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MARINE REVIEW. | 7 E. M.B. A. " - ORGANIZATION OF THE GRAND LODGE. _ The plan of organizing of a grand lodge of the Excelsior Marine Benevolent Association was successfully carried out at the meeting in Buffalo last week. The permanent officers elec- ted and installed by Edward Kelley, Cleveland, are: Grand president, Alex. Clark; grand treasurer, Lyman Hunt; grand financial secretary, W. A. Collier. The day following the per- manent organization was devoted to discussion of some very im- portant topics. The most important was the raft towing bill, and the feeling concerning this was so great that delegates were sent to Washington to urge the passage of the Burton bill, which regulates that matter. The plan proposed by Col. Ludlow, for placing light-ships on Gray’s reef, White shoal and Simmons’ reef was discussed and approved. ‘The number of collisions in narrow channels during the past season led to some interesting talks on how these accidents could be avoided. Rules were adopted giving the down-bound vessels the right of way in all cases where it would cause no conflict with the United States rules of the road. Other masters are urged to adopt this rule. The advantages of this organization are so numerous that no captain can afford to miss the opportunity of becoming a mem- ber. ‘In order that vessels sailed by association members may be distinguished, a pennant, approved by the leading line mana- gers, was adopted. Itis to be six feet long, three and a half feet wide, narrowing to eighteen inches, and carrying the num- ber of the master’s certificate in white on a red back-ground. The lodges have been re-numbered and Buffalo lodge will hereafter be No. 1, Port Huron lodge No. 2, Chicago lodge No. 3, Cleve- land lodge No. 4 and Bay City lodge No. 5. A form of dis- charge to be used for every member of the crew, was adopted. This will insure good positions to good men. In addition to the benefits mentioned, the benevolent feat- ‘ures of the association provide liberally in case of accident or death. The death assessment of $2 on each member will, with F the present rate of increase, shortly give $1,000 to the master’s b family. Then in case of total disability, a half assessment is F made, the other half being payable at death. It was voted that no lodge should be. established within fifty miles of one already organized. The visiting delegates were present at the installation of the Buffalo officers, when Capt. Clark and Capt. M. Wiland were presented with crayon portraits of themselves. FOG AND PASSING SIGNALS; At the regular weekly meeting of E. M. B. A., No.4, of Cleveland, Friday, Capt. William S. Mack introduced a resolu- tion, which was adopted, setting forth the desire of the associa- tion that ‘‘all steamers meeting and passing in a fog be required to blow three short blasts as a fog signal, continuing the use of one and two whistles for passing signals.”’ It was also resolved that ‘all tugs towing rafts be compelled to carry at their mast- heads or some other elevation at least thirty feet above their e decks three white lights placed in a triangular form and visible all around the horizon; said lights to be at least six feet apart.” The delegates who were sent to Washington to assist in the passage of Representative Burton’s bill for the regulation of raft towing were instructed to consult the proper authorities with re- gard to these matters. The benefits expeeted from the proposed change in the fog signal will be readily understood by all lake masters. Under present lawsa single blast is made to answer the purpose of both a passing signal and a fog signal, and the number of collision cases in court during the past few years, in which a conflict of these signals was involved, is enough to testify to the need of a change of some kind. It was also proposed to establish fog signals to be blown from horns on tow barges, on account of the danger of collisions after the steamboat of a tow has passed, but this feature was left for after consideration. The establishment of peculiar signal lights on tugs towing rafts is proposed for the purpose of distinguishing this class of craft from the steamboat or sailing vessel, in order to avoid the danger of collision with a raft, as the nature of the approaching E Ls 3 tug or steam vessel’s tow is not readily understood under pres- ent rules. These matters have been generally discussed during the past few years. Following are the names of the officers of E. M. B. A.,Branch® No. 2, Port Huron: President, John Ivers ; First Vice-President, Cummings Geel; Second Vice-President, John Cotton; Treasurer, | Thos. J. Cowen; Recording Secretary, Walter A. Ashley; Financial Secretary, Ed. J. Kendall. The following new membes were balloted for and accepted at the last meeting: Capt. Zeeland, Wash. G. Harrow and A. A. Cox. The E. M. B. A. is progress- ing in every way. The delegates returned from Buffalo very’ much pleased with the meeting of the grand lodge. President elect John Ivers, was chosen by the grand lodge to represent the interests of branch No. 2, at Washington. Newly elected officers will be installed January 15. : Meeting of Cleveland Vessel Owners. The Cleveland Vessel Owners’ Association met Tuesday in the rooms of the Excelsior Marine Benevolent Association, and thanked the masters for an invitation to use the rooms for all. meetings. It was intended to hold the annual meeting but sev- eral of the leading vessel owners were out of the city and the work ofthe annual meeting was laid over until such time as the officers of the association decide that a full attendance can be se- cured. It was decided, however, to act upon some petitions and: other matters, and among the first to come up was a set of reso- lutioris, accompanied by a petition requesting the lighthouse board to recommend the establishment of a light-ship at Bal- lard’s reef, near the head of Grosse Isle, where a float light has been maintained by the vessel owners for several years past. A. year ago, the lighthouse board was asked to recommend a government light at this point, and it was recommended by Major Overman, the government engineer of the district, but an adverse report was sent to congress, on account of prepara- tions to establish range lights at the head of Grosse Isle, which will be in operation on the opening of navigation next spring. These range lights, however, will not be sufficient to aid deep- laden vessels in clearing Ballard’s reef and, unless the govern- ment provides a light-ship, it will be necessary to continue the private light. The vessel owners will acquaint the proper officers with the necessity of giving Cleveland the benefit of local weather fore- casts, under the new laws governing the signal service in the agricultural department of the government. As noted hereto- fore, the signal service under the new laws will have but twenty offices in which the men in charge will be permitted to give local forecasts and it is hoped to include Cleveland in this list. - An effort will also be made to have the Cleveland office of the ser- vice rémoved to the Perry-Payne building, where nine-tenths of the marine interests are represented. Philip Rice, of Marine City, informed the association through Mitchell & Co., of his ability to place a light and fog signal on Starve island reef, Lake Erie, where several accidents occurred last season, but the communication was laid over, on account of the heavy expense already attached to the mainten- ance of private lights. | Provision was made for the payment of salaries due Shipping Master Rumsey and other officers of the association. ‘The money will be advanced and taken from next year’s funds. It Will be Judge Swan. The announcement that Mr. Swan, of Detroit, has been nominated for the United States district judgeship in the south- ern district of Michigan, will be received with favor around the lakes. It was known here for some time that the Michigan senators, Messrs. McMillan and Stockbridge, had called together on President Harrison and recommended the appointment of Mr. Swan. ‘he selection is the best that could be made. Mr. Swan’s acquaintadce with admiralty affairs recommends him to the vessel owners,