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AUGUST 9, Ig00. THE MARINE RECORD. 7 eee CHICAGO. Special Correspondence to The Marine Record. Coal receipts from Buffalo last week aggregated 20,000 2% 9,;,, Up to August 1, 342,000 tons_had been received. ~- fit bridge at South Halsted street was lowered onto -'g9lQooner Ida as the vessel was being towed down the yer on Monday night. The foretopmast was carried away “ahd that took out the jibboom as well. Capt. William Smith, of the tug Perfection, who struck Robert Marshall, a deck hand on the boat, over the head with an ax at Racine several weeks ago, will be tried before a committee of the local lodge of the Licensed Tugmen’s Protective Association. Receipts of anthracite coal by lake at Chicago from July 1 to July 20, 1900, according to the bureau of coal statistics, show a small increase as compared with the same period last year; all-rail receipts also show an increase, but shipments from Chicago have decreased considerably—over 500 cars— and for the year the falling off in tonnage is quite large, al- most 2,500 cars. The project for a line of palace passenger steamers between Chicago and Buffalo has fallen through. It was asserted a few weeks ago that contracts for building two of the craft, to cost, complete, $1,000,000 each, had actually been let, and that the work upon them would immediately begin. It is learned from the American Ship Building Co. that no contracts had been entered into. After running along steadily at 2 cents for several weeks grain rates broke to 134 cents this week. A big business was done at the decline. It was claimed over 1,50v,000 bushels was placed for shipment, the Lehigh Valley alone being credited with 500,000, All the lines filled up for sev- eral days tocome. The Milwaukee grain rate also took a eee this week and corn was placed at 13/ cents to Buf- alo. The Isaac Elwood was chartered on Tuesday for 270,000 bushels of wheat from South Chicago to Buffalo. Bartlett, Frazier & Co. are the shippers. This makes a cargo of 8,100 tons, by far the largest ever carried from Chicago. It is but a few years ago when cargoes of Ico,ooo bushels of corn ex- cited wide comment as breaking all records. The Elwood is one of the 500-foot steamers turned out this season by the American Ship Building Co. for the wire trust. Winthrop Harbor, the new factory town and summer re- sort which is becoming prominent on account of its ample transportation facilities, practical and profitable factory sites and beautiful residence locations, is situated on the shore of Lake Michigan in Lake county, in the extreme northeast corner of Illinois. It is 44 miles north of Chicago, 41 miles south of Milwaukee, and adjoining the Wisconsin state line to the south. It lies midway between Waukegan, IIl., and Kenosha, Wis. R. B. Wilcox, city harbor engineer of Chicago, has ordered the removal of dismantled hulks of old wooden vessels from the channel of the Chicago river where they have been left to decay. The north branch of the river has been for years a dumping ground for abandoned boats, and in order to pro- ceed with channel-widening operations it has been found necessary to institute suits against their owners. Among the vessels affected are the New Era, the Fire Roofer, the 'Hazel D. and the Radical. “The newspaper stories about the danger of the Chicago river for the big boats are not exaggerated,’’ said Capt. D. A. Kiah, of the Rutland steamer F..H. Prince. ‘‘Before the canal was opened we were able to get in and out of Chicago port atacost of $40 to $60 for tugs. Since the canal was opetied we are sure of $110, and consider ourselves lucky if we escape with less than $120 for tows. Of course with the largest boats the expense is comparatively higher as they must use more tugs.”’ The master of a schooner here is growling because there is no government inspection provided for small sailing vessels, and he predicts a heavy loss of life this fall. The captain’s views may be, and no doubt are, all correct, but there is such a thing as too much government inspection, red tape and officialism as may be found out later. There is no more reason to look for loss of life this fall than: ever before. It is unwise for any shipmaster to state that a class of vessels are unseaworthy and liable to founder in any heavy weather. OF course Detroit is slower than Chicago even in measured mile distances, to say nothing of politics and harmony. Our people bought the Darius Cole, an easy sixteen-miler around Detroit, but even her boilers wouldn’t work when she got around here. The next step was to secure the twenty-miler Mary, and she also has turned out a complete fiasco. They must count down-stream speed at Detroit, and credit their boats with several miles per hour more than they can make in still water. The Mary and Darius Cole are almost fail- ures around here. The Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. has engaged Mr. Fred. F. Bennett as sales agent and manager of advertising, with headquarters at the main office of the company, Monadnock block, Chicago. Mr. Bennett resigned a position as sales agent for the American Steel Casting Co. and American Coupler Co., of Chester, Pa., the change taking éffect July 1. Mr. Bennett seems to be peculiarly adapted to his present position. His apprenticeship of several years was served on the Chicago daily papers as reporter and city editor, and later he was city editor of the Omaha Republican. Subse- quent to this he was for many years western representative of the Railroad Gazette, of New York. His long experience in the journalistic field, his railroad acquaintance, com- bined with his thorough knowledge of trade publications, should make him a valuable acquisition to the staff of this company, and they are to be congratulated on securing his services in a department of their work for which he seems peculiarly adapted. Last week a party composed of members of the River Im- provement Association, the drainage canal, representatives of the coal trade having dock interests, vesselmen and ele- vator companies conveyed Major J. H. Willard, U. S. Engi- neer, over the south branch of the Chicago river on the tug Morford, and discussed with him schemes for two winding basins which are much needed to aid large boats. Land, coal docks and elevators will, in the course of time—inside of three years—have to be condemned and buildings razed to straighten the river and Major Willard stated that he was very much in sympathy with the proposed improvements. The party included the following persons: Major Willard, U. S. Engineer; George Merryweather, Geo. E. Adams, L,. O. Goddard, Murry Nelson, Jas. B. Galloway, G. G. Tunell, J. S. and R. J. Dunham, members River Improvement Asso- ciation; J. G. Keith, Lake Carriers’ Association; ‘I. T’? Mor- ford, Henry B. Ford, George Williams, James Mowatt, J.R. Sinclair, J. A. Calbick, J. F. Moore, W. F. Higgie, for the marine interests; George J. Brine, George Marcy, represent- ing elevators; C. L. Dering, J. H. Brown, J. B. Brown, Wil- liam M. Connery, Norman S. Birkland, Charles Leland and Charles B. Cone, representing the coal interests; John Spry, lumber; William Boldenweck and Isham Randolph, sanitary district. The trip was satisfactory from the standpoint of improvements contemplated. eee BUFFALO. Special Correspondence to the Marine Record. Capt. M. J. Cummings, Oswego, has returned home, after a tour of several months in Europe, including a visit to the Paris exposition. Freight rates ruled at 4o cents this week to Chicago, Mil- waukee, Sheboygan and other west shore ports, also to Houghton. Duluth, Gladstone, etc., 35 cents. Last July 370,000 tons was shipped, but this year’s record shows up- wards of 100,000 tons less. Ata recent meeting of the Holland Torpedo Boat Co., held in New York, it was decided to accept the bid of Lewis Nixon for five submarine Holland torpedo boats. This work will be taken in hand at once, and these boats, it is expected, will be ready for experimental tests some time next summer. The total Buffalo appropriation authorized up to date is $4,369,000 and the total appropriation and authorization will run over $5,000,000. The total appropriation and authoriza- tion for the Cleveland harbor up to date has only been about $3,c00,000, of which Congressman Burton secured $1,354,- ooo in one lump. The tug Wm. H. Gratwick, which capsized in the Niagara river about three weeks ago, while towing the barge Eleanor up the channel, is in service again. A coincidence is the fact that the steamer Canisteo arrived in port the same day with her tow, and the first work of the Gratwick was again to tow the barge Eleanor to her dock. Those interested in gas engines will find an interesting catalogue on this subject issued by the Noye Manufacturing Co., Buffalo, describing the Niagara motor. This is a two- cycle motor, with a number of illustrations showing its ap- plication to launches of various sizes. The text describes the features of the engine, such as reversing, method of ig- nition, etc. _ Recent Berlin advices say that Dr. Wiegard, of the North German Lloyd Steamship Co., had this to say about the recent fire: ‘The official report of our New York inspector, Capt. Moeller, who is absolutely trustworthy, denies em- phatically that there was any incorrect behavior on the part of New York harbor tugs at the time of the Hoboken fire. On the contrary, the captains of the tugs did precisely what Capt. Moeller asked them to do.’’ The Congressional Rivers and Harbor Committee, were here, the guests of the Lake Carriers’ Association and Buffalo Merchants’ Exchange on Monday. They inspected the har- bor and breakwater improvements, after which the visitors enjoyed a trip to Niagara Falls and Dufferin park. In the evening an informal banquet was served at the Iroquois hotel. Chairman Burton of the Rivers and Harbors Committee, ex- pressed his personal satisfaction with the manner in which large appropriations have been expended in Buffaloand com- mended the manner in which the plans of Major Thomas W. Symons, United States Engineer at this port, had been exe- cuted. The new steamer Ottawa, built at the shipyards of the Ber- tram Engine Works Co., Toronto, for the Canada Atlantic Transit Co., made her trial trip on Monday. The Ottawa is 257 feet over all, 43 feet beam, 25 feet 6 inches deep, and will carry over 70,000 bushels of wheat on the canal draught of 14 feet. She is constructed with cargo ports, a complete package freight steel deck, and with hoisting arrangements. She is the largest steamer ever built on Lake Ontario. In her construction steel is employed everywhere, even asa substitute for wood in her cabins. The officers of the Ot- tawa are Capt. Birnie; chief engineer J. Booth, first mate, A. Birnie, Jr. —_— OO Oe OS THE steel steamer James Watt recently in collision with the Maruba has been docked and surveyed. She will be given a new stern} 24 shell plates, 22 deck plates, 9 beams, new sheathing on forecastle deck, 6 stringer angles and other minor repairs as well as some new equipment. . KINGSTON, ONT. Special Correspondence to The Marine Record. The M. T. Co., handled 250,000 bushels of grain within a week, lately. The labor organizations of the city will hold a mammoth celebration on Sept. 5th. The steamer Rosedale, from Chicago on Friday, unloaded 65,000 bushels of grain here. The Donnelly Wrecking Co. shipped diving apparatus to Canebick, on Wednesday last. A secret signal corps, supported partially by government aid, is likely to be established here. The steamer Ridean Queen broke her wheel when near Westport. On Wednesday she was dry docked here and received a new one. Corsitt Bros.’ large foundry may remove from Brackville, on account of the poor fire protection afforded. Kingston offers the company inducements to settle here. The steamer Nicholas and two barges loaded stone off the Penitentiary wharf on Tuesday. It was taken to Cape Vin- cent to be used in the construction of a breakwater being built there. Organizer Flett, of Toronto, is in the city, to add to the labor unions in the city. An attempt will be made to or- ganize longshoremen’s, cotton and woolen mill employees’ unions, etc. Mr. Flett addressed meetings on Thursday and Friday nights, and will speak at several gatherings to be held shortly. It has been’ suggested that the city station a life boat on the Rockwood dock. It certainly is a most convenient place, as nearly all of the accidents occur during heavy west winds, and the number of persons saved here is so large. During the summer and fall someone is always on the look- out on the dock, and very few upsets go unobserved. The Carnegie Steel Co. has written to Capt. Donnelly, in- spector of Inland Lloyds, making inquiries as to the success of deep-laden vessels passing through the new fourteen-foot canals in the St. Lawrence. They intended using the canals more than they have been doing, should it be found that heavily-laden vessels can travel through them in safety. Capt. Donnelly sees no reason why the new system will not be a success. When Capt. Gaskin, of the Montreal Transportation Co., and Secretary MacDonald were at Charlotte, the early part of this week, they accidently entered a teachers’ meeting. To the captain’s surprise, he was, a few minutes later, asked to speak, being introduced as Com. Gaskin, ex-mayor of Kingston, one of Canada’s most prominent educativnal cen- ters. He was amazed, but proved equal to the occasion, notwithstanding that he wore his buck boots and knickers. He would not be surprised if he was asked to preach next. ee CLEVELAND. Special Correspondence to The Marine Record. There are a nnmber of contracts for new tonnage being figured on, and as soon as the price of material gets back to a fair price shipbnilding will be rushed. The schooner Sophia Minch, after being a year on the beach near Ashtabula, has been putin good condition and cleared from this port with a cargo of coal. Lake Michigan coal tonnage isin fair demand at 35 cents but wild cargoes are scarce for other ports and not much business was being done during the early part of the week. Excursion parties for lake trips are now all the go and everyone that can get away from business for an hour or two to a week or two, figures on a lakeride. The near-by summer resorts are being extensively patronized. Mr. Robert Curr surveyed and will superintend all repairs made on the Bessemer line steamer James Watt. Mr. Curr has been out of the city for the past month or two superin- tending the construction of vessels at Chicago and Duluth. The steamer C. B. Lockwood which struck at Limekiln Crossing last week in avoiding a collision with the Canadian schooner Breck came here from Lorain and was placed in drydock, It will take all week to complete repairs on her. -Capt. Corrigan is still searching after the bodies of his two daughters lost through the foundering of the yacht Idler. Vessels should keep asharp look-out when along the south shore of Lake Erie and not fail to pick up any bodies found floating. Those visiting the beach, would also do well to be observant, and, in the event of any bodies being sighted, to wire Capt. James Corrigan of this city im- mediately. ‘‘We are doing considerable work right now in the Cleve- land harbor,’’ said Col. Smith. ‘‘We are rebuilding the piers at the mouth of the river, rebuilding the west break- water, extending the east breakwater to Muirson street, and dredging the harbor. These improvements require a vast amount of money, but they are very necessary. Two addi- tional improvements are badly needed and should be cared for by Congress. One is the extension of the east break- water at least another mile, and the other ‘s the removal of the entrance to the harbor farther out into the lake. The entrance is in too shallow water, and the Cleveland harbor is one of the most difficult to enter of any on the lakes. The entrance should be moved farther out so that it will be lo- cated in thirty feet of water. These two needs will be fully explained to the Congressional comnittees.