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THE MARINE RECORD. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW. CONFERENCE AT PARIS ON LIABILITY OF OWNERS AND SALVAGE. The International Maritime Conference meets at Paris early this month. The questions to be considered at the conference are: First, the limited liability of shipowners. Second, the rendering of assistance at sea, with which is in- volved that of salvage and the obligation of standing by after collision. Third, the question of jurisdiction in col- lision cases. The British and Américan committees are of the opinion that the principle of limited liability should cover cases where damage has been done to dykes, quays and similar fixed objects, thus recognizing the soundness of the principle embodied in Mr. McArthur’s act passed by the British Parliament in the session just closed. Both agree that the limitation should not cover the owner’s liability for the wages of master and crew. But the other sub-head of inquiry, which refers to the case of the master not execut- ing the engagements undertaken by the shipowner, or by himself on the shipowner’s behalf, is found to be a little too complex to answer off-hand. The British idea is that the limited liability principle should be admitted in cases where, without the default of the shipowner himself, the engage- ment is broken by the negligence of the master or crew. The Americans seem toagree to this view of their British colleagues, but they would also extend the principle to the case of maritime torts as well as to that of such maritime contracts as have been indicated. Both British and Amer- icans would give jurisdiction to the courts of the country where the colliding vessel may be found, or where the owner can be served with process. Butthe Americans suggest that where both parties are non-residents it should be allowable “to decline jurisdiction, whilst the British delegates urge that any question of competence in the court should be inter- preted in the manner most conducive to the exercise of jur- isdiction. All except the United States are of opinion that a uniform law of salvage for all maritime countries should be reached. The reason which the United States puts for- ward for its view is that already the laws are so nearly in accord that it is not worth while to disturb them.—Journal of Commerce. rr EASTERN FREIGHT REPORT. Messrs. Funch, Edye & Co., New York, report the con- dition of the eastern freight market as follows: ‘The declining tendency in freights referred to in our last report has, unfortunately, continued and, in view of the very light enquiry for grain tonnage and the total cessation of demand from the Atlantic cotton ports, prospects do not look encouraging for the re-establishment of a higher range of freights in the nearfuture. The decline in parcel freights at the South Atlantic ports has equally affected the rates at New Orleans, whilst the return to normal conditions as an export centre on the part of Galveston, appears to be of slower development than anticipated, and prevents charterers there from fresh commitments. In time charters two of the three fixtures reported for long terms, have been effected by timber shippers from the Gulf, and in their duration do not reflect the position of time charterers for general purposes, who will commit themselves for the briéfest possible period only. In addition to the charters reported for coal, we may mention considerable enquiry for room, evidently for the purpose of covering sales of coal already made, and the ship- ment of which is held back in the hope of coming in at a lower level of freights. These shipments may therefore be justly looked upon as a guarantee against any decided slump in our freight market, suchas the absence of demand for other staples, above referred to, might otherwise readily produce. The condition of our market for sailing vessels has under- gone no change since our last. The supply of tonnage re- mains as light as ever and rates continue firm, with trans- actions reduced to a minimum. —— OO Ol OS SPEAKING of the Nicaragua canal scheme, President Mc- Kinley in his letter of acceptance of nomination, said: The construction of a maritime canal is now more than ever in- dispensable to that intimate and ready communication be- tween our eastern and western seaports demanded by the an- nexation of the Hawaiian Islands and the expansion of our influence and trade in the Pacific. Our national policy more imperatively than ever calls fvrits completion and control by this government; and it is believed that the next session of Congress, after receiving the full report of the commis- sion appointed under the act approved March 3, 1899, will oy deere for the sure accomplishment of this great work, — 3 “woods for pulp and paper. LITERARY NOTES. The Journal of the Western Society of Engineers for Au- gust contains a paper ou Reservoirs, and the control of the Lower Mississippi, which is followed by a written discussion, by L. E. Cooley, C. H. Tutton, R. E. McMath, I. Randolph and T. T. Johnston. This subject is one of the most inter- esting engineering problems on the continent. In asecond edition, issued Sept. 15, 1900, of the supple- ment to the Iron and Steel Directory, the American Iron and Steel association, 261 South Fourth street, Philadelphia, Pa., presents to the trade a more complete list of theiron and steel consolidations effected in the United States since Jan. I, 1898. The list is limited, however, to those concerns that embrace the ownership of blast furnaces, rolling mills, steel mills, tin plate works, and auxiliary industries, including shipbuilding and bridge building works. Asit is announced that a new edition of the Directory itself will not be printed this year, the supplement will prove indispensable in its way. Address James M. Swank, general manager. In an instructive illustrated pamphlet on the ‘‘Wood Pulp of Canada,’? compiled by George Johnson, Dominion statis- tician, an estimate is given of the available supply of pulp wood inthis country. It is calculated that there are 450,- 000,000 acres of spruce wood in Canada, and taking Io tons of ground pulp asa product per acre we have 4,500,000,000 tons of pulp in sight. In the province of Quebec alone it is estimated that there are 200,000,000 acres of wood land most- ly timbered with black spruce, the most valuable of all Then the water powers as yet unutilized, and without which the manufacture of pulp and paper would be much handicapped, are enormous in the very regions where spruce most abounds. Canada is the premier land for spruce and paper. With its November issue, The Century Magazine begins a Year of Romance, during which many of the most famous living writers of fiction will contribute to the magazine short stories, novels or novelettes. The reception accorded ‘‘The Helmet of Navarre,’’ begun in the August number, indicates that the proposed departure will be a popular one, and with such names to conjure with as Rudyard Kipling, Mrs. Bur- nett, Bret Harte, Lew Wallace, Weir Mitchell, Miss Wilkens, Winston Churchill, Howells, James, Harris, Cable, Stock- ton, Page, Anstey and Ian Maclaren—to note but these few —the conductors of The Century are pretty sure to meet the tasts of all lovers of fiction. The Century meansto make its November and December numbers the most beautiful issues ever published. Color printing will be largely used. Cassier’s Magazine has in its list of September articles five which are particularly noteworthy contributions to en- gineering literature. One of these is devoted to ‘‘American Ore Dock Machinery,’’ by Aurthur C. Johnston, in which a comprehensive account is given of the remarkable equip- ments for handling bulk cargoes of coal and iron which have been developed on the great American lakes. The article is profusely illustrated, and affords an admirable idea of one feature of American commercial methods, namely, the build- ing of special tools for special work. Another article entitled “Flectricity in large in Cities,’? has been contributed by W. S. Barstow. ‘‘Sugar Engineering in Cuba’’ is discussed by E. Sherman Gould. Mr. Benjamin Taylor contributes an article entitled ‘‘The World’s Coal,” in which the facts and features of the problem of present and future supplies are’ ably presented. The Statistical Year Book for 1899 has been issued by the Department of Agriculture from the Government Printing Bureau, Ottawa. Facts and statistics regarding the Govern- mentand constitution of Canada, itsresourcesin agriculture fisheries, minerals and manufactures, its commerce, its pub- lic works, its financial, insurance and other commercial in- stitutions; statistics of education, population, temperance, mortality, etc., are embodied in such a compact form as to make the work more useful than ever before. George John- son, the Government’s chief statistician, is a man born for his work. He knows by instinct just what new information is most valued, and how to present the developments of the country in an instructive way. Hehas the rare gift of mak- ing figuresinteresting; and the admirable order and system of his work enables him to instant use of a vast mass of ma- terial, formerly ‘‘without form and void.’ Mr. John- son is in fact the creator of a ready reference information department which is probably unequalled by any Government institution of the kind in the world. : ro oro THE Lake Ontario and Bay of Quinte Navigation Co, will build another steamer this winter. OcToBER 18, Ig REPORTED BY THE LOOKOUT. The Montreal Transportation Co. will build a large ba and also a river tug. : A steamboat is to be built this fall at Sand Point, for the use of the Upper Ottawa Forwarding Co. George J. Gould, it is reported, will have a large twin- screw steam yacht built in the United States. 18) ; R. Davis, Kingston, Ont., is preparing plans for a 45-foot steam yacht, to be built this winter for a Buffalo man. The yacht will cost $3,000. The Ship Building, Dry Dock and Wrecking Co., of Collingwood, Ont., has changed its firm name to the Collingwood Ship Building Co., Ltd. The Donnelly Wrecking & Salvage Co., Kingston, Ont., have succeeded in raising the schooner Volunteer, which sunk some time ago at Belleville, Ont. The canal boat Stetson which foundered in Lake Ontario during a heavy storm, has been purchased by Capt. Ira B, Folger and taken to Kingston, Ontario. : It is said that the Canadian Northern will have two steel passenger boats built this winter to ply between Port Arthur — and the lower lake ports. ‘They are to be equipped with the most modern machinery and have a speed of 18 to 20 miles an hour. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway recently secured the entire stock of the Coastwise Steamship Co., engaged in shipping coal from Newport News to New England ports, It owns three ocean tugs, fifteen large coal barges and charters three ocean steamers. The Conner’s syndicate, who have made a start on the grain elevators at Montreal, propose to build a number of barges and steamers for their carrying trade on the lakes. The Swan & Hunter Ship Building Co., Wallsend-on-Tyne, England, may get the contract. ‘The Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Co. has been awarded the contract by the North German Lloyd Co, for rebuilding the large steamship Maine, recently burned in the disastrous dock conflagration at Hoboken. It will take about one year to complete the repairs. ie The new steamer built at Rat Portage, Ont., for the Rainy River Navigation Co., will be launched in a few days. It has been built for passenger as well as freight service, being fitted up with twenty-two state rooms, and will be the first © flat bottomed steamer to ply on Rainy river for some years,: Col. Wm. P. Anderson, well known to vesselmen as chief engineer of the Canadian Department of Marine and Fisheries, has been carrying off honors at rifle shooting lately. Herecently won the Governor-General’s prize of $200, and a gold medal, which makes him the champion rifle shot of Canada for this year. The steamer St. Andrew was wrecked last month on Blanchard Island, near Black Bay, 40 miles from Port Arthur, owing to the deflection of the steamer’s compass from lying near beds of magnetic iron. The St. Andrew was owned by Playfair & Co., of Midland, Ont., and Capt. Featherstonhaugh, of Hamilton, Ont., the latter being in command. Owing partly to the scarcity of Nova Scotia coal in Hali-. fax an order for 2,000 tons of steam coal has been placed in Virginia for the use of British warships making their head- © quarters in Halifax. The partial failure of the supply of coal from Wales for the navy has also caused the admiralty to direct experiments to be made with other coal. The re- sult of the test of Virginia coal will be reported to the im- perial government. Six steamships recently sailed from Norfolk, Va., carry-. ing 25,000 tons of coal. The Spanish steamship Begona took a full cargo of coai for the island of Manila, the Italian steamship Citta de Messinia took.a full cargo for Messinia, the Italian steamship Balta a cargo for Naples, the British - steamship Strathord one for Nagasaki, the British steam- ship King Frederick one for Tampico, a British steamship: one for Kingston, Jamaica, and the Norwegian steamship Fri took one for Halifax. President Charles H. Cramp, of the Cramp Ship and Engine Building Co., received from Vice Admiral Verhovskoy, head of the Department of Construction and Supply of the Imperial Russian navy, the following cablegram, in reply to a report of the result of the trial of the cruiser Variag : ‘‘Thanks for joyful announcement. Extremely happy that the eminent Cramps’ shipyard has displayed to navies of the world a new brilliant success. I heartily desire that you may keep your good health a long time yet, for the glory of your works and your name, continuing to hold high your professional traditions.”’ _ The New York Marine Journal in speaking about Super- intending Engineer Geo. V. Sloat, giving his seven months’ experience in 1850 on atrip between New York and San Francisco in the old Morgan Line side-wheel steamboat New Orleans says: After encountering a severe gale which took off her pilothouse and made splinters of some of her joiner work this vessel put into St. Thomas, made repairs there, and then continued, stopping at various ports of South America. In the Straits of Magellan the crew were obliged to cut wood for fuel to carry them to Valparaiso, in snow two feet deep. It may occur to our contemporary that traveling from Ma- gellan to Valparaiso in snow two feet deep was rather: pe- culiar navigation even for an old Morgan Line side-wheeler. ©