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afk SMMC Cy 10 MARINE REVIEW. Seiten sunt Susi sn ssn PPPS a The Proposed Light-ships. It would now seem as though the proposed light-ships at Simmons’s reef, Gray’s reef and White shoals are assured for next season, and there is reason to also expect two similar ships to mark the two outer shoals on Eleven Foot shoal, Green bay. The appropriations for permanent light-houses, which it is pro- posed to use in the construction and equipment of these light- ships, on account of the funds being insufficient for the perma- nent structures, are $60,000 each for Simmons’ reef and Eleven Foot shoal and not $102,500 for the latter as stated a week ago. The lighthouse board has indorsed the plan of applying the $60,- 000 appropriated for Simmons’ reef to the construction of light- ships but whether that body can be induced to take like action regarding the Eleven Foot shoal appropriation and the general plan of providing lightships instead of costly permanent struc- tures at other points on the lakes isa question. At the last meeting of the Excelsior Marine Benevolent Association, the Cleveland organization ot lake vessel masters, Capt. George P. McKay and Capt. James Stone presented a series of resolutions indorsing Congressman Burton’s bill for the Simmons’ reef light- ships and urging that similar action be taken regarding the mark- ing of the two outer shoals on Eleven Foot shoal, leaving for the present the permanent light on the shore point. With these shoals marked by lightships and Waugoschance in full sight or sound, the western approach to the straits will be well marked. These two measures will not call for the appropriation of any additional sum of money at this time and it is the general opinion here that Representative Burton should include a provision for lightships to come from the Eleven Foot shoal appropriation in his bill providing for the change to lightships at Simmons’ reef. In this matter, as well as other government works on Lake Michigan, the vessel-owners and masters have found reason to place a great deal of confidence in the recommendations of Col. Ludlow, of the corps of engineers, U.S. A. One light station or light-ship regarding an appropriation for the construction of which there should be no furtner delay is that of Bar point, in che Detroit river, about midway between _ the Detroit river light station and Bois Blanc island. ‘The ne- cessity of this light, in a channel where the tonnage each year for three years past has averaged about 36,000,000 tons, has been proven by the vessel owners of the lakes who have paid for the. maintenance of a light there for two years past, after staking out achannel, The light-house board has denounced private lights, and should favor a government light where some light must be had. It has been claimed that this light isin Canadian water, or on the border line, but this should not be a bar to the estab- lishment of a light in such an important. locality. Let the offi- cers of the board fix the locality of the light, and, if a slight change must be made in position, it can in all probability be done without danger to navigation. . Work of the Ship Yards. The sub-marine boat which the Detroit Boat Works is build- ing for Chicago parties will be ready for launching early in the spring. The vessel is 40 feet long, 9 feet beam and 14 feet deep, and is built of oak knees 4 inches thick bolted together so as to form a cylinder of oak. ‘The motive power, derived from storage batteries, will be applied to a wheel at the stern and two other wheels on the sides. By turning a switch the boat can be made to rise or sink, and will come to the surface through its own buoyancy, like a dead fish, the minute the machinery stops. The, government will be asked to inspect it with a view to applying some of its peculiar features to torpedo boats. The hull for a handsome steel passenger steamer will be launched at Toledo about January 10, from the vard of the Craig Ship Building Co. The steamer will be named the City of Toledo, and will be ready for the Toledo and island passenger business about June 1. The hull is divided by six water-tight bulkheads, and the builders claim that:thirty feet of her bow could be carried away without sinking the steamer. ‘The engines will be enclined triple expansion, built by the Cleveland Ship Building Co. Her dimensions are 210 feet long, 221 feet over all, 32 feet beam and 59 feet over the guards. On the promenade deck there will be twelve staterooms and on the hurricane deck there will be an observation room. Considerable has been said of the speed to be developed. ‘This is particularly interesting on account of the presence of a new twenty mile boat in the waters that the Toledo will runin. The new steamer will make two daily trips on time that will permit business men to liye at the islands during the summer, appointment of his successor in the Michigan district is a matter l,. Hutchinson. Death of Capt. Edmund M. Becker. Capt. Edmund M. Becker, of the vessel brokerage firm of Warner & Becker, met death under very sad circumstances last week. On Christmas eve he attempted to board an electric mo- tor car while on his way to one of the hospitals to visit a sick friend. ‘The platform was crowded, and he was forced under the car. One of his legs was crushed, and he was otherwise severely injured. He was taken to Lakeside hospital, where he died Monday morning, although he was conscious during all of the four days that had elapsed since the accident. Capt. Becker was born in Painesville, and was 44 years of age. He was one of the best’ known men in connection with lake. business in Cleveland, and had a very wide circle of friends. His father, Capt. David Becker, who survives him, quit sailing only a year ago, and is among the oldest mariners. Capt. Ed- mund Becker had filled every position in the sailor’s calling, and was in charge of the City of Fremont, one of the Lake Superior line boats, when he quit sailing to form a partnership with Capt. George Warner, thirteen years ago. He was a Mason of high standing, and a member of Bigelow lodge, Thatcher chapter, Holyrood commandery. He leaves a wife and one daughter, eight years of age. The funeral occurred Wednesday. omer Judge Brown’s Successor. The nomination of Judge Henry B. Brown, of Detroit, to be a justice of the United States Supreme Court, to fill the va- can¢cy occasioned by the death of the late Justice Miller, has been received with commendation and praise by the vessel owners and masters of the lakes who have been brought in contact with him during his long and honorable career as district judge. The of the utmost importance to lake interests. Judge Brown dur- ing his long term of cflice probably heard and decided more ad- miralty cases than any other district judge in this country, and, as itis necessary to have a judge at Detroit specially fitted for this line of cases, the navigation interests should have a voice in the selection. Mr. Henry H. Swan, who has had years of expe- rience in admiralty, and whose knowledge of maritime matters is thoroughly recognized by vessel owners over the entire chain of lakes, is mentiond to succeed Judge Brown. ‘There is no question of Mr. Swan’s fitness for the position, and the lake in- terests will be served if he receives the appointment. E-Mo Be A: THE COMING CONVENTION. The coming convention for the formation of a grand lodge, to be held in Buffalo on the 6th inst., is absorbing attention among the different lodges. The representation at this first meeting will be two delegates for each twenty-five members. This will give Buffalo about sixteen delegates, Cleveland ten and an equally large representation from Port Huron and other places where membership has shown a steady increase. Some of the Cleveland members are inclined to think that the work of organi- zation can not be as well attended to with such a large body and they are decidedly against so large a representation in the su- preme lodge when it is organized. The Cleveland masters have invited the Cleveland Vessel Owners’ Association to use their rooms for meeting purposes, the vessel owners having no regular place of meeting. At last Friday's meeting the captain’s in- dorsed the petition asking the government to maintain a light at Bar point. Captains Thomas Beniteau and John Coulter were admitted to membership in the lodge and applications for mem- bership were received from Captains Joseph Doville and Charles — The Iron Trade Review, in its last issue, departed from the usual style of the trade paper and appeared in eighty pages with a lithographed cover, which wasa work of art. The issue appealed not alone to esthetic sense but contained some valuable figures apertaining to ore handled and ore on dock at Lake Erie port: This special edition was printed in their new bnilding on cent street, where the Cleveland Printing and Publishing pany have moved their extensive plant. oe