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CHICAGO LAKE INTERESTS. WESTERN OFFICE, MARINE REVIEW, No. 210 So. Water Street, CHICAGO, LIL, June 11. rine interests generally gave the excursion of the lake and rail line ip Chicago river Tuesday a most generous support. Nearly every of floating property in Chicago was on board the Saranac, that moon. The committee labored under the disadvantage that all ves- sel owners could not be invited. The excursion was to convince the peo- ; Chicago that the obstructions in the river should be removed. Ves- selmen know this too well, and as the number who could be accommo- dated was limited, some of those whom it was necessary to convince of this great fact, were unfortunately excluded. The trip up the river was a revelation to most of the guests. It is said that compara- tively few people born in London ever go to see the Tower, but an Ameri- can in London goes there as a matter of course. The people i in Chicago outside the marine interests who have taken a trip on the river you could count and not go beyond a hundred. A river trip with them was more strange than climbing Pike’s Peak or a jaunt over the boulevards of Paris. It;is to be hoped that having seen the obstructions to navigation,they will rine interests now labor. All credit should be given the lake and rail lines for their work in behalf of the lake marine. At the risk of being consid- ered. too forward they undertook the task of giving the excursion and of bearing the expense incurred. Several generous Chicago vesselmen came forward and gave sul stantial encouragement, but in the main it was the lines, which stood the burden. The Chicago agents gave their time and their full efforts to make it a success. The line managers, it is said, were as much interested as their Chicago agents, and backed up all that was done. When this question is still open, itis in order to state that the Line Agents’ Association seems to be in the best position to lead in the agita- tion for the removal of obstructions in Chicago river and the control of the river generally. Its members meet on ’change daily, and a full meet- ing can be called at five minutes notice. It is asmall body of good tim- ber for rapid work and persistent effort. Itis withal both plucky and aa the navigation of Chicago river goes, are identical. But if the line agents are to undertake the hard and bitter fight with prejudice and ad- verse interests in Chicago they need the cordial support of the whole lake marine. The Lake Carriers’ Association can do some good in giving moral if not financial assistance to the movement. Other vessel owners’ associations can do as much, When the lines—this means both managers and agents—undertook this great struggle, it was not for their own bene- fitalone. The owner of every boat entering Chicago river will be bene- fitted if success comes. Success is nearer at hand than it has been in twenty years. Capt. Marshall told a committee of vesselmen the other day that the river would never be improved until some body of men with power enough forced the city to doit. It is the aim of the Line Agents’ Association to be that body. Itis not impossible. By forcing the ques- tion, the present city administration will be compelled to do something or else flatly refuse to do it. . This is a politicians’ administration, and the great mass of marine men in Chicago cast too many votes to be heedlessly alienated. If the issues are pressed home there is little doubt that the marine interests will secure recognition. The New Premier and the Rebate Question. Special Correspondence to the MARINE REVIEW. KINGSTON, Ont., June 18.—The announcement that Hon. J. C. Abbott has been called by the governor general to succeed SirJohn Macdonald as premier and to form a new government has been approved of here by nearly all the conservatives except those engaged in the marine trade, and for this reason: As has been stated heretofore, the Montreal exchange is in favor of having a rebate made on the grain transhipped at Ogdens- burg for Montreal; in other words that the former city be accorded all the privileges that Kingston has in so far as the refund is concerned. Sir John represented Kingston in parliament and therefore thus far we have had all the advantage. Mr. Abbott, the new premier, is a Montrealer and nearly all his interests are there, hence forwarders are anxious to know as to whether he will not assist the exchange and compel forwarders to build an elevator here if they want to hold the transhipping business at this port. On the other hand, it is claimed that he may, and it looks as if he will consider the matter from a national standpoint and leave Montreal out of it altogether. If he does this he will have to favor leaving the matter as it stands with Kingston getting the advantage. Otherwise his influence in the opposite direction would be weighty, and the exchange will use every means in its power to secure it. The result will be awaited mith interest. The whaleback steamer Colby and consort are-still here. The former Tip getting her boiler repaired. It was the intention to send them back for another cargo before taking them to the Atlantic, but the decision has é changed. They will go on to the ocean as soon as possible, and will _not be so averse to removing some of the difficulties under which the ma- - _ conservative. The interest of all the members of the association, so far . be taken down the rapids. If they get through successfully another whaleback which is now on its way here with 70,000 bushels of wheat will — proceed to the ocean. As the Colby will be the first freight lake boat that will have made this attempt the trial is looked forward to with anxiety. The manager of the Colby arrived here Monday and will watch her attempt to go down the rapids. The forwarding companies are doing a much better business than they expected at the outset. Thus far they have had all they can carry with comfort, but the rate is what annoys them. ‘It is just one-quarter less than it was last year, which is quite a difference, when it is considered that wages have not been reduced the same as they have at American ports where a poor season was anticipated. There are now 500,000 bushels of grain on the way to Kingston and most of it will have arrived in a few days. The steamer Rugee got fast on a shoal in the harbor for a few hours and had to be lightered before she would move. ‘The harbor master has decided to get a sketch of the harbor printed and distribute copies freely among mariners. There is plenty of water if the proper channel is kept. These sketches will be found of great use. Four locks in the Cornwall canal broke on Tuesday last but repairs were made without any serious detention. The new steamer North King | made a trial trip a few days ago and was found to be very speedy. Her — owner, C. F. Gildersleeve is very much pleased with her. The dry dock is still far from completion. The fact that the contractors, Connoll Brothers, are now before parliament in connection with a charge agz that the contractors received information from the department that them in tendering for other docks. Grand Haven Notes. «= | Special Correspondence to the MARINE REVIEW. GRAND HAVEN, Mich., June 18.—A large force of men is n on the pier extension at this port. Finch & Co., of this city, the piles. Three cribs are ready to be put in place as soon as the are cut off under water. : Col. Duryea, superintendent of harbor improvements, has just pleted a driver for doing the sheet-piling inside the harbor. Duncan Robertson will commence building at his yard next week towing and fishing tug for Milwaukee parties. The engine will be nished by Bloecker & Co. and the boiler by Johnston Bros. The propeller Ionia and the schooner Mary A. McGregor are among _ the latest boats to go into commission. Their owners have kept them in port but they are now ready to begin work. Official Numbers and Tonnage. The following numbers were assigned lake vessels by the burean of | navigation. W. W. Bates commissioner, for the week ending June 13: Sail—Harold, Port Huron, tonnage, gross 718.80, net 682.96 No. 96.114. Steam—A. D. Thomson, Buffalo, tonnage, gross 1,399.90, net 1,075.00, No. 106,834; Albert Wallace, Port Huron, tonnage gross 179.89, net 134.39, No. 106,838; C. W. Wetmore, tonnage, net 1,075.00, No. 126,745; E. B. Bartlett, Buffalo, tonnage, net 1,075.00, No. 136,205; Ida M., Detroit, tonnage, gross 14.39, net 7.20, No. 100,492; Major, Erie, tonnage, gross 147.19, net 10.55, No. 92.314. A steam fog-signalling apparatus has been patented by Captain Thomas, of the s. s. Monte Rosa of South Shields. The machine gives certain sig- nals to indicate the course a ship is steering during a fog. It is intended to be connected with the whistle of a steamer by means of a strong wire, and can be worked by steam from the main boilers. When the apparatus is set inaction it gives the required blasts at intervals ofabout two min- utes, and can be regulated at will. It does not require any futher atten- tion, unless when the course of the vessel is changed. The change of sig- nals, in the event of such an alteration, is effected by simply pressing in a small stop which indicates the course last steered, and drawing out an- other which gives the course about to be steered. The machine gives a signal for each fourth point of the compass, and no more than three blasts are given for each signal—thus two short and one long, two long and one short, one long and two short, one short and two long. The Harlan & Hollingsworth Co. has contracted to build two dupli- cate steel propeller steamers, each 310 feet long, for the Providence and Stonington Steamship Company for services on Long Island sound, Both will be finished by May 1 next. They will cost in the neighbor-_ hood of $750,000 each. Habitual divers in salt water often have inflamation ofthe eyes. The — exposure such diving necessitates is not beneficial. —— FROM END TO END. ‘The entire length of the line, tickets will be — sold at one fare for the round trip, July 2nd, 3rd and 4th, betwers any two. stations on the Nickel Plate. none