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THE MARINE RECORD. The Marine Record. Entered according tov the laws of the United States al the Post Office at Cleveland as second-class matter. Published weekly at No. 2 South Water street, Cleveland, Ohio. A. A. POMEROY, Editor and Proprictor, TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: One year, postage paid... Six months, postage paid Invariably in advance. The MARINE RECORD can be found for sale at the following places: No. 2 South Water street, Cleveland. Joseph Gray, No, 284 South Water street, Chicago. C. Rohmer, Michigan street, Buttalo, New York. D. McMasters & Co., Sarnia, Ontario. Wm. Godley, Escanaba, Michigan. J. E. Somerville, Manistee, Michigan. Articles, letters und queries on all subjects are solici- ted. w@-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. @ BRANCH OFFICE, 242 SOUTH WATER STREET, CHICAGO. ADVERTISING RATES. Ten cents per line, nonpareil measurement, or $1.20 per inch, each insertion; tour weeks $4.00; with a liberal discount on orders amounting to $40.00 or over. — A proposirion is under consideration in the engineer’s office at- Washington to blast out Whale’s Back rock in Green Bay. “THe lighthouse board has finally decided to erect a permanent light of the first order on the west end of the Chicago breakwater. An experiment for using a compound of water and alcohol as fuel on the tug Mattie Sargeant at Boston, Friday, resulting in a conflagation,. damaging the boat $15,000, which the experimenters must pay. Every Senator and Representative in Con gress has received « copy of the protest of the iron and steel manufacturers and ore producers against the Morrison tariff bill. The protest is signed by representative firms of twenty-one states. ‘Tuer Greely relief expedition, which will sail in April or Mpy, will consist of three vessels under the general Command of Cap- tain Schley, and will be fully manned pro- visioned, and equipped for a voyage of at least two yeurs. In the Canadian parliament on the 29th of February the Finance Minister announced that, among other changes in the tariff bill, sheets, plates, angles and knees for iron or composite ships or vessels will be placed on the tree list. : THROUGH the courtesy of Secretary James H. Harris, we have received a copy of the proceedings of the ninth annual con- vention of the National Marine Engineers Beneficial Association. It is a comprehensive work and_-reflects much credit on the worthy secretary. ‘Tne naval bill, which passed the Senate on February 29, authorizes the President to construct seven steel vessels for the navy, consisting of one cruiser of 4,500 tons dis- placement, one cruiser of 3,000 tons, one dispatch vessel of 1,500 tons two heavily armed gunboats of 1,500 tons each, one light gunboat of 750 tons, and one gun boat of 900 tons. I[t further authorized the construction of one steel ram, one cruis- ing torpedo, and two harbor torpedoes, Mr. R. A: Procrer, who is somewhat of a genius, thinks the keen sense of science may be put on guard over our safety when our natural senses fail to warn us of danger, In view of the recent collision of steamships with icebergs in crossing the Atlantic, he suggests the use of the sensitive heat measures of Edison or Langley for giving notice of the proximity of ice at nighit or in fogs. Itis said that one ot these instru- ments in the bow of a vessel would indicate a change of temperature with the iceberg a quarter of a mile or more away, and could be arranged so as to attract attention to the invisible danger by sounding a fog horn, 1 CHEAP WHEAT, “Tt is an ill wind that blows nobody good’’ } isan aphorism that works both ways. While | the cheapness of wheat may be cause for | congratulation among the poor consumers, there are others quite as directly concerned who may be differently affected by it. The farmers, these who raise wheat, the specu- lators, those who buy to egell again, and the shippers, those who handle it in any way, are all, by the raising or lowering of its price, compelled to do business on a differ- ent basis, It is with the latter class that we are concerned in discussing the probability of lower prices and cheaper ftreights. The fact that wheat rates toa large extent gov- ern all others makes it still more necessary that all navigators should take a careful view of the surroundings. ‘The commercial world is beginning to realize that the supplies trom India are likely to have a visible effect upon the chances of our overplus finding a mar. ket in England, ‘he exports from India in 1879 were 2,195,000 cwt. ; in 1880, 7,400,000, and in 1881, 15,500,000. ‘This is an enormous increase. . For the first nine months of last year the exports, moreover, were twice as large as in the corresponding periods of the two preceeding years, notwithstanding the enormous figures cited. Although official figures are wanted for the last three months, it is believed in. Chicago that India: has sent during the past six months 60,000,000 bush- els of wheat to the continent, and Australia has piled in a surplus of 30,000,000 more. Meantime the fall of prices has had the effect of checking the importations from this country. From the Pacific coast they have continued large but from those parts of the United States which .ship from Atlantic ports, the quantity sent abroad has been much smaller than usual so that our “visible supply”? is large. Heretofore we have beaten all competitors in European markets and itis quite reasonable to assume that the constant and seemingly never end- ing flow of wheat has produced an encour- aging state of the lake carrying trade. The sudden increase of exportation from India is due to the opening of railways’ in = that country connecting the wheat growing dis- triets with the seaboard, and the lesson finally learned by tke ocean carriers that the cereal makes a good freight through the Suez canal to England. India being a dependen- cy of Great Britain. that country will, of course, do all she can to favor her and de- velop her resources. Adding this tact to others, that India nas plenty of cheap labor anda greater amount of wheat Jand than this country, makes it seem weak folly to suppose that her experts will not continue to increase in years to come as they huve in years past. Chicago is getting considerably worked up over the matter. She has been gradually assuming the character of dictator of the world in setting prices in the wheat market. Her market was controlled almost exclusively by powerful rings owning im- mense amounts of capital and giving out prices with the authority of emperors. One dollar has been regarded as the pivo.al price of wheat upon which the wheels of com- merce have rotated in endless circles. It his been the safety mark, the guide for specula- tors and shippers to steer by. It is now re- ported that some of the oldest speculators begin to think that this order of things is pretty soon to be changed, some going so far lieve in protection when protection is a ben- efit tothe capital employed in running our industries and:to the men who perform the labor; but when it is not thus beneficial and free trace or a low tariff is demonstrated reasonably to be a benetit, we shall feel in duty bound to state such reasons ‘The ques- tion could have but little effect directly, but indirectly, as free trade ore might increase or diminish consumption, and as free trade might increase or retard ovean traffic the case would be different. We have said here- tofore that protection was inconsistent with the highest attainment in ocean carrying. It may be that itis also inconsistent with the increase of shipbuilding that would nat- urally result from low priced iron and steel. So fur as the question pertains to ocean car- rying, it is obviously the better part of pru- dence to put as many ships as possible into speedy competition with other nations. We want a foreign market for our surplus grain and cheap and numerous ships will do much toward finding one. THE MORRISON BILL. The eyes of the iron men are fixed with close attention upvun the Morrison bill for the revision of the tarif*. It is proposed by that measure to either lower the tariff on ore inaterially, or place it on the free list at once. If either should be done the effect would be disastrous to both producers and carriers of ore, as ‘t would prostrate busi- ness for a considerable length of time. The chances for the passage of the bill are, there- fore, watched with interest. It is said that Mr. Morrison has some reason to feel un- easy, not for lack of .support among the members of Congress, but because of the at titude of Mi. Randall, who, as chairman of the appropriations committee, has it in bis power to delay the tariff bill, and shows a disposition to use his influence in doing so. After three months of the. session have passed none of the appropriation bills have been disposed of except a minor West Point bill. All the more important ones are to come and they arein a stage of perplex, ing embryo. Mr. Randall can therefore very reasonably take the time of the House for the next three months in considering them, under the plea that they should be sent to the Senate in time to give that body a chance to send them back. The three months thus taken will bring the session down to the first of June, in the midst of the hot days, to the time'-of congressional conventions, when members will think more of being at home pulling wires tor re-election: than remaining in Washington discussing horizontal tariff réduction. With the lack of a quorum, of course nothing can be done. Mr. Morrison is doing what he can to forestall this plan, thus showing that he is at least conscious of its existence, but it is stated that his efforts have been discouragingly unsuccessful. OUTER BRACON LIGHT. I, P. Bumpus, U.S. Engineer, is at Char- lotte superintending the construction of -another beacon light to be placed on the ex- treme end of the new extension of the west pier. The lantern or top of the old upper lighthouse will be used on the new structure. ‘The new beacon will be about twenty-six: feet in height skeleton frame and bolted to the cribbing. Commenting on the above, the mochester Advertiser says that since the dis- continuance of the upper light, which also as to express the opinion that the pivotal price must come down to 75 cents, and that London will have to be telegraphed hereaf- ter betore the price of wheat can be fixed. We are not yet prepared to accept the ex- tremes of these Chicago views. Atthe same time, even with seventy-five cents some dis- tunce in the future, it is well enough to weigh the preceeding theories pretty thor. oughly in their possible effects upon the rates of transportation, — a = THE TARIFF QUESTION. We took occasion some time ago to express our intention of holding open views with re- gard tothe tariff measures now pending, and | their effect upon the interests with which the | Marine Recorp is identified. We do not be- lieve in tying our opinions toa stake. We live in a fast age, and one which is continu- ally growing faster. If men change with the time it is probable they are doing so now more rapidly than ever, and the wise are those who try to see both sides of a ques- tion and remain open to conviction. We be- answered the purpose of a coast light, navi- gators have had much difficulty in making the harbor on dark nights or in thick, foggy weather, as there were no lights which could be ranged by which to steer on entering the harbor. ‘This new beacon will supply the | necessary range light, but it will not begin to fill the place of the old upper light whieh stood on the high hill above the river, and was visible nearly twenty miles on the lake, and which was considered by navigators one of the most important coast lights on the lake, Any one who will look at a map of Lake Ontario will readily see that the Genesce harbor is situated in along deep indenture or bay, with Braddock’s Point on the extreme west, and Nine Mile, or “Lyons,” Point on the east. On account of the low position of the beacon lights, both the old and the one now being built, and their nearness to the water, they are visible but a short distance at sea, and not at all below Nine Mile Point, nor above Braddock’s Point. Vessels coming down the lake could formerly sce the big upper light and locate the harbor before Braddock’s Point wag passed, and could lay their course accord. ingly; now, however, vessels have no guide, and fearing to keep too close to land, are often so tar out that they run by the port, or are so far to leeward that they cannot make the harbor. At the harbor of Erie, Pa,,a similar change was made anc a large steam. boat went ashore and was lost there during astorm last fall, and tt was charged that it was solely on account of the abandoning of the upper light there that the disaster ocenrred. The citizens of Erie, vesselmen, and others along the lakes petitioned the lighthouse board to replace the light, but the political solons, who knew the needs of commerce better than the navigators them- selves, refused todoso. Finally, the Legis- lature of the State of Pennsylvania took up the inatter and passed a resolution which has been sent to Congress requesting the restoration of the upper light at Erie. Ves- sels and steamboatmen trading at this port have been unanimous, emphatic, and many of them profane, regarding the policy that dictated the abandoning of the upper light here. And in one case last fall, during one of the heavy, easterly gales, itcame very near being the cause of the loss of one of our finest lake schooners und nine lives. On account of being unable to pick up the beacon light until she was too far to lee- ward, she was compelled to run to Sacketts harbor, nearly the whole length of the Jake ina terrible sea; and one of her officers stated that if she had had twenty miles further to go she. would have foundered. There should be no political question in this matter and it is one that demands the atten- tion of the authorities. No reason or argu- ment was brought against majntaining the upper light saving economy, and the very fact of the officials now coustructing another beacon tor a range light, is ample evidence that they were wrong in discontinuing the old light which could be maintained with one beacon at no greater cost than that ot two beacons both on the pier and which are of not such benefit to commerce. LITERARY NOTICES. The March ATLANTIC continues Dr. Mitch- ell’s story, “In War Time,’? and Mr. Craw- ford’s story “A Roman Singer.’ These, though very unlike, are two of the best and most interesting stories that have appeared from American writers for a long time. Henrv A. Clapp contributes an admirably intelligent and discriminating article on Henry Irving, the famous English actor. ‘Mrs, E. D. B. Bianciardi, an American lady who has lived in Italy for many years, de- scribes “A Pisan Winter,”? which includes a story. Henry M. Lyman has an interesting paper on “Lhe Discovery of Peruvian Bark,”’ which, under the name of quinine, is so much used in medical practice. “The Jour- nal of a Hessian Baroness’? culls from the letters and journal of Baroness Von Reidesel many curious facts relating to Burgoyne’s campaign during the Revolution. “Drifting Down Lost Creek’’ ig a story of East ‘Ten- nessee life, by Charles Egbert Craddock, who knows that peculiar life eo intimately and describes it so well and so dramatically This story will be finished in the April num- ber. Other interesting articles are “Don John of Austria’? by Alexander Young; “The Sources of Early Israelitish History,” an excellent example of what is now known as the “higher criticism’ of the Bible, by Rev. Philip A. Wicksteed, a learned English clergyman; “The Fate of Mansfield Hum- phreys,” a continuation of Mr. R.G. White’s articles on “Mr. Washington Adams;” “Texts and Translations of Hafiz,”? by Prof. KE. P. Evans; two poems, reviews of books, and a bright Contributors’ Club. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston. Sr. NICHOLAS FOR Marcu.--Louisa M. Al- cott’s third “Spinning-wheel Story,” entitled “Eli’s Education,” is a leading feature in the March number of St. Nicholas, and paints a true picture of the struggles of a country lad to obtain an education in the early years of the present century. Mrs. A. D.'T. Whit- ney contributes a brightly written story, called “Girl-Noblese,” which is net without “boy interest,’ however, and which, while possessing its full share of incident and ad- venture, is a clever study of character as well, ‘Among the Mustangs,” is the title of an entertaining paper on the wild ponies of the plains, by Noah Brooks, author of “The Boy Emigrants,’? who gives much in- formation in regard to the origin, life, habit and fate of the mustang. “Blown Out to Sea,”’ by C. F. Holder, is a collection of an- ecdotes recounting, some of the eurious rest- ing places made use of by weary birds which