shipmasters of Toledo Lodge No. 9, in regular session, condemn the action of said com- mon council as being unjust and unfair to the marine men of Toledo, inasmuch as there were plenty of good and capa- ble men well qualified to fill said position; and be it further “Resolved, That such action is a gross violation of the - established rule, and we therefore consider it an insult to our fraternity. THE WORLD'S PRODUCTION OF PIG IRON AND STEEL.* In the following table is given the p for which statistics have been received. Belgium, Austria-Hungary, S burg, Russia and Finland, an therefore been used. roduction of pig iron and steel in all countries in 1898, or in the most recent year The statistics of steel production for the United States, Great Britain, France, weden, Spain and Canada embrace ingots and direct castings, but for Germany and Luxem- d Italy complete ingot statistics are not available and the statistics for finished steel have PIG IRON, STEEL. COUneree Years Metric ‘Tons. eentage Years Metric Tons. conte es United States. 0.0.0.5. se ccc a eee cece ence e esse 1898 +11,962,992 33.24 1898 t9,076, 295 37.31 Great Britainicceice ie oe ews oe Sees eerere et are dare 1898 8,747,968 24.31 1898 4,740,909 19.49 Germany and Luxemburg ......---.++e+ esses 1898 7,232,988 20.10 1898 53779579 23.76 I ATICE Sie so eeie 5 <n si ouefe ae eisale einie, sreieieeesus 1898 2,534,427 7.04 1898 1,473,100 6.05 Belgium i.e dss eet setae ode tae eee claws 1898 979, IOI 272 1898 653,130 2.68 Austria and Hungary.........-.eeeeee ee eee 1897 1,308,423 3.64 1896 880,696 3.62 Russia and Minland2.% 655. ose cies ee ce 1898 2,222,469 6.18 1898 1,145,758 4.71 (SEA TYa las 1 ote aaa any ee one ere a ae Umea 1898 531,766 1.48 1898 265,121 I.09 Spain... .. cece cece eee e cece cee e ten eee es 1898 261,799 73 1898 213,015 .88 Tita ye goo Shee Sat sis ngs Sto on sseieseinin o's hee oreieienniere'e 1897 8,393 .02 1897 63,940 .26 Caraga es cence sue lee occa nies sete eae 1898 69,859 .19 1898 21,885 .09 Other Countries (about)... ......0..02ccee. wee 1898 127,237 35 1898 15,532 .06 Motel cece at atet Wels ci ne Geel abo eubels Baeraie sr eisveterinele ene 35,987,422 TOO OO Celine sores: 24,328,951 100.00 + Actual tonnage pig iron for 1899, 13,839,415 metric tons. + Estimated tonnage steel for 1899, 10,668,602 metric tons. * From an illustrated publication issued by the Bethlehem Steel Co., South Bethlehem, Pa. THE WORLD’S PRODUCTION OF IRON ORE AND COAL.* The following table gives the production of iron ore and coal in all countries in 1898, or for the latest year for which complete statistics are available. IRON ORE. COAL AND LIGNITE. oelnumaes Years. Metric Tons. eentane Years. Metric Tons. Sota AWinited (States sete ss we cle eres ese alee we wares 1898 19,745,770 26.55 1898 | +199,559,709 29.81 Great Britains <a wnies sstec os creie etal rare 1898 14,404,582 19.36 1898 205,298,973 30.66 Germany and Luxemburg ..........-++.---+-- 1898 15,893,246 2E.37 1898 130,928, 490 19.56 Vebechi(l ne Gee arecnre odbc ros apooace oobd oor 1897 4,582,236 6.16 1898 32,439,786 4.84 Belgium, ..........scceeeee eee t eres este eee 1897 240,774 .32 1898 22,075,093 3230 Austria-Hungary.........0:.:eeeeee reese ees 1897 3,335,005 4.48 1897 35,939 417 5.37 RAL S SU ese isle oes os nlane wlan Wer ehailat erences! 1897 4,107,470 5.52 1898 12,862,033 I.92 (S\teclarharnen arr anc Ann on oena MOGOn UGG 1898 2,302,914 3.10 1898 236,277 .03 Spain... ec eee ect e eee reece e mercer 1898 7,125,600 9.58 1898 2,526,600 .38 TN hess tts save ciolece ven) e ecehoal siiverelcraveyees 1897 200,709 527 1897 314,222 .05 (Oiiitte eh eae eres Amar yom yie Cuno Gn cere aiice 1898 52,763 .O7 1898 3,785,408 .56 (OH sys Bee ae OS Se me POOR DAOC mee 1898 166,712 BOD leis Behr ateall. yates a oeaaemiae london neam South African Republic. .........+ cece eee c eee s [eee t eee efter teen eee ee lense ene 1898 1,907,808 .28 IDsleb cise ee eioo DOR a a Cue Tan coon 1897 44,010 .06 1898 4,642,244 .69 (Geet ee od CaN OREO Eau ORDO Ee U nee 1898 501,038 .67 1898 17,300 .00 New South Wales........ 2.0. -eee ce receec cee 1897 238 .0O 1898 4,812,048 72 Other Australasia ..cccc. cece cscce ee spree cece leet ences elec rece mere caresl arene recs 1897 1,512,519 23 Upoiiilis sinew neem eno Coun eno uno a gdeOcnOdGonp 1896 27,421 04 1897 000, 00O .90 Algeria... 5. cee cee eee eee eee tee tenses 1897 441,467 AU He lllunaen neo moneeeeee one cc bye Other Countries (about)............ +2 sees ees 1898 1,216,484 1.64 1898 4,667, 182 .70 Past eat ele os GEE eA open are cig SectuaTain ww Avaedi rnd | Suatane nels 74,388,439 TOOLOO!: Ile 669,525,109 100.00 + Estimated tonnage coal and lignite for 1899, 222,5 16,556 metric tons. * From an illustrated publication issued by the Bethlehem Steel Co., South Bethlehem, Pa. EASTERN FREIGHTS. Messrs. Funch, Edye & Co., New York, report the East- ern freight market as follows : Since our last report freights show no change, but the en- quiry for grain room has somewhat improved, and been met in part by re-charters of boats taken at higher rates. There is some further demand, however, for May shipment (June being comparatively neglected), and an advance in rates for May boats is not unlikely to take place, as such tonnage is not plentiful. Time charters have been mainly for short commitments, as parcel freights are generally out of line with the rates demanded by owners. Timber freights in the Gulf are well maintained, and there have been some fix- tures for deals from the British Provinces at rates varying from 50s. to 52s. 6d. for ports on the West Coast of England. Steamers for miscellaneous purposes continue in good re- quest, and there is a fair amount of enquiry for coal tonnage, mainly for the Mediterranean, at rates not far from owners’ figures, and which is likely to result in business shortly. Business in sail tonnage has been exceedingly dull, only very few charters resulting. Freights tothe Kast are appar- ently weak, but owners are not willing to meet the ideas of shippers, hence are holding back. In other lines there is nothing new, but we may mention some enquiry for lumber tonnage from the Gulf to the River Plate, for which $14 might be secured. From another source we quote coastwise freights on coal cargoes as follows: From Philadelphia to Boston, Salem and Wareham, 75 to 80 cents; Providence and the Sound, 65 to 70; Lynn, 85 to 90 cents; Newburyport, go cents; Portsmouth and Portland, 80 cents; Dover, $1.10 and towage; Saco, $1.00 and towage; Bath, 80 to 85 cents; Gardiner 85 and towage; Banger 80 to 90 cents. The further lower ports are 5 to 10 cents above these rates. Prices on soft coal f. o. b. the various shipping ports are quoted as fol- lows: Norfolk and Newport News, $2.50-2.75; Baltimore and Philadelphia, $2.25-2.50 on the cheaper grades, and $2.50-2.75 on the better grades. New York Harbor, $2.55- 2.75 on the cheaper grades and $2.85-3.co on the better grades of coal. Alongside prices, $2.85-3.00 on Clearfield and $3.05-3.25 on the better grades. oe oo GOOD WORDS FOR THE STANDARD AUTOMATIC RELEASING HOOK. - Navy DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF EQUIPMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C. I have made a careful examination of the Automatic Boat- Detaching Apparatus, tested on board the Fortune at sea, and think it not only the best device of the kind, but the simplest and most reliable I have ever seen, and would re- commend that it be adopted on board all sea going and other vessels. (Signed) GEORGE DEWEY, Chief of Bureau. Navy DERARTMENT, BUREAU STEAM ENGINEERING, WASHINGTON, D. C. I have examined the Automatic Boat-Detaching Device of the Standard Automatic Releasing Hook Co., State street, New York. I have examined many other devices for ob- taining the same end and believe this to be superior to any other, (Signed ) Gxo. W. MELVILLE, Chief of Bureau.