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12 THE MARINE RECORD. GRADUAL DISAPPEARANCE OF THE SAILING SHIP. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE Q). that of a common carrier anywhere in the commercial busi- ness of this western coast of the United States except for the profit there is in it, which, of course, goes out of the country. The same may be said of British and American ships; and, admitted that they are not operating their vessels solely on sentimental or philanthropic lines—but ‘‘for all there is in it’’—but, there is this difference, that all the money earned is again put into circulation in one or the other of the coun- tries from whence it has come, and in this way the vessel participates in the upbuilding of the commerce of the coun- tries from whence it draws its existence. While the wind blows, there will always be sailing vessels, and there are trade routes on the Pacific Ocean in which the fine vessels built and building on the Pacific coast will al- ways find business. But shipowners and builders with an eye to the future must increase the size of their vessels and study every scheme and device for the economical manage- ment and working of them. They present a tolerable bold front to the steamer of 8 to 10 knots using coal as fuel—on long voyages—but they will be unable to compete with any steamers on long or short voyages when they are fitted for burning oil. OOOO OO UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY, ANNAP- OLIS, MD. FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF ADMIRAL MELVILLE. The Bureau has included in its estimates the sum of $250,- ooo for the purpose of erecting a building to be used for an experiment station and testing laboratory at the Naval Academy, in the department of marine engineering and na- val construction; this building to be two stories high, about 110 by 150 feet, and to conform in design and construction with the new buildings now being erected at the Naval Academy. The sum of $150,000 has also been estimated for to equip this building with all the necessary appliances and appara- tus as an experiment station and testing laboratory. An establishment of this character will be of the greatest benefit to the service at large and afford means for securing much yaluable information that can not be obtained in any other way. Besides this it will be of the highest value in - training the cadets and instructing them in the method of conducting physical and mechanical tests and obtaining trustworthy and reliable results. It will also afford the means for advanced and original research in many serious engineering problems still undecided, serving the same use- ful purpose in steam engineering matters and questions that the experimental tank does which was lately erected at great cost iu the Washington Navy Yard, and is now in practical use, in the determination of best forms of ships’ hulls, The expense of an experiment station is almost entirely in its first cost, as its maintenance afterwards would be tri- fling, because nearly all work in it would be performed by officers or others already in the service of the Government. As it is certain that the benefits to be derived from such building and equipment will be out of all proportion to its cost, the Bureau can not too strongly urge its construction. WORK DONE IN INSPECTION OF MATERIAL, The labor troubles of the last quarter of the fiscal year have caused a falling off in the total of material inspected as compared with last year’s work. A TRUSCOTT BOAT SIMPLE, SAFE, RELIABLE, SPEEDY. be possible to build better and safer boats. but it hasn’t been done yet. We send a completely illustrated cata'ogue and price list f ee, which tells you all about boats and WHY TRUSCOTT BOATS EXCEL. Truscott Boat Mfg. Co., ST. JOSEPH, MICH. lighting. It may The number of firms filling Government orders shows an increase, and in consequence the territory to be covered by the inspectors has become enlarged, so that an increase in the number of headquarters, each with a naval inspector in charge, has become necessary. By increasing the number of inspectors, and thereby decreasing the area of territory for which any one inspector is responsible, traveling expenses are decreased and greater efficiency in the work of inspection must ensue. The work of inspection is an engineering work, requiring ability and experience, and it should be the aim of the Navy to keep this inspection work inits own hands, intrusted to its own commissioned line officers, who are most directly in- terested in getting the very best in material for the guns, machinery, and hulls of the ships they may be called upon to fight. Our young line officers should be given the opportunity, under the present naval inspectors, to get the experience necessary to enable them to become efficient in- spectors in charge. They have already the theoretical knowledge required, and by their general education are fitted readily to acquire the necessary experience. Particu- larly is this true in. the case of those officers whose bent is toward marine engineering. Inspection for this bureau will be most efficient, when the inspector combines a knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of the metal he in- spects, with an intimate acquaintance with the design and construction of the machinery into which the metal is to be worked. ee STATEMENT OF THE VISIBLE SUPPLY OF GRAIN. As compiled by George F. Stone, Secretary Chicago Board of Trade, October 26, 1gor. CITIES WHERE WHEAT.| CORN. Oats. RYE. | BARLEY STORED. Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. Buffalo ...ci..c.csce: 2.476.000] 1,327,000 470,000 13,000 681,°Co GHICE SO. iS ctiaccis sas 5,066,000] 7,134,000] I 741,000 580,000 21,0co Detroiti iis cen cs 639 006 442,000 49,000 136,000 47,000 Bt Laat ics ising siscele ds 4,621,900] 482,000 456,000 252,000 902,000 Fort William, Ont..| 1,485 000].. .......].......205 Amory nic aa Imes en Milwaukee.......... 137,000 24,000 341,000 40,000, 145,000 Port Arthur, Ont.... BIE OOO ira, 5 ery we ie Pia tin Mare cae Rd MOLEA Oss iais's victeiereiainee's 556,000 578,00C! 1,051,000 366,006 9,000 Toronto...... BG O00 lee aed sae ule soe meas 55,000 On Canals 523,000 224,000 GIO{O00| 8. ae et 345.000 On Lakes.. ..| 1,447,000 706,000 558,000 110,000 287,000 CO fractal G UCM 2 Wd) TRE al Eesti emma cil ior Tia SPRUE Ew ies Se PEGE tS RET HP mys tan Grand Total..... 40 634,9¢0| 13,636,000] 8,247,000] 1,953,000] 2,820,000 Corresponding Date, TQOO e's 2 ois w ajecs a ginsic.s 59,773,050] 8,144,000] 12,536,000} 1,050,000) 3,067,000 Increase for week..| 1,241,000 187,000 203 000 89,000 234,000 Decrease ‘‘ PRE PR RL rere a OB Se cosa) para ha a Urals eels heise linemen y waleeals While the stock of grain at lake ports only is here given, the total shows the figures for the entire country except the Pacific Slope. or oo A METHOD of marine propulsion by pneumatic ejection was tried recently at the Carpenter Co.’s Baths at Stratford, says a London newspaper. The inventor has made two model boats, five feet in length—one a shallow draft river boat, and the other on the lines of an ocean-going steamer. The steam is generated in a boiler of special pattern, and by means of a patent steam jet induction apparatus atmospheric air is propelled along tubes running to the stern of the ves- sel. The force of the air against the water propels the boat. Reversing is effected by diverting the steam into tubes run- ning to the bow, and steering by stopping the ejection of steam on one side. Pintsch Gas Lighted Buoys. Adopted by the English, German, French, Russian, Italian and United States Light-House Departments for channel and harbor Over 1,000 gas buoys and gas beacons in service. Burn Continuously from 80 to 365 days and nights without attention, and can be seen a distance of six miles. ...... THE SAFETY CAR HEATING AND LIGHTING CO. 160 Broadway, New York City. OCTOBER 31, I9OI. Controlled by IMPROVED FLOATING CRANE. In the shops of the Brown Hoisting Machinery Co., the workmen have been putting the finishing touches to an en- gineering novelty in the shape of a floating crane. The crane is being built for the government, and will be delivered within the next two months at the Brooklyn navy yard, where it will be used for handiing armor plate and heavy guns, Floating cranes must be operated from pontoons. Hith- erto when the crane was in use, the list of the pontoon has been a great difficulty to its successful operation.. The in- vention which Mr. Brown has applied to the crane, now being built under his directions, is for the purpose of doing away with this listing or tilting of the pontoons, A great counterweight of 300 tons is the means employed to keep the deck of the pontoon level while the crane swings its heavy load into place. The counterweight runs on two rails and works automatically, resting in the center of the pontoon until the crane begins to swing and then following its movements as the lift threatens the equilibrium of the pontoon. A steam engine that operates the counterweight by means of the usual drum is set at work at the least move- ment of the crane as soon as the lift begins. The crane now under construction by the Brown Hoisting Machinery Co. has the power to lift 110 tons and swing that amount 45 feet from the pontoon in seven minutes, The fastest lift of the same dimensions now in Brooklyn navy yard requires thirty minutes to perform the same feat. The pontoons for the new crane are being constructed by Cramp’s shipyard in Philadelphia, but all the machinery is being built in Cleveland. en er EASTERN FREIGHTS. Messrs. Funch, Edye & Co., New York, report the con- dition of the Eastern freight market as follows: Although the fixtures of steam tonnage during the cur- rent week are larger in volume than the preceding week, the offerings of steam are still far in excess of the require- ments of the market, and shippers still have it practically their own way in naming rates at which business can be transacted. The activity in cotton is entirely limited to the Atlantic Coast at rates which show no improvement what- soever, whilst from the Gulf business appears to be almost at a standstill, there being actually no demand for tonnage. On the other hand, steamers are offering to come up from the River Plate to load at one of the Gulf ports at the low rate of r1s, on the net charter, but without finding takers. One of the features of this week’s business is the report of several steamers closed for case oil to the Far East at a con- siderable decline in the rate, and further transactions of this description can probably be repeated at the figures recently accepted. In regard to sail tonnage, we can only state, that the mar- ket remains neglected, with the rates for long voyages still influenced by the low figures accepted on the part of steam tonnage. Grain to London, 2 cents; Liverpool, 3 cents; Glasgow or Bristol, 4 cents. ERS THERE is talk at Chicago of a further advance in lake sea- men’s wages on November 1, perhaps to $2.75 per day, with a clause stating that $3 will be asked after the 15th of that month. Vesselmen say that if such transpires all small sailing craft will be compelled to lay up.