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eMnne eran ESTABLISHED 1878. Published every Thursday, at 144 Superior Street, a (Leader Building,) CLEVELAND, O. levine B, Smits. ; Cart. JOHN SWAINSON, BRANCH OFFICE, Curcaao, T13., - - 252South Water & . THOMAS WILLIAMS, Associate Editor. Proprietors. SUBSCRIPTION. One copy, one year, postaze paid, ‘One copy, one year to foreign countries, - Invariably in advance. See ADVERTISING. Rates given on application, ——$—<—$<—$——— THE MARINE RECORD can be found for sale by the following agents and news dealers: AMHERSTBURG, ONT.—George Taylor. ASHTABULA HARBOR, 0.—0, C. Large, 0. M. Kohne. ASHLAND, WIS.—Post Office News Stand. BUFFALO, N. Y.—Miss McCabe, Elk st-; W- H. Boyd, 60 Main st. CHICAGO, ILLS.—Thomas Williams, 252 South Water street. L. P. Ballin, 33 West Randolph street. CLEVELAND, 0.—Cleveland News Co , 118 Wood street; @. F. Bow- man, corner Pearl and Detroit street; R. A. Castner, 254 Detroit street E. J. Ray, 452 Detroit street; Larwood & Day, 259 Superior street; N- Hexter, 303 Superior street; Taylor. Austin & Co.,116 Public Square, DETROIT, MICH.—George Abrams, River Reporter. DULUTH, MINN.—Albertson & Chamberlain, 323 West Superior st., Zenith News Stand. DUNNVILLE, ONT.—J. H. Smith. ERIE, PA.—Reed Caughey, W. J. Sell, Moses Dryfoos. ESCANABA, MICH.—John Finnegan, Sourwine & Hartnett. HURON, 0.—John Squires. HOUGHTON, MICH.—F. W. Kroll. KINGSTON, ONT.—John Henderson & Co. LORAIN, 0.—C. C. Knapp, J. B. Tunte. LUDINGTON, MICH.—Fisk & Co. MANISTIQUE, MICH.—W. S. Gilbert, Post Office Block. MARQUETTE, MICH.—Vannier & Bigelow. MILWAUKEE, WIS —T. 8. Gray Co., 126 Wisconsin street. OWEN SOUND, ONT.—H. P. Adair & Co., J. Sharpe, Jr. PORT HURON, MICH.—D. EE. Lynn, Marine Reporter. SARNIA, ONT.—J.G. McCrae, D. McMaster. SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH.—J. P. Haller, Water street. 4a Subsoribers and others are respectfully invited touse the columns of THE MARINE REOURD for the discu:sion of pertinent topics and all matters relating to the welfare of the Lake Marine. N,B.—We do not hold ourselves responsible in any way for the views expressed by our correspondents. Contributions must in every c1se be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer, and be at this office not later than Wednesday morning. Entered at the Post Office at Cleveland as second class mail matter. ALL MAIL MATTER , Pertaining to the Editorial and Business Departments of THe Marine ReEcorp should be addressed, “SMITH & SWAINSON, 148 SUPERIOR ST., CLEVELAND, OHIO.” CLEVELAND, 0. JANUARY 21, 1892. THE complaints from subscribers relating to the failure to receive the past few issues of Tux Marine Recorp as regular as usual, has been due to the immense quantity of postal matter crowding the post offices during the holiday season. The postal authorities do and are doing all that known ingenuity can devise for the proper and punctual handling of the mails so that “kicking” is some- what out of order at this time; however if our readers will specify the copies not received we shall be glad to supply the missing copies. A ee WE have on former occasions reverted to the prema- ture closing of lake navigation by the action of the marine underwriters, it is possible that before the new code for 1892 is formulated an extension of time at a moderate premium may be included in the season’s risks. The present flurry of snow and low temperature has evidently satisfied the geographical aberration scientists that the 42nd parallel of latitude is still about 48° from the North pole, yet, this being the case there is no telling how balmy or tempestuous the weather may be during the first half of December next. ee ee EIGHTEEN resignations from Lloyds, London under- writers rooms, and a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction in New York marine insurance circles, with consolida- tions, amalgamations and general revising of marine busi- ness in home offices, show pretty clearly to the outside busi- ness world the round up of aline of policy, which however THE MARINE RECORD. haying been framed and carried out with this end in view, however, there has been some squealing done and it is pos- sible that with well advised measures the home companies might again secure the major portion of the hull risks. or oo THE DEKP WATER CHANNEL. The Toledo Blade of recent date contains an editorial on the question of the best means of maintaining the present commerce of the lakes as opposed to dredging a twenty or twenty-one foot channel throughout the con- necting fairways. A communication from a prominent citizen of Toledo also bears on the same strain, arguing that to dredge away the lips of a basin is the surest way to cause a lower level and that the surface will fall, in an equal ratio to the bottom dredging. The same theory has long been adyoeated by a promin- ent Cleveland vessel-owner whose modesty has prevented us on former occasions from using his name in connection with this theory which has been frequently advanced, and while deepening the channel at the Lime Kiln Cross- ing the same reason and arguments were held forth. A Buffalo paper treats the subject very cavalierly and dismisses the whole question by terming it an exploded notion. While not believing the theory to be tenable, we are far from ridiculing the stand taken by the Toledo Blade, and would eminently agree with all stated in the article if the existing conditions were not slightly warped by the statement as set forth in that paper. ‘The deep water channel would but form into line a body of shoal water now un-utilized and by confining its surface area give the required depth with the greatest economy of waste, inasmuch, as the water in motion seeking its level would flow over a less area,and with re- gard to the contour of the bottom probably economise on the outflow more than has been experienced during the lowest levels of which we have any record. It is quite pertinently stated that “‘the Great Lakes are enormous depressions in the earth’s surface—each a vast bowl scooped out of the rock crust. Where the rocky brim is lowest, the water passes over, and finds its way to the next lowest lake, and so on. Lake Superior stands at the highest level; the rocky chaunel of the Sault Ste. Marie is the barrier that holds its waters at a higher level than that of Lakes Huron and Michigan, whose level is the same. Then comes the lip of this double basin, the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers, through which their over- flow pours in Lake Erie. Niagara is the rock-lip of Erie, over which the water plunges into Ontario; and the rocky bed of the St. Lawrence presents a long inclined plane over which it descends until it reaches the sea-level. It is plain that the maintenance of the present water- level in each lake depends upon the permanence of the rocky lip over which its waters disappear,” all of which is quite to the point and if the entire lip was dredged away on an inclined plane a consequent surface depres- sion and swifter current would be manifest at all points inside of that lip. To further impress its views our Toledo friends de- monstrate their position as follows: “The amount of water discharged through a given channel depends upon the area of the cross-section. To deepen the channel of course increases this cross-section, and consequently in- creases the volume of water flowing through it. To illus- trate: A channel 500 feet wide and averaging fifteen feet in depth has a cross-section whose area is 7,500 square feet. To deepen that channel to an average of 25 feet would increase this cross-section to 12,500 square feet, and increase the amount of water flowing through it by two-thirds! But the cross-section could be kept the same by reducing the width of the channel to 300 feet. Hence, wherever the channel is deepened there should be a proportional narrowing of it by artificial structures.” And this is the identical manner in which we opine the twenty-foot channel would be carried out, for the excavation of a foot or five feet in the wake of the channel would simply be moved and take up the same displacement outside of the channel or fairway and on account of the dredging, a channel it may not be an impossible feature to prove that the current through the channel while being of greater velocity than form- erly in that section, yet actually consumed less water on account of the motion being retarded at other points, or that less water flowed through the channel than formerly escaped over the whole expanse. ‘The views advanced on this question must at all times be superficial, or mere opinions, unless a thorough study of the contour of the bottom is entered upon. As in some instances it would be possible to obtain fathoms instead of feet and still not draw on the source for any greater supply, yet, even to have such views advanced should only serve to place the student or professional on his guard, an immense volume of water is destined to be withdrawn from Lake Michigan through the constiuc- tion of the Hennepin Canal where a three or four mile satisfactory it may have been to the assured, has pinched | Current is to force its way to the Mississippi, and yet the financial portion of the anatomy, so to speak, of the assurers. Lake hull risks, or the cream of it, has drifted into foreign hands, a somewhat aggressive an inclusive policy eminent men who have made aspecial study of the hypo- thesis assert that no land will be reclaimed on account of the immense outflow, while others have equally main- tained that our source of supply, viz: Lake’ contain water enough to float the largest ton: ant stream winding through them to remind erations of what had been, this perhaps at the | the telegraph plateau of the North Atlantic will Lg transformed into a carriage drive for taking an noon’s spin to Europe on the electro-magnetic-ov rapid-transit-line. A few centuries before this however, largest and finest canals that ever existed on this pl: will have been formed to facilitate the commerce of northwest and until this time arrives duplicate water channels may assist the grandest inland navigal ever known in the history of mankind. as ees a oe THE EXCELSIOR MARINE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION... Ap The Association of lake shipmasters convened under. the order and workings of the EZ. M. B. A. and now main. tained at all of the principal lake ports, is one of th greatest steps in advancement ever taken in the marine ‘ community of the world. There has been powerful and well organized associa- tions formed in various parts of the world, dating say from the Mercantile Marine Service Association of Liver- pool in 1857, and now more prosperous than ever, to the later inauguration of the marine officers association at Shanghai, but, they are and have always been localin their influences, not so however with the E. M. B. A. whose councils or lodges now extend over the chain of lakes and according an inestimable benefit to its members who are composed exclusively of men holding masters licen- ses in steam. The Supreme Council of this important organisatiat 7 holds its annual convention in Cleveland this week, at which delegates from all lodges will atterd for the trang: : action of Association business, and in honor of the oc- __ easion the Cleveland members have arranged to hold ; their annual ball after the first day’s session, viz: on 3 . —_ Thursday night. A most enjoyable time is assured for” the visitors, and THe MARINE REcorRD heartily joins in welcoming old friends and arriving guests to the Forest — City. : EDD +o ee ORE CHARTERS. The Marquette rate for ore is now quoted at $1.25 and brokers are hustling to close business on these terms though local vessel owners are none too anxious and gener- ally seem to hold off just at present knowing that a brisk opening is assured. Some Lake Superior ore tonnage — was placed during the past few days toload for Lake Erie ports at $1.25 a ton, which would, with good water at the “Soo” be a fair rate. Most of the tonnage placed at that figure is owned by the ore companies and only,a few outside vessels have been chartered. Parker and Millen of Detroit put in some tonnage at the above rate, Tonnage between Two Harbors ard South Chicago have been chartered at $1.25. So far as can be learned no Ascanaba charters have been closed though $1 is quoted for opening rates. EEE Oo ae CHICAGO, ILLS. Special Telegram to The Marine Record. : The Ball given by the Excelsior Marine Benevolent Association, on Wednesday night, was a tremendous suc cess. ‘The Hall was thronged and the greatest enthusi- asm prevailed. The Association of Captain’s is a Chi-— cago institution henceforth. ‘WILLIAMS. OED oa A STRANGE HALLUCINATION, A singular mental abberation has afflicted Capt. Chambers — which somewhat puzzles the medical talent at this time, and the subject of which is Capt. Benjamin Chambers, of Cleve- land, a man of magnificent physique, a most popularlake cap= — tainand a prominent member of the Excelsior Marine Beney- olent Association. Last June his steamer Queen of the West, collided with the Columbus street bridge and a man was kill Capt. Chambers was arrested and honorably acquitted in the police court. But the coroner found him to blame. Later the relatives of the dead man filed suit in the common pleas cou against the boat’s owners for the death of their relation, and the petition threw the blame on Capt. Chambers. ‘The thi has weighed on his mind and unbalanced him. O£ late he has been willing to talk of nothing else, and within the past few days he had reached almost a point of mania on the sub- ject. It was therefore considered adyisable to place the tain under temporary control, and one of his best frie Capt. William Mack filed a complaint of lunacy and he and Richard Neville drove Capt. Chambers to the probate ‘cou ostensibly to look for Harvey D, Goulder, theadmiralty lav ’ who Capt. Chambers was willing to meet. After the nece papers were drawn up the Captain was lodged in the at Newburg, O., where, under proper treatment the doctor: he will regain his best reason. The utmost sympathy is felt in marine circles for ieany and his family, though the host of friends which C: Chambers has always held, will do much. to soften trial which they are now undergoing.