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OcTOBER I0, Igor. THE MARINE RECORD. iI RIVER. AND. HARBOR CONVENTION. The rivers and harbors convention adjourned sine die on Wednesday after adopting resolutions embodying. its sentiméhts with regard to congressional appropriations for the iniprovement of waterways. Congress was urged to také speédy action in the matter of the construction of an isthmian canal.’ The place of meeting for the next congress was not decided upon. Invitations were received from Beaumont, Tex., and St. Louis, Mo. sf An incident of the session was the ruling out of a resolu- tiori of ‘confidence in President Roosevelt, offtred by A. R. Smith, of New York, who asked that it be adopted without reference to the committee. Objections were raised on the ground that the resolution was not germane, and it was re- ferred to the committee, who failed to report upon it. After the adjournment the members took an excursion to Annapolis and other points on the Chesapeake bay and were tendered a banquet on board of the steamer. The resolutions are as follows: ‘Resolved, that this congress asserts that the best develop- ment.of our national resources demands the adequate im- provement of our waterways; and therefore it indorses and urges upon the Congress of the United States a liberal policy in their improvements, through systematic. and adequate appropriations therefor. This congress deplores and con- demns any action which leads to the failure of rivers and harbors legislation. “Resolved, that it isthe sense of this congress that the improvement of rivers and harbors is fully as important as the work carried on by any department of the general gov- ernment, and for this reason we urge that appropriations therefore be placed upon such a footing as will insure at all times ample fnnds for a vigorous prosecution of the work; and to this end we indorse, the system of continuing con- tracts. “Resolved, that in the judgment of this congress all items should be excluded from the rivers and harbors bill that do not, appertain to the improvement of harbors and waterways for the purpose of waterborne commerce. “Resolved, that the wonderful prosperity of our country is largely due to the vast increase in our foreign commerce, and that to advance our position as a great commercial na- tion all possible facilities must be afforded, deeper and wider channels must be created to meet the requirements of mod- ern steamships. that have revolutionized the commerce of the world. “Resolved, that our great systems of international navi- gation by the lakes and waterways of our country, besides being so essential as great highways of commerce, to the fullest development of national resources, are effective reg- ulators of freight rates, and we therefore urge their contin- uous and systematic improvement, with liberal appropria- ~ tions therefor. | ‘Resolved, that an executive committee of seven be ap- pointed by the president of this congrees, representing the different sections of the country, who shall have general charge of the affairs of this congress, with power to convene future meetings, and to perform such other duties as may be necessary to carrv into effect the purposes and objects of its organization. “Resolved, that the foregoing resolutions be formally sub- mitted to the appropriate committees of Compress, at its next session, by a committee, consisting of one delegate from each state, to be appointed by the president of this congress, who shall be ex-officio a member of the com- mittee.” _ ——————— rt THRE NEWHALL CHAIN ForRGE & Iron Co., Havemeyer Building, New York, issues a neat form of certificate giving particulars of tests to which their product in chains is sub- jected. They use a testing machine of 600,000 lbs. capacity, which is licensed by the London Lloyds and approved by the’ United States Government. The certificate of test shows weight, length, size, etc., of chain, with breaking strain. Every link of the Mushet steel loading and skidding chains made by this company is subjected to test. Ten ft. in every 460 ft. is cut from a chain and submitted to a breaking strain to insure uniformity of strength. Chain makers are paid by the day for this grade of chain, in order to secure perfect workmanship, one man makes a chain from end to end; that is to'say, it is not pieced out to different fires and then joined together. This is done to insure uniformity of heating and welding, which are all important in the make up of a me pertoet chain. INSPECTED THE LIGHT-SHIP KEWAUNEE. Several members of the Lake Carriers’ Association took a trip to Southeast Shoal, Point au Pelee Passage, on Sunday morning on the gunboat Hawk and inspected the light-ship Kewaunee, which is being maintained by the Lake Carriers. Everything on board the light-ship was found to be ina most,, satisfactory condition. The light-ship carries three lamps sO arranged as to make a single blended light visible from all points of the compass. She is equipped also with a powerful whistle for signaling in’ foggy weather. The light-ship. is anchored in 6 or 7 fathoms of water and all vessels should pass to the south of her. A few have passed to the north, but have come so close as to nearly foul her anchor chain. There is good water all about herto the south and there is no reason why vessels should attempt to hug her in passing. The fitting out and purchase of this vessel has cost the Lake Carriers’ Association about $14,000 so far. Its maintenance, exclusive of repairs, is costing about $250 per month. The United States Light-House Board. is now considering the advisability of building either a light- house or maintaining a light-ship upon this shoal and thus relieving the Lake Carriers’ from supporting what is purely a governmental burden. Capt. George P. McKay, chairman of the committee on aids to navigation, has furnished the government officials with all the necessary facts in the case. A light-house would, of course, be preferable to a light-ship upon this shoal, but there is some question as to whether the nature of the bottom would permit a foundation to be built upon it. The passage isin Canadian waters, which explains the indifference manifested by the United States government to its dangers. However, as ‘the Canadian government already maintains lights in American waters frequented by its ships, the American government should maintain a light upon this passage, as the commerce which utilizes it is almost wholly American. OO OOD Sel CHICAGO FREIGHT OUTLOOK. Messrs. C. W. Elphicke & Co., Chicago marine under writers and vessel agents, report the condition of the freight market as follows : We quote detailed stocks of grain in store at Chicago and South Chicago on the dates mentioned. Oct. 7, ’01. Sept. 9, ’o1. Oct. 8, ’00. Wiheat fussc. Ssgeice es 9,289,000 7,608,000 19,997,000 (ley SCAR ys NE Pee 10,950,0CO 11,473,000 4,460,000 (OLA e ie ier an cite ale 4,128,000 3,351,000 6,538,000 RYCR sees eee ts astearnere 346,000 306,000 534,000 Barley cro ore seo hea 31,000 32,000 178,000 MOtAl | Sistse cero otis 24,744,000 22,770,000 31,707,000 Rates continue firm at 1% cents corn and 134 cents wheat to Buffalo, with about enough tonnage to satisfy the demand, There is considerable enquiry for corn room for Georgian Bay at % of a cent over the Buffalo rate, with practically no vessels seeking cargoes in that direction. Coal is not coming in any more freely than at any time heretofore this season, and we think it will be necessary for coal shippers to make another advance in rates in the very near future inorder to bring the tonnage this way. We feel confident that this advance will be paid very shortly. SO OS THE Ajax Metal Co., of Philadelphia, submits the follow- ing data concerning a test of Ajax plastic bronze, made in the rolling mill of Hughes & Patterson, Philadelphia : ‘‘Test made on hot bar mill, placing Ajax plastic bronze brass on one end and phosphor bronze brass on opposite end: Nov. 15, 1900, brasses placed in position measured 7% inch in thickness. Feb. 27, 1901, brasses taken out, phosphor bronze then measured 3% inch and plastic bronze 5 inch. Phosphor bronze brass, being worn down to useful limit, was discarded. Feb. 27, 1901, new phosphor bronze brass placed, original plastic bronze bearing being used. Apr. 29, Ig0I, again taken out. Second phosphor bronze brass worn down to useful limit, 34 inch, while plastic bronze still measured ,’; inch, thus showing a saving of over 100 per cent. in favor of Ajax plastic bronze. —<—<$?_ ae Tue River and Harbor Convention ended its deliberations at Baltimore Wednesday and adjourned sine die. The only incident of note was the practical squelching of a resolution expressing confidence in President Roosevelt, which, in- stead of being adopted at once, was referred to a committee, much to the displeasure of those who favored its immediate passage. This action was the result rather of a disagree- ment among some of the delegates than a disinclination upon the part of the members to adopt it. THE AMERICAN SHIP BUILDING CO. Those who arein possession of inside information, says the Cleveland Leader, make the assertion that the American Ship Building Co. is financially one of the strongest industrial combinations of the tite. Its status is not, so the state- ment goes, adequately” represented in the dividend of the equivalent of 7 per cent. on the preferred stock issued a short time ago. The company is in possession of enough funds to have paid a handsome dividend upon the common stock, and was only deferred from doing so by the necessity for establishing a sinking fund to provide against emergency.” Those who are in control of the financial policy of the com- pany are of the belief that its future security, and its con- tinued high standiug in the financial world is of more im, portance than a division now with the common stockholders, This division, however, it is claimed, is only deferred rather than omitted entirely. The present financial strength of ‘the company is not unexpected. The company did more business on the chain of lakes last year than was ever done by all of the shipyards combined, when competition was the rule, and every shipyard was producing to the limit of ° its capacity. Added to this, by economy in operating and by a centralization of control, the company was able to greatly rednce the expenses. Then, too, the company has always been able to get a fair price for its boats, and by clever maneuvering on the part of the buyers of the steel of which the boats were made the cost of the boats was based on the price at which the material was to be purchased of the steel mills. Avoiding heavy losses in this way contrib- uted largely to the satisfactory net earnings of the company. a LETTERS AT DETROIT MARINE POST OFFICE.: OCTOBER 9, IgoOI. im To get any of these letters, addressees or their authorized __ agents will apply at the general delivery window or write to . the postmaster at Detroit, calling for ‘‘advertised”’ matter, giving the date of this list and paying one cent. Advertised matter is previously held one week awaiting delivery. It is held two weeks before it goes to ise Dead Letter Office at Washington, D. C. : Anderson, Wm.—2, Shaw Bock, E. iu Iron King Baker, John, Frank Peavy Brumund, Henry, — Brian, Thomas Bullock, James Bourkland, John Brown, C. A. Bramell, Benj., Sagamore Boyer, Arthur, Sagamore Bell, Will, Sitka Barkey, Peter Backens, Kemi, Penobscot Cantwell, John, Pathfinder Cran, G., S. C. Hall Collier, Frank Clifford, John Carpenter, Wm. Cunningham, Jno., Tyrone Davis, Phebie Danners, Richard English, Edward, Neilson Hisworth, Geo. S. Goodwin, A., J. J. Hill Graham, Fred M., Armenia Green, Joe—2, Hurlbut Grose, Otto, Hoyt Grashan, Nelson, Vance Hart, James, Roman Horton, S., Sacramento Hazzard, Robt., Choctaw Harres, John Harkness, C. W., Peerless Hartman, Gus, Albright Hawkins, Turner E. Jones, H. H., Iroquois Johnson, T. Johnson, Chris, Queen West Kinney, Chas. King, H. S., Iroquois Lutman, Henry—2, Peavey Lewis, P. L. Lamson, Capt. Latta, C. H., Hoyt Morris, Joseph - McLennan, Alex, McGaw, O. é . McGregor, C. C., Yuma McLeod, W. A. 2; Peevey McAvoy, Jos. McKay, D. T. O’Connor, Thomas Poole, Harry—3, Glasgow Pollock, Fred—2 Paquette, Mrs..Wm.—2, D;. Cy Whitney, Pigott, Thos., Peerless Pursell, Wm. Price, Mrs, Sarah ~ Quigby, Thomas P. Rowan, Robt., Mahoning Rand, John—3, Ida K. Rening, Peter, Hudson Rowland, Wm., Colgate Renney, Chas., City of Rome Rae, Geo. Stevens, C. J., Lockwood Stack, Adeline, German Samson, A. A., Matoa Stewart, Harry, Marina Stark, Wm., Peavey Schroder, T Shipley, Harry Singer, R. W., Shaw Smith, Henry P., Foster Scarth, Walter G. Thorne, Geo., Neosho Thoman, John, Vance Vandervield, Peter Walker, Mrs. Minnie, Casey Walsh, F. C.—2, Black Rock Williams, C. P. Wilson, Geo. B. Wise, Fred Wesley, Frank, Roman F. B. DicKERSON, P. M, oO SOS THE Commissioner of Navigation in his quarterly report, published elsewhere in this issue of the RECORD, shows that 393 vessels of all kinds were built in the United States dur- ing the three months ended Sept. 30, Igor. 370 were built of wood and 23 of steel. Of the whole number built 261 nage was 68,395 tons. Of this number The total gross ton- were built on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and 49 on the Great Lakes.