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a Kugineeyin NgineeYiNg. THE WORK OF 'THE N. B. OF STEAM NAVIGATION. There are those who at times ask ‘*what has the National Board of Steam Naviga- tion accomplished?” It is beyond the limits ot space at our disposal to answer this ques- tion as fully as we should like to, but’ we willendeavor briefly to point out some of the results of its labors, 1. When the Board was organized in 1872. the Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam vessels had among its number mem- bers who were directly interested in patent- ed articles, which they forced upon steam- boat owne The National Board was .the means of driving these men out of office, and breaking up that combined system of official jobbery and robbery. 2. When the National Board was organ- ized the steamboat interest was at the mercy of scores of vendors of all manner of patent- ed “clap-traps.” [t has almost entirely broken up that gang, and paralized that in- fluence in the Treasury Department, there- by saving millions of dollars to the steam vessel Interest of the country. 3. It was the means of blotting out from enforced use mud-drums for ocean and lake steamers, unreliable recording steam gauges for all classes of steam veseels, useless fire extinguishers, boat br aul pe vork mattresses india-rubber suits for passengers, ete., etc., each of which artivtes alone would have enhanced the cost ofoutfit on steamers from $100 to $1,000 for each vessel. 4, The Board broke up that glaring at- tempt to forse a life preserver upon the en- tire steamboat interest, whose only merit (to the inventor) consisted of having a “pat- ented hole” in.the covering. ‘'his one thing alone would have cost the steam vessel own- ers of the United States over $2,000,000, and but for the timely efforts ot the Board the Boyton India Rebber suit of clothes [hat and boots inelnded,] would have cost them double the amount. 5. The Board through its efforts has en- abled vessel owners to use, and transport the products of petroleum, greatly to their benefit and profit, as well as the comfort ‘of travelers, and convenience of consumers, 6. The Board through its constant watch- fulness, has warded. off much legislation, which, if enacted, would have proved very - detrimental to the steamboat interest at large. 7.. Through its constant efforts, both as a Board, and in the action of its delegates at conventions of other commercial bodies, it has at last succeeded in having foreign pas- senger vessels brought under our inspection Jaws, a grand triumph in the interest of umanity. 8. ‘The National Board of Steam Naviga- tion can justly claim the credit of having been the first public association to call the attention of, and to continuously urge the passage of a law or laws for the benefit of American shipping interest! and it is but just and truthful to say that overninety per cent, of all valuable and salient points ot the Shipping Bill, which was. before Con- gress at its last sessien, emanated originally from that Board, and were urged at the Boston, Chicago and New York Conventions by its special delegates, and but for them the so-called Boston Shipping Convention, would have been turned into a “free ship” and anti-American shipping convention. At Chicago, afew months later, its delegates awakened a wide spread interest in the ship- ping question in the great Wes’, and shortly after ut New York, these same delegates furnished facts and proofs on this subject, which added great force to their former et forts; and again, when the Joint Select com- mittee on shipping met here, the represent- atives of the Board were again in th? van, and made their mark. 9. The National Board of Steam Naviga- tion has been the direct means of bringing steamboat men in all sections of the country into closer relationship, into a better state of harmony, and many old sores, both loc. sectional and national, have been cleansed and healed entirely through its influence. It is impossible to estimate the good that has been accomplished in this respect alone Would time and space permit, we could enumerate, in scores of ways, the varied aiid vast amount of good that the National Board of Steam Navigation has accom plish- ed, and could point out very many channels ip which it could labor to increase its efl- ciency, influence and power, in bringing the steam vessel interest upto a higher stand- ard, and in simplifying the laws that govern it, so that traffic on. the waters of this coun- try would be even more safe and profitable to all concerned than they are atthe present time. It ig a fact that cannot be truthtully gain- sayed that since the National Board of Steam Navigation has been in existence, casualties to life on steam vessels has been largely reduced, and consequently the loss of pro- perty has been far less Better boats have been built, better discipline maintained, and a spirit ot emulation has been engendered amongst owners and officers to jelevate the character of tonnage as well as its personal and the results isthat no country in’ the world owning steam vessels, can show such aclean record for safety on its passenger vessels as the United States, and we claim that much of this enviable condition of af- fairs is due to the influence and teachings of the Board. Within the past three or four years the burden of the work of the Board has fallen upon the shoulders of a few.leading spirits, who have labored hard and faithfull) with- out fee ov reward, while the majority have grown lukewarm so far as individual efforts are concerned, and hence some have been led to suppose that the Board was losing its former prized prestige and power, This is a mistake, but so that all inmay renew their former evergy, and that they, «8 a united body may put their shoulder to the wheel, President Gould has been visiting the lead- ing steam vessel ports, with a view to still further increasing the membership of the Board, and renew the brilliancy of the force which marked many years of it history,and all of its old time tried friends and workers feel assured that its future will be even brighter than any period of the past, basing this opinion upon the alacrity with which new members have been added to the list within the last sixty days. ‘The next annual meeting will be held in this city, probably in October next, when we expect to see the largest gathering of steamboatmen ever wit- nessed in this counury.—Nautical Gazette. CHARTERS. Propeller S. J. Macy, 35,000 bushels of corn, Chicago to Sarnia on private terms; Schooner Saveland, 47,000 bushels flaxseed, Chicago to Buffalo on private terms; schoon- er Samana, 20,000 bushels of corn at 634¢. The steambarge Milwaukee makes about ten trips between Grand Haven and Chica- go, and will then carry stone from Washing- ton Island to ‘Traverse City for the new Northern Michigan insane asylum. ‘The schooner Erie. Queen takes coal for Whitby from Oswego. Vessel owners are asking $1.25 per ton tor ore from Escanaba to Lake Erie ports—sea- son Gharters—but find no takers. The prob- ability is that $1 will be accepted, but as yet ho rate has been fixed. Shippers offer 90c for sail vessel and $1 for steam craft. Brad- ley of Cleveland, has made a season charter at $1. The schooners) Montgomery, Montmo- rency, Montealm, Mont Blane and Republic have been chartered to carry wheat from ‘Lcledo to Buffalo at 234c, ‘The schooner J. K. Pelton has been chartered to carry wheat to Cleveland, at 114c free of elevation. Scow Dunham takes posts from Bailey’s Harbor to Chicago at 4c. The schooner J. B. Merrill was chartered for 43,000 bushels of wheat from Milwau- kee to Buffalo on p. t. Shippers were offer- ing 4c on wheat to Buffalo, and the agents were asking 4)4c. : Grain freights at Chicago: were very stiff on Saturday, carriers insisting on an ad- vance over the prevailing rates of the last two or three weeks—3}4 cents a bushel on wheat and 3 cents on corn to Lake Erie ports—shippers treely offering the above quotations and carriers asking 4c a bushel on wheat and 33f¢ on corn. Ouly one charter was reported, the schooner George for 50,- 000 bushels of wheat to Buffalo. Everything points towards an advance in grain freights, Grain is rapidly accumulating in the ele- vators, Winter storage expires on the 15th inst., and nearly all the stocks in stocks in store are being carried for May delivery, and with nearly all the available tonnage already loaded there wi'l be a searcity of vessel room in the first part of May which can have no other effect than to cause an ad- vance in carrying rates. As it is, the trans- portation line steamers, will be the ones that will reap the benetit of the advance, as nearly every sail vessel is already chartered and loaded at rates ranging from four to three cents a bushel to Lake Erie ports, VESSEL SALES. The schooner Chris Grover has been sold to Peter Peterson by Elizabeth Oellrich for $1,050. John Darison sold the small new schoon- er Laura Johnson to Annie Johnson. Con- sideration, $500. ‘he Laura measures 32 tons, One-twentieth of the schooner Amoskeag was sold by J. B. Swenson to B. J. Berent- son. Convideration, $1. Schooner Maine, Jamuel Simeon Christopher 3g, $937.50. Swenson to Ilans Johnson sold to. Andrew Peterson | half of the scow R. HH. Becker for $1,050, and C. Bresmeister sold to F. Richert the scow Milton for $1,500. APPOINTMENTS FOR 1883, Captain Staler, who sailed the Albion for several years past, it is reported, will com. mand the tug Active, of Kingston, during the coming suminer, Captain Nat MeCrimmon is to sail the schooner ‘I'wo Brothers from Port Hope this season. He is reported to have purchased # quarter interest in the schooner. Captain MeCrimmon sailed the Jura’ last fall and previous to that time the schooner Delaware. The following officer’s -will take charge of the steambarge Garden City the present sea- son: Alva Shaver, Captain; Henry Dennes, mate; L. Bowen, engineer, the KE, P. Fish. Assignments have been completed for the ofticers of the “M” line for the coming sea- son xs follows: Steambarge C. H. Green will be commanded by Captain Johnson; she will have three consorts: Rosa Sonstaith, Captain Charles Sonsmith; Nellie Mason, Captain Mattison; Mattie C. Bell, Captain Johnson, Steambarge Chamberlain, Captain Robinson: barges A. T. Bliss, Captain Van Norman ‘A. Cahoon, Captain Edgar; Lda Corning, Captain Rogers; G. W. Waverly, Captain Brown, the four barges named comprising the tow of the Chamberlain, The barges Fostoria, Captain Hoochgraft, and Mary Birekhead Captain Blyben, belong to the same line but will ran independently, The following list of tus with their offi- cers, will be fuund convenient for reference: Tom Maythem, Captain Fred Barclay ; Witch, Captain Fred King, O. W. Cheeney, Captain George King; G. B. Dickson, C, Vosburg ; ‘I’. M. Moore, Captain L. Ling; E. Haight, Captain H. Delzel; C. M. Farrar, Captain J. Wilson; Handy Boy, F. Woolson ; Annie Moiles, Captain H. North; 5S. Ss. Rumage, Captain J. Rafferty; P.C. Smith, Captain A. Forest; Ella M. Smith, Captain Dolsen; C. ©. McDonald, Captain M. A. Chambers; W. A. Avery, Captain F. Strat- ton; Col. J. Camp, Captain Lee Deland; L. Westover, Captain H. Pierce; Musiv, Cap- tain Sy Millard; E. Eddy, Captain R. Jack- son; Challenge, Captain Wm. Davidson; C. Lee, Captain Wm. Armstrong: E. M. Peck, Captain Geo. Smith; B. Weideaan, Captain John Dayveney; A. W: Wright, Captain James Bell; E. ‘I. Carrington, Captain Frank King; Sea Gull, ; Emerald, Captain B. Moiles; Maud S., 3 Cora B., Captain M. Deland; Park, PROPOSED WEATHER SIGNALS. A copy of “Penrod’s Universal Code of Weather Signals’’ has been received. It is the result of more than twelve years’ ex- perience in the employ of the United States Signal Service. By this system (a simple combination by means of numbers, bells, whistles, flags, balls, lights disks, or rockets) weather signals can be made. At small ex- pense the people in small towns and villages can, through this code, receive notice when warm or cold waves are approaching, and destructive storms are probable. In like manner the signals may be carried for the the benefit of the public on steambuate, rail- ways, and stage coaches. The code is as follows: THE CODE. SIGNALS. 78é 5 aa Flags, balls, lights, TRANSLATION ase disks, or rockets. | MEANING OF SIGNALS. A 2| White. Clear or fair weather. 3} Red. Stormy weather. Bh Cloudy weather. Cold wave approaching. High off-shore winds. Warm wave approaching Clearing weather. 33| Red, red. Cloudy and threatening. Ked, blue. ‘Thunderstorms, Light frost. ue. White, white. White, red. 24| White, blue. 32|Red, white, 42| Blue, white. fi rn 43] Blue, red. Light rain. 44|Biue, blue. _, |Heavy rain. 222| White. white, white. Killing frost. 223| White, white, red |Light snow. 224 White, white, blue. |Heavy snow. 932] White, red, white. Norther coming. 233| White, red, red. Hazy or foggy. 234] White, red, blue. Rapid rise in river. 249| White, blue, white. |Dangerous floods. 243| White blue, red. Hard ireezing. 244| White, biue, blue. General thaw, 329| Red, white, white. Uccasional rain. 93| Red, white red. Rain areas. 5 a Red. white, blue. Possibly hght rain. 3 Tornadoes, 332| Red, red, white. 333| Ked, red, red. 334! Red, rou ae ue, white. 342/ ev blue, red. Clearing decidedly colder 344| Red, blue, biue. Threateng and rainy. 422|Blue, white, white. !Cloudy and tbreatening Hurricane or cyclone. Clear and warmer. Clear and coluer. FOR LOCAL USE. This code is intended for local use. Gen- eral weather indications to be signalized are to be taken from the regular signal service reports, which are displayed in postoffices, railroad stations, telegraph offices, and pub- lished in nearly every daily newspaper in this country. j Asa large class of people interested in weather predictions, by the very nature of their calling cannot visit these places nor obtain a newspaper, this simple code of sig- nals has been compiled tor their use. ‘The numbers used in this code are 2, 3, 4, and ean be displayed on the outside of steam cars, stage coaches and river steamboats ; also ean be signalized by the firing of cannon, tolling of bell, or blowing of whistle. On fiag poles, colored flags, white, red, blue, can be used for signalizing in daytime. At night colored lights may be substituted. Flags or lights to be in all cases read downwards. . Disks offer another medium for signalizing. Rockets can also be used. By this code should a passing train , dis- play the numbers ‘2 2,” it would signify that “a cola wave is approaching.” Ifa designated beil should toll “4 and 3? “light rain” is probable. If a passing steamboat should have up ©2 4 2,” ‘dangerous floods’’ would be the translation, or if the steam- boat used flags and they read “white, white, white,”’ “killing frost” 1s indicated. ROOK NOTICE. The May Atlantic contains the remarkable excellence attained by the previous number tor this year. ‘'hose who have read Mr, Howells’s delightful story, ‘heir Wedding Journey,” will read with peculay zeal his charming paper, ‘Niagara Revisited, ‘Twelve Years after their Wedding Journey.” Dr. Holmes contributes « three page poem, and one of the best he has ever written, ‘The Rain and the Fine Weathev’ is a capital out- door essay by Edith M. ‘Thomas. Other poems, essays, reviews of important new books, and three bright, short essays in the Contributors’ Club concluding a very in- teresting number of the Atlantic. Harper’s Magazine for May is an exceed- ingly interesting and beautifully illustrated number. ‘The opening article is a striking and novel presentation of the salient fea- tures of San Francisco, by W. H. Bishop, effectively illustrated. NUMBERING VESSELS. Collectors Spalding yesterday received the following from the ‘Treasury Department at-Washington. It applies to all lake craft: The following regulations in regard to the assignment of official numbers and. signal letters to merchant vessels of the United States, based upon section 4,177 of the Revised Statutes, are published for the guidance of customs officers, and will supersede all prior regulations. Attention is called to the following pro- visions ot law bearing upon the subject: Section 4,177 Revised Statutes: ‘The Secretary ot the ‘Treasury shall have power, under such regulations as he shall prescribe, to establish and provide a system of number- ing vessels so registered, enroled, and licensed, and each vessel so numbered. shall have her official number deeply carved or otherwise permanently marked on her main beam, and if at any time she shall cease to be so marked, such a vessel shall be no longer recognized asa vessel of the United States.’” Under the foregoing requirements of law all documented vessels must be provided . with official numbers. In addition to the official numbers to vessels other than yachts, signal letters will be assighed to sea-going vessels of 100 tons or over, and to sea-going steam vessels of 500 tons or over. Also to sea-going yachts signal letters will be as- signed to sailing yachts of thirty tons or over, and to steam yachts of sixty tons or over. ‘The signal letters need not be carved on the mainbeam. ‘The natne, tonnage of- ficial number, and signal letters of a vessel must, however, appear in all documents is- sued to her. Application (general catalogue, form 505):for numbers and letters must be made to the Collector or chief customs of- ficers of the port where the vessel may be. who will forward such application the Chief of the Bureau of Statistics. he official number awarded to a vessel must be marked on her mainbeam, at the eapense of the owner or master, in Arabie numerals, at least three inches in height. If the main- beam is of wood, it must be carved or branded in figures not less than three- eighths, nor more than one-half inch in depth. If the mainbeam is of iron or other metal, it must, if the beam is black, be marked in white oil paint, and in black oil paint if the beam is of any other color. The mainbeam of vessels plying upon the western rivers is considered to be the beam under the after side of the starboard forward hatch; and of other vessels it is considered to be the roe under the foreward side of the main atch. The number must, when practicable, be marked after the tonnage mark, thus: ‘Tonnage Mark. Official Number. 955.13 No 2,055, Whenever application is made for the is- suance of marine documents to anew ves- sel an application foran official number must be made at the same time or prior thereto. Before delivering such documents the collector or principal customs ofticer must have evidence herein after prescribed that the number nas been properly marked upon the mainbeam of the vessel and he must also, as soon as may be practicable certainly to the Chief of the Bureau of Statutes that it isso marked. Whenever ap- plication is made for a renewal of marine papers for a vessel which has already been documented, but not numbered, or which, it not properly marked, the custom officer will require that the official number shall be marked thereon before the delivery of the new documents. The certificate of an in- spector or other customs officer (generul catalogue, form 897,) shall at points where an inspector or other officer of the customs is located, be required by the collector as evidence that the official number has been properly marked upon the vessel’s main- beam; but in cases where it would be very inconvenient or expensive for an officer of the customs to make the examinations neces- sary for such certificate, the affidavit. of the owners or master that his vessel has been properly marked shall be taken as evidence in lieu of such certificate. but as soon as the vessel shall have arrived at a place within the vessel’s home district, where the in- spection certificate of a customs officer can be procured, such certificate must be re- quired by the collector of the district. H. F. Frencw, Acting Secretary. *