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VOL. XXV, No. 11. Lake CarRRIERS’ ASSOCIATION. Yo consider and take action upon all general questions relating to the navigation and carrying business of the Great Lakes, ‘ maintain necessary shipping offices and in general to protect the common interests of Lake Car- riers, and to improve the character of the service ' rendered to the public. PRESIDENT. Wo. LIVINGSTONE, Detroit. IST VICE-PRESIDENT. J..C. GizcuRIsT, Cleveland. SECRETARY. bate HARVEY L. Brown, Buffalo. TREASURER. GEORGE P. McKay, Cleveland. COUNSEL. HARVEY D. GOULDER, Cleveland. EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. JAMES CORRIGAN, Chairman, Cleveland. COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION. Gipson L. DouGLas, Chairman, Buffalo. COMMITTEE ON AIDS TO NAVIGATION. GEORGE P, McKay, Chairman, BRITISH STEAMSHIP CIRCULAR. H. E. Moss & Co., Liverpool, in their semi-annual cir- cular say: ‘ We regret the depression in shipping still continues, and that freights, which commenced to fall more than a year ago, are now so low as to be quite. unprofitable. Many owners have already commenced to lay up their steamers, and it is only by thus reducing the present ex- cessive supply of available tonnage, and by ‘lessening to a great extent the future output of new vessels, that in time freights can again be brought to a payable level. What is presently perplexing most British owners. is the probability of the United States government granting bounties to shipping under their flag, and also the many gigantic combinations which have recently taken place in the shipping world. Oil fuel for steamers is one of the coming problems of the day, and recent experiments have proved its adapta- bility and advantages. It is our opinion that before long oil will be used more generally as fuel, especially for gov- ernment vessels, and for merchant steamers employed in those trades where the price of coal of late has been so abnormally high. So many statistics have recently been published, we will content ourselves by stating that the amount of new ton- nage at present under construction is almost as high as it has been at any time during the last three years, and the tonnage launched in 1901 was the highest on record. The following figures may prove interesting: Merchant and other vessels (not war ships) launched in the United Kingdom during 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901. 1898 48909 1900 IQOI 1,367,570 tons. 1,416,791 tons. 1,442,471 tons. 1,524,739 tons. Merchant and other vessels (not war ships)’ under con- struction at the end of 1898, 1899, 1900 and Igor. 1808 1899 1900 IQOI 1,401,087 tons. 1,306,751 tons. 1,269,919 tons. 1,359,205 tons. Other countries, notably the United States of America, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and Japan, have also turned out a very large amount of tonnage, totaling for 1901 no less than 1,092,800 tons. These figures, taken collectively, appear alarming, but at the same time we must not forget that the volume of trade throughout the world was never greater than at present, and as time ' goes on, must naturally still further increase. This, com- bined with the coming revival of confidence at home and abroad which must follow the termination of the war in South Africa, together with the opening up of China, and the development of the Pacific trade, as yet in its infancy, is sure to absorb, sooner than most people think,’ the superabundant tonnage, and makes us hope that the pres- ent ‘period of depression will not last so long as is gen- erally expected. ‘The treaty just concluded between Great Britain and Japan is certain to accelerate the views we have expressed. Cleveland. US YZ Lee . AiEt ugh ESTABLISHED 1878. CLEVELAND -- MARCH 13, 1902 -- CHICAGO. Consequent upon the marked ‘fall in the price of. steel during the first half of 1901, many’ orders for new: vessels were placed, and the majority of builders, as can be seen from the above figures; have sufficient work in hand» to keep themselves fully occupied for the greater part. of this year; others‘are, however, anxious to secure further contracts, and are willing to anticipate the market by taking lower: prices; but as wages can only be reduced by 5 per cent. each six months, the expected great reduc- tion in the cost of new work seems yet a iong wav off, as the amount of tonnage now under, construction is, so large, and the builders do not feel inclined at present to create any friction with their workmen by. attempting to deviate from the agreement they have already. made with them. oe Our government. is about to place a number of orders for war vessels with private firms, which naturally tend to strengthen the market, as the effect of government orders is always disproportionate to their real value. _ Prices for building new steamers have already fallen considerably, in many instances fully 20 per cent.’ from the highest figures obtained in 1900. Second-hand vessels have depreciated even to a more marked extent, and the supply of both new and second-hand steamers is much in excess of the demand. A great number of old liners. and merchant steamers continue to be sold to British and Continental buyers to be broken up, and many thousands of tons must, before long, be disposed of for the same purpose. - oo oe TRADE INTELLIGENCE BUREAU OF NORWAY. Under date of December 11, 1901, the Department has re- ceived from Consul-General. Bordewich notice that the Norwegian government has established a new bureau in the State Department to be called the “Trade Intelligence Bureau of Norway.’ ‘Translation of a circular is inclosed, which explains the scope cf work as follows: “The object of the ‘Trade Intelligence Bureau of Nor- way, is to. procure from abroad information which may contribute to promote the welfare of Norwegian commerce, navigation, industry, agriculture, the fisheries, and handi- craft, and likewise to furnish foreign countries with intel- ligence, which may be of service to Norwegian trade. The bureau, which shall be established at Christiania, shall assist all branches of’ trade bv providing them with de- tailed particulars as to markets for Norwegian goods, duty, freight, and everything relating to transport and credit, shipping dues and charges, state of and conditions existing at seaports, consular fees, compulsory certificates of origin, making up and methods of packing of wares, etc., and, likewise, as to how and where the various branches of Nor- wegian trade can obtain their requirements. The bureau shall, until otherwise ordained, forward all reports of general interest to Norwegian trade to all the bourses and guilds throughout the country. Information will, as a rule, be supplied free of charge. Special expenses (éxcept post- age), such as those entailed in procuring information re- specting credit, analyses, precuring samples, telegrams, etc., shall be repaid: to the bureau by the inquirer.” OO GOVERNMENT ACTION ON THE METRIC SYSTEM. The House Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures, gave recently a public hearing on the bill for the adoption of the metric system. As practical manufac- turers John A, Brashear and Geo. M. Bond appeared, the former being in favor and the latter opposed to the sys- tem. Mr. Brashear said that the metric system had been largely used in his works for ten years and stated that “the workmen find it easier to work in that system.” Mr. Bond, on the other hand, stated that although the works with which he is connected (the Pratt & Whitney Co.) had done a large amount of work for foreign countries on the metric system, he found that their workmen pre- ferred the inch. ——————————— aera ae On March 1 there were 172,000,000 feet of Jumber on the docks at Duluth and West Superior and the cut for the season is expected to be close to 420,000,000 feet.. Much of the lumber now in stock has been sold and the coming season will be a busy one for the carriers. $2.00 Per Year. toc. Single Cop CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF MARINE ENGINEERS. ' The third annual convention of the National Association of Marine Engineers of Canada was held in Toronto on the 29th, 30th, and 3rd of January. Representatives were pres- ent from Toronto, Montreal, Kingston, ‘Collingwood, and St. John, N. B., and the councils in Victoria and Vancouver, B. C., not being able to send delegates so far, submitted their views. in writing. ; At the opening session, after routine, the grand pres- ident, W. I. Barton, of St. John, delivered his. annual address. He referred to the growth of the order, and urged that efforts should be put forth to place the name of every marine engineer in Canada on its membership roll. He spoke of the death during the year of D. L. Foley, past grand president, and David McQuade, vice-grand. S. A. Mills had resigned the secretary-treasurership in conse- quence of his removal to the United States, and J. A Find- lay, of Toronto, had been appointed in his stead, pro- visionally. He had instituted a council at Levis on his. way to this meeting, and there would soon be councils at Ham- ilton, Sorel, and: other places. The Parry Sound. North Star was-now their official organ. .'Some amendments to the constitution would be proposed, and there were. some changes in the law which would be urged upon the govern- mext. They should work in harmony with the steamboat owners, their interests being identical. Reet The secretary-treasurer’s report showed a large increase in the membership, which is now 370, and a balance in the treasury of $2900. A number of notices of motion were presented. ; : The second day was fully occupied in discussing mat- ters relating to the welfare of the profession, covering amendments to the constitution, amendments which will be asked tor from the Dominion government in the laws relating to steamboat inspection and other matters. In the evening the ‘loronto Council entertained the delegates, steamboat owners, representatives of the city council and others to a banquet. The third day further discussion took place on proposed amendments to the law. The following were suggested: That all tug boats should carry licensed engineers; that British steamers running in Canadian waters should be compelled to carry at least two licensed engineers; that no temporrry certificates cr permits be issued to any who are not fully qualified engineers; that United States vessels purchased for use in Canada should not be brought in free of duty; that while thé present law makes no distinction between ocean, lake and river side-wheel boats, smaller shafts are desirable on steamers navigating rivers only. The new president was authorized to organize a deputation to wait on the government with reference to these and other matters. The following were elected and installed as officers for the ensuing year: Grand president, T. J. S. Milne, Kings- ton; grand vice-president, O. L. Marchand, Montreal; grand secretary-treasurer, N. J. Morrison, St. John, N. B.; grand conductor, F. S. Henning, Toronto; grand doorkeeper, Samuel Beatty, Collingwood; grand auditors, Robert Craig, Toronto,.and. James Gillies, Kingston. Past Grand Pres- ident Barton was made honorary member. of the Grand Council. The next meeting is to be at Montreal. i SEPSIS NSPE A BR TO CONSERVE LAKE LEVELS. fa! President Livingstone, of the Take Carriers’ Associa- tion, reached Washington on Saturday to relieve Secretary Brown in watching the course to be pursued by the 1.ouse Rivers and Harbors Committee relative to the pro- posed power canal which the Consolidated Lake Superior Power Co. desires to build at the “Soo.” The matter was gone into extensively at hearings had last session, and a bill was drafted providing for various restrictions insisted upon by the United States engineers, but is was never considered by the House. Now the Committee is considering the proposition whether to in- clude the proposition in the regular bill or provide a sep- arate measure. The great objection urged against the canal is. that it might. lower the level of Lake Superior; which would compel vessels to shorten their draft. Chairman Burton said to-day that there would be no. hearing, but both sides are watching the matter very closely.