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MAy 23, Igor. THE MARINE RECORD. DETROIT. Special Correspondence to The Marine Record. The iron ore rate quoted here is the steady opening rate of 80, 70 and 60 centsfrom Duluth, Marquette and Escanaba respectively. The Mariner, Sage, United Lumberman and the Athens all grounded at the Lime Kiln Crossing previous to Mon- day of this week. _ mee A light has been placed over the wreck of the Martin in St. Clair river at Port Huron, temporarily, pending a further examination of the wreck by the Government engineers. The United States revenue cutter Fessenden is being over- hauled and repainted, preparatory to going into commission about June 1. J. B. Moore will be in charge this year, with Lieut. B. L, Reed second in command. The House passed Hunt’s bill to tax vessel property. where the principal business is done, instead of where the owner may elect to have offices. The bill went through without any particular discussion. It now goes to the Senate. Water in the Detroit river has reached the highest point this season, and up to three inches above the regular sum- mer normal at the Detroit, Belle Isle & Windsor ferry dock. For several weeks during the spring the water was down to 30 inches below normal. The wrecking steamer Favorite is at work on the Western Transit Liner Boston, ashore 12 miles east of Cheboygan, in the Straits of Mackinac. She was bound from Buffalo to Chicago with general cargo, and stranded on arocky bottom during a dense fog. Soa rolling lift bridge is wanted to take the place of the main viaduct at Cleveland, the present structure has lasted 25 years and if ever a curve at lake harbors wanted straight- ening it is that one where the Detroit passenger boat lands at and where this viaduct now stands. Secretary of War Root has notified Senator McMillan re- garding the proposed flushing canal from Lake Huron to Black River, that he has forwarded to the city authorities of Port Huron an instrument granting the said city permis. sion to construct the canal upon certain stipulated condi- tions. There has been more or less delay this week on account of the machinists’ strike, but it looks asif the demands of the machinists will be granted, as from present indications the employers seem in a conciliatory mood. The marine in- terests most interested are the Detroit Ship Building Co., Messrs. S. F. Hodge & Co., and the Michigan Yacht & Power Co. I have no authority for stating how they will act in the premises. Col. Anderson, chief engineer of the marine department of Canada, states that owing to shifting sands it has been found impracticable to place the proposed new light-house on the southeast shoal in Pelee Passage, between Pelee Is- Jand and Pelee Point, Lake Erie, andthe structure will, therefore, have to be placed on the middle ground, as origi- nally contemplated. Shipping men, who had asked for the change, will be disappointed, but it cannot be otherwise. By the death of Robert D. Wagstaff, for many years ma- rine reporter for the Detroit Free Press, the marine fraternity loses a good friend and writer. Mr. Wagstaff was one of the best known newspaper men on the lakes. He was extreme- ly well versed in nautical affairs.’ Mr. Wagstaff was born in Buffalo thirty-four years ago and was connected with the Free Press for ten or twelve years, during which time he made a host of friends among lake men as well as owners and others connected with shipping. Capt. Alonzo Carter died on Tuesday, at the residence of his son-in-law, H. C. Walker, 645 Fort street east, after a lingering illness of three years. Born at Belfast, Me., 67 years ago, he took to the sea when a mere boy, and for 20 years he sailed all over the world. Then he gave up salt water for fresh, and commanded sailing vessels on the lakes up till three years ago, when his broken health compelled him to retire. He leaves three daughters: Mrs. H. C. Walker and Misses Annie and Margaret Carter. Mr. C. F. Bielman, secretary of the White Star line, own- ers of the steamer Tashmoo, went to Cleveland this week. Mr. Bielman is confident that his boat will win, but he would not say anything about what time she will make in the yace with the City of Erie, or the amount of the stakes put up on the side, which, however, are known to be rather heavy. Mr. Bielman is figuring on sending the steamer City of Toledo to Lake Erie on the day of the race. If he does he will také an excursion party down to see the finish. The water guage signals, kept by the Lake Carriers’ Asso- ciation, at Stanley B. Smith’s andthe Pittsburg Co.’s coal docks will, until further order, report the depth of water at the Lime Kiln Crossing and vicinity up to 18 feet of wa- ter, and no higher. Should communication between Duff & Gatfield and these stations be cut out at any time, all depth signals will be discontinued, and during the night time two red lights, one five feet above the other, and dur- ing the day a red flag, will be displayed in.the place of the usual guage signals, Christian Johnson, a sailor, has commenced a $25,000 damage suit at Port Huron against the owners of the steamer Isaac Lincoln, Captain Egbert, of this. city; Isaac Lincoln, of Aberdeen, S. D., and A. F. Price, of Fremont, O. ‘he steamer was’ tied up on a writ of attachment, but released upon the furnishings of a bond. Johnson alleges that while working on the boat last summer at Toledo he was perma- nently disabled from injuries sustained from the falling of a boom. Negligence is claimed owing to the alleged unsafe condition of the boom: Tr ce cere Tee ee CLEVELAND. Special Correspondence to The Marine Record. The safe draft at the ‘‘Soo”’ locks is given at 17 feet 10 inches. Mr. J. C. Gilchrist took a block of 500,000 tons ore this week at 80 cents, from the head of the lakes. Mr. Quincy Miller, known to the entire sailing community on the after end of the boat, is now chief of the Onoko, the first iron steamer built in Cleveland. It is learned here that it is the intention of Mr. Clergue to establish a shipyard at Owen Sound, Ont., and that steps have already been taken towards this end. The bottom frames are all in and work started on the tank top of the first steel steamer building here to the order of Messrs. Chas. E. and W. F. Peck, New York. Itis figured that the Pittsburg Steamship Co. (United States Steel Corporation) has chartered tonnage to carry 314 million tons of ore over the capacity of its own fleet, Mr. Omer Steele, superintendent engineer at the local shops of the American Ship Building Co., is looking younger than ever, his rotund aldermanic proportions hide no more of the sun’s rays than formerly. The Great Lakes Towing Co., has selected the tugs that -will act as stake boats and carry the judges and timers for the Tashmoo-Erie race, The Harvey D. Goulder will be stationed off Cleveland and the tug America will be at the finish line off Erie. The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. has secured valuable Bes- semer ore mining property on the Gogebic range and the people in the vicinity are congratulating themselves, main- ly, because ‘the Cleveland Cliffs are the best people in that part of the country to work for. The customs authorities are getting after the British ves- sels on tonnage dues; this move is aimed at the four boats in the employ of F. H. Clergue and named Paliki, Theano, Monkshaven and Leafield, making thisa port of call on their way from salt water to Lake Superior. Capt. Frank Young, for many years a well known master of lake vessels, died suddenly while walking in Merwin street on Saturday morning. He was seventy years old. For several years he has not been actively engaged in busi- ness, though well known along the river front. Dr. E. A. Smith, acting assistant surgeon of the Marine Hospital, has been in attendance this week at the river cus- toms office and making examinations of incoming crews and vaccinating those who required it. Vaecinationis not compulsory, but it is requested in many instances. The big syndicate (Pittsburg Steamship Co.) has not been altogether successful in beating the iron ore rate down to 70 cents from the head of the lakes, the going rate is still quoted at 80 cents though some tonnage has been chartered ahead for 70 and 75 cents, about a million tons has been placed this week. The Lake Carriers’ Association favors a lift bridge in place of the central viaduct, now found insecure and a bar to river widening on account of the piers being worked in, on, or near a quicksand foundation. The association seldom lends its attention to local matters, except when it affects the gen- eral lake trade. Capt. A. B. Wolvin, Duluth, president of the Lake Car- riers’ Association and general manager of the Pittsburg Steamship Co., was in Cleveland this week and attended the launch of the Frank H. Peavey, named in honor of the well-known Minneapolis and Duluth grain merchant. Capt. Wolvin, who isa stockholder in the new craft, will also be manager of the fleet. Mrs. Alexander Gilchrist, died at her home in Vermillion on Friday last. She was the mother of Capt. J. C. Gilchrist, who is considered the largest invidual-vessel owner on the lakes. Another son, C. P. Gilchrist, resides in Cleveland and a daughter, Mrs. Wm. Frey, lives in Balan, Mrs. Gilchrist was 80 years of age. vi Three to four dredges are at work on the river, and the deepest draft vessels will find water enough up to the cen- tral furnace. Capt. W. .C. Richardson and Mr. A. D. De Forest, manager of the American Steel & Wire Co,, received the assurance of City Engineer Carter, that the necessary dredging would be strictly enforced according to contract, The Northman, from Chicago for Hamburg, reached Mon- treal ahead of the boat first despatched for Liverpool. Pilot Delaney, of St. Catherines, claims that there is a neat 14 feet of water all through, but the steamer was only drawing 13 feet 3 inches. It is learned that these line boats will carry deals which is not a very paying cargo for Atlantic line steamers. The following local meteorological observations are furnished by. the Cleveland office of the U. S. Weather Bureau for the week ending May 22, 1901: . Prevailing wind direction during week, N. E.; highest velocity, 48 East, on 21st. Mean temperature fet week, 56; highest temperature, 71, on 17th; lowest, 45, on 16th. Sunrise and sunset data, computed for local time at Cleveland: May 23, sun rises at 4:31; sets at 7:21. May 27, sunrises at 4:28; sets at 7:25. May 31, sun rises at 4:26; sets at 7:28. The many friends of Mr. Robert Wallace will be pleased to learn that he is still the robust, healthy, fresh looking man as of yore. In attending the launch of the Marquette at the old Globe shipyards on Saturday last I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wallace and I feel confident in stating that he has not turned a hair in so far as appearance is concerned during the past decade. Father Time is dealing gently with Mr. Wallace and most of your readers will agree with me in stating that he is well entitled to just such favors. Coal shippers are freezing hard on a 35 cent rate while vessels are holding just as firmlyfor 4o cents and better if possible to Lake Michigan or Superior. There isa unani- mity about the 4o cent rate among owners and brokers, which s the same interest now, and they are likely to obtain that © figure or go seeking elsewhere. One thing, steel boats can always clear in water ballast and especially during the fine summer months, so that if coal is carried it ought to pay its due share of expense instead of being carried for ballast as in former years. The Plain Dealer man is away off in stating that: ‘‘The Treasury Department has issued an order to the effect that in the future registration will be refused to all boats having a name over six lettersin length. The intention is to sim- plify the names of boats and avoid much confusion.’’ With- out seeking any further information from any source I may say that the Treasury Department has made no such ruling, although the Commissioner of Navigation has frequently asked that names be not duplicated, made too lengthy or in any way horrible of pronounciation. oe or oo FLOTSAM, JETSAM AND LAGAN. Our respect for Chicago is large and growing, but our respect for the truth moves us to say that when it comes to measuring up Chicago as a seaport town she looks enough like thirty cents to pass}in the dark {for a quarter and a nickel.—New York Marine Journal. The country will continue to increase its ocean shipping interests with or without government bounties. It will also build tonnage for the high seas in larger volume than at any former time since the days of the old clipper ships and the supremacy of American wood, then very abundant and cheap, in the shipbuilding of the world. The following scale of wages has been decided upon by the Atlantic Coast Seamen’s Union for sailors on vessels trading from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Newport News to Providence, Boston, New Bedford, New York and other nearby ports. Vessels under 500 tons, $25 per month; ves- sels over 500 tons and !ess than 1,500 tons, $30 per month; for 1,500 tons and over $35 per month. McClure, Phillips & Co., New York, have just published ‘The Cruise of the Petrel,’’ a novel’ of sea life, treating of the period of the war of 1812, and dealing largely with the romance and adventures arising from the privateering so common at that time. The tale is founded in some part on the records of the logbook of Rear Admiral Jenkins, the grandfather of the author, T. Jenkins Hains. The latter acquired considerable fame from his ‘‘Windjammers”’ and “Mr. Trunnell, Second Mate.’’