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4 THE MARINE RECORD. Ghe Marine Record, ESTABLISHED IN 1878, , Entered according to the laws of the United States at the Post Office at Cleveland as second-class matter. Published weekly at No. 2 South Water street, Cleveland, Ohio. A. A. POMEROY, Editor and Proprietor, BRANCH OFFICE, 244 SOUTH WATER STREET, CHICAGO. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: One year, postage paid...... Six months, postage paid Invariably in advauces The MARINE RECORD can bo found for sale at the following places: No. 2 South Water street, Cleveland. Joseph Gray, No. 284 South Water street, Chfcago. D. MeMasters & Co., Sarnia, Ontario George Pres'on, Escanaba, Michigan. Wm. Godley, Escanaba, Michigan. J. E. Somerville, Manistee, Michigan. ADVERTISING RATES. Ten cents per line, nonpareil measurement, or $1.20 per inch, each insertion; tour weeks $4.00; with a libera discount on orders amounting to $40,00 or over. Articles, letters and queries on all subjects are solici- ted. \ 8@-The Editor assumes no responsibility for the opinions of correspondents. ‘ To insure notice, contributors must give name and -address, and write on one side of the paper only. THE MARINE RECORD has an Agentin every port on the Lakes and Rivers, and will consequently circu- late more or less in all of them. Asa medium for ‘advertising it has no superior, as it circulates among & class of people that can be reached in no other way.. EDITORIAL NOTES. ‘ TH steamship Onoko chartered Septem- ber 29th, Chicago to Buffalo, 100,000 bushels of grain, wheat and corn, She continues to inerease her figures. ‘Tue first ship of Mr. Gorringe’s American Steamship Company, will be launched: from the Philadelphia. yard on Saturday. ‘The ship is built of iron, is 1800 tons register, and will draw 22 feet when loaded. i The Chief Superintendent ot Works of the Panama Canal Company has submitted re- ports indicating that that canal will be com- pleted in 1888. Subscriptions will be opened on October 3rd for 600,000 obligations of 560 francs each at 285 francs. A PETITION is in circulation, addressed to the Honorable Senate and House ot -Repre- sentatives of the United States, praying for the making of Lac La Belle a permanent harbor of refuge. It is located on the south side of Keweenaw Point, near the eastern end and opening from Bete Grise Bay, Lake Superior, by canal with full thirteen feet of water. Red range lights are on the south pier, and vessels entering, keeping fifty feet north of the lighte, are in mid channel. On the 28th September, while being towed out of the river the schooner David Vance struck the abutment of the Adame viaduct, Chicago knocking a section of it sixty feet long off the pier to the ground below, a dis- tance of twenty-five feet. A number of per- sons and one or two horses went down with it, several being severely but none fatally hurt. One woman was thrown into the river but finally rescued. Captain Vance, Captain Kirby of the tug Shields and Captain McCarl of the tug Hood went betore Justice Foote to answer to the charge of criminal care- legsness. ‘The case was continued ten days, each giving bonds in $5,000. “Steamship owners will be glad to learn that at the coming session of Congress the ‘Treasury Department will favor any practic: able measure for facilitating entries of ves- sels for coaling purposes alone at points in collection districts remote from the port of entry. As the law is now bunker coal taken on board ot a vessel bound toreign is con- sidered as an export, and must be entered on the manifest at the place where the coal is taken. ‘This manifest must be made after the entry of the vessel, which must be done at a port of entry. The annoyance when the conling station is fifty ora hundred miles away from the port ot entry is evident, The advantages of having regulations that will permit this customs’ work to be done at the coaling stations are worth securing. ‘tion of the wall, THE COLORADO EXPLOSION. Scarcely a day passes that does not record a boiler explosion, On Friday the steamer J. 3. Robinson, lying ather dock in Albany, N. Y., exploded her boiler, sinking immedi- ately, and utterly ruining two or three craft. in her vicinity. In this instance the build- ings round about were greatly endangered. One piece of the boiler weighing about three tons crashed against a three story building about 400 feet away, and demolished a per: It no doubt gave land lub- bers a lively intimation of the power of steam for damage when not handled with sufficient care. Ita like intimation could be hurled high up against the houses of those dignitaries who are well paid for promoting efficient boiler inspection, it would waken them to a sense of their responsibility. The fine propeller Colorado, whose ma- chinery and boilers were supposed to have been in excellent condition, lies almost dis- mantled at Buffalo, on account of an explo- sion, the direct cause of which will probably never be known, but which is most certain to be found in carelessness, or lack of proper inspection. We can scarcely credit the state- ment of the fireman that. the engineer and his yreaser were drunk. ‘The boilers were made at the Shepard Iron Works, in Buffalo in 1867 and were extensively repaired ubout two years ago. ' ‘he fireman says that there was some trouble with the government valve of the starbcard boiler, and the explosion occurred while they were trying to remedy it, half an hour after leaving port, ‘The es- cape, with more or less serious wounds, of the-two men thus engaged, was indeed mi- ractulous. The huge boiler, weighing twenty- five tons was lifted from its bed, carrying away everything above, turned over, and plunged through the after deck, where its forward end struck the rudder head. . That only two lives were lostand only. eight or ten persons wounded, amid all this terrible work, was quite marvelous. For particulars concerning this disaster we refer our readers to another column of this issue. These ea- lamities are becoming altogether too com- mon, and our heedless way of using these destructive boilers is not calculated to lessen the number. Stringent regulations and their vigorous enforcement are the only means to put astop to the wholesale slaughter now going on, and among the first steps to be ta- ken is that for a better system of inspection. No boiler should be allowed to leave port without a thorough knowledge of its condi- tion being possessed by the inspectors. Iron is treacherous; and the practice of letting boilers go for months unexamined, is crimi- nal. We shall awa't the result of investiga- tion into the Colorada disaster with keen in- terest. GRAIN PRODUCTION. Some points of the report of E. L. Baker, United States Consul at Buenos Ayres, in- vite reflection. “Our agriculturists may not be aware of the fact that the Argentine Re- public is looking torward to a time when it will successfully compete. with the United States in furnishing food to the people of England and the European continent.”? The causes leading to this change in industry and production, with one exception, are not per- tinent to the question, but that one is sufti- cient to give color to Mr. Baker’s statement. For long years the pampas have been con- sidered only fit for grazing purposes, but it has been shown as a positive fact these im- mense tracts, including millions of acres are in every essential all that could be desired for the production of grain crops. ‘The amount at present produced ineludes a small surplus for exportation, but it is sure to be increased rapidly. The points stated by Mr. Baker are simple facts, and they teach us that ere long the Argentine Republic must be taken into account as a contestant in the food sup- ply ot Europe.> ‘Though of less importance, she takes her rank in the line with {ndia, Canada, Russia, and those countries which are known competitors in that trade. It is hard to tell what the future may develop. Certain indications, it is true, can be used as hypotheses, but anything further in this line partakes of the prophetic. With our rapid increase in population and the almost certain development ot idle territory, it would seem as though the Uuited States ought to hold its own against all of these competitors. Our land cannot be excelled, Itis ripe for the harvest. Our facilities for ing with these grain producers, where ex- tent of territory, improved machinery, labor and other things are so nearly equal, ship- ping facilities are an all-important consider- ation, As for us, our lake navigation hav- ing no considerable outlet to the sea, is but lightly interested. It is a fact, also that from various eanses the trans-atlantic carrying trade is in the hands of foreigners. NATIONAL BOARD OF STEAM NAV- IGATION NOTES. During the time of the meeting of the Na- tional Board of Steam Navigation, at the Metropolitan Hote] in New York, on the 24th, 25th and 26th of October, the delegates and those accompanying them will be trcat- ed to a night excursion down the bay, to see the various lighted aids to navigation which adorn the entrance to the harbor, ‘The first order of lights at the Highlands of Navisink, the various beacon range lights, the two light ships, the Pintsch lighted buoy on the wreck of the Nankin, the Foster automatic light buoy which will burn tweive months, at the wreck of the Scotland, the automatic whistling bnoy off the Bar, and: returning will hive a magnificent view of the Metrop- olis, lighted by its thousands of electric lights, and the Roebling East river bridge, brilliant as duy with its scores of electric lamps. It is on the programme also to invite B. Joy Jeffries, M. D., of Boston, the noted scientist in color-blindness and night signals, to deliver one of his intensely interesting lectures before the board, which will be pro- fusely illustrated by practical demonstra- tions of the power of properly manufactured colored lenses, to prevent collisions.at sea, and how to increase that power in side and mast head lights for all classes of vessels. Dr, Jeffries is the scientist demonstrator for the State of Massachusetts, and is a recog- nized authority the world over. Local steamboat associations, as well as in- dividual delegates, shauld send as early as possible to the secretary, C. H. Boyer, No. 90 Wall street, New York city, their names, and those of their friends whom they . know tat be present at tue annual meeting on the th, IRON MARKE'T REPORT. The Cleveland market has been quiet and prices about the same as those given in our last report. We quote: ’ CHARCOAL PIG No,-1 Lake Superior. No. 2-Lake Superior... 23 00@25 00 24 00@27 00 Reported by E. L. Harper & Co. Business continues moderately active. Pig iron stocks are light. The furnace yards are not burdened, and consumers generally have much smaller supplies on hand than usual at this season. Demand keeps about even pace with production. The general impression is that the bottom has been reached and that while the present low fig- ures may prevail awhjle, that the general industries of the country will warrant an We quote as improvement a little later. prices current as follows: FOUNDRY, Hanging Rock Charcoal No. 1 Hanging Rock Charcoal No. Strong Neutral Coke No.1 ‘ n +e No. American Scotch, No. 1... GREY F Neutral Cok -$17 50 to $18 Cold Short. tb 0" 3700 "4 carn W AD |ALLEABLE, Hanging Rock, strictly cold blast. $27 00 to 28 00 5 warm blast... Lake Superior ‘*Vulean” all grade Southern Car Wheel, strictly cold THE MOST SERIOUS LOSSES, The two most serious disasters resulting from the storms are those to the fine schooner ‘Typo, wheat laden, and the schooner W. H. Vanderbilt, with a cargo of iron ore. With some difficulty, the insurance on these two 24.00 * 2450 26 50 §* 2700 28.00 ‘ 29.00 craft and their cargoes was obtained The ‘lypo’s hull is covered as fol- lows: Mechanics and ‘Traders’, $5,000; Bos- ton Marine, 7,000; total hull insurance, $12,- 000. ‘The cargo of wheat was taken by the Continental for $24,000. The vessel measures 336 tons, rated A 2, and was valued by the owners at about $13,000. (In the Inland Lloyds’ register the valuation is placed at $11,000.) The Vanderbilt is insured for $15,000 in Crosby & Dimick’s agency, divided among the Continental, Thames and Mersey, Union and State, of Pennsylvania. ‘The cargo of iron ore was consigned to the. Lackawanna Railroad Company, and is uninsured. The Vanderbilt measured 520 tons. She was built In 1867, rebuilt in 1871, and repeatedly | repared since, 8,1. Watson, Esq., of Buftalo, is the owner, shipping should not be lacking. In compet- [Continued from Ist page.) ashore near same place; schooner H. P. Baldwin, ashore at Kelly’s Island, Lake Erie; tug A. W. Colton, sunk at the head of Detroit river, besides others of a lesser char- acter, For hardwood lumber from Charlevoix to Detroit, $3.75 freight is offered. Lumber freights from the Saginaw Valley and lake shore points remain steady with a slight ad- vance. Capt. D.S, Webster reports the schooner Benedict, cedar posts, from Little Pike Bay, Lake Huron, to Courtwright, on the river St. Clair, at 9c each. The propeller Lake Ontario was here on Saturday in quest of grain for Kingston, and it is stated, load- edon p.t. Grain freights here, although still up to last quotations, 3c to Buffalo, have a tendency to weaken, ‘The policy here is to charter vessels and hold them tor a speci- tied time, at the expiration of which, to ac- cept the best figures offered. It may be of interest to your readers to know that the first cargo of grain shipped on Lake Erie west of Cleveland, was by Sardis Burchard in 1832, from lower Sandusky, on board the: schooner John Richards, to Buffalo, which consisted of 2,500 bushels of wheat, the: treight on which was 16c a bushel. Wheat at this period was worth 50c per bushel. Staves remain as last quoted with no cargoes on hand. In shor, lake shipping at this port is abont as near its finale for the season: as can be and the stmosphere has a sulphur- ous odor. : The proposition of Captain Zealand to send over Niagara Falis the propeller Glen- ° finlas, recently damaged by fire, reminds me of three former precedents, In September, 1829, an’old condemned craft called the Mich- igan, 114 tons burden, was advertised early. in the season to be sent over the cataract. The event came off on advertised time, freighted with animals, such as an old Buf- falo, two or more foxes, two bears with 2 liberal supply of rats. She broke up before making the flnal descent, one of the bears reaching the shore before going over on the Canada side. . It came into the possession of the notorious Sam Patch, who, with Bruin, made: his final leap at Rochester, and was never more heard from. <A like event was advertised early in 1831 to send another old eraft called the Superior in September.of that year, but unlike her predecessor, she failed at the time to fill out the programme of the bill, by lodging on Luna Island and remaining there for a month afterwards when xhigh stage of water moved her on to her doom, Again, in July, 1849, the De- troit, a craft of remarkable historical reoord, was sent over. During the war of 1812 she took a part in Commodore Perry’s battle on Lake Erie, and with other captured vessels, was taken to Erie and sunk in Misery Bay, remaining there for many years. She was raised, as was also the Queen Charloite, and fitted out for service on the lakes, the former as a barkantine, the latter, a brig. The De- troit was finally condemned from lake ser- vice with the above result. She was desery- ing of a more honorable fate; there are, how- ever, numerous old hulks afloat which might be disposed of in that manner ere they be- come coffins, MT. CLEMENS, Special to the Marine Record. Captain Lewis Sharbaund is building a steambarge for Gilbert Lacroy, to be called the O. Chapten, with the following dimen- sions: Length of keel, 105 feet; breadth of beam, 23 feet; depth of hold, 7 feet. The keel is already laid, Her engine is to be 16x18 high pressure, with a boiler six foot shell and twelve feet long, made of 3¢ steel and to stand a pressure of 110 pounds. ‘The en- gine and boiler will probably be built at De- troit. She will probably go into the lumber trade in the spring, under command of her owner, Captain Gilbert Lacroy, with a care rying capacity of fifty thousand feet. She will probably cost somewhere in the neigh- borhood of $21,000. PORT COLBORNE, Captain Crawford, of the wrecked schopn- er Norway, states that he first got the gale of wind when oft Port Burwell. ‘The gale increased until he was, down near Long Point, when it moderated a little, but not enough to get under the Point, so he had to go on to Port Colborne. When he got about fifteen miles below the Point the wind went back to the southwest, and the wind and seas increased so much, and he had so much