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THE MARINE RECORD. 5 the boat’s model in Detroit and then taken to pieces and shipped here, where it was set up again and calked and placed under the poat on Saturday evening last. On Sunday morning two siphons, worked from the boat’s boiler, were set at work and in two hours the box was dry and the whole job is now completed ina most creditable manner, The box fitted the hull as perfectly as it could have done had she been in drydock. ‘The captain superintending this work is Mr. Parker, the same man who. put the same kind of a box under the Great Eastern in New York a few years since. Your correspondent has just interviewed aman that crossed from Beaver Island to Point Patterson, head of Lake Michigan, on Thursday last. He reports no water in sight trom Beaver Island toward the Manitous, or trom Point Patterson. ‘I'he ice is very heavy in the Straite. He does not think steamers can get through before April 15th with the most favorable weather. Should we have any cold weather the Straits will not open before the 20th or 26th. "Tt thought the Lawrence can not get far- ther north than Frankfort, certainly not as far a3 Petoskey or Cross Village, for some days yet. ; : MANITOWOC, Since the close of navigation Rand & Burger have had the following schooners in dock for repairs, all.of them having been ashore last fall:, “he schooner Emeline R. Neilson had bottom planked, new bulwarks rail planksheer and caulked throughout, at an expense of $600. ‘he schooner L. M. Collins had new keel, bottom planked, stanchions, bulwarks, new cecks. ‘The schooner J. I. Case had new keel and keel- sons, center-board box, bottom planking, six strakes of plank on upper sides, new stern, Gecks, arches, and treenailed and caulked all over, at an expense of $20,000. They have the propeller Champlain now in dock getting a thorough rebuild, new trames, plank, and ceiling forward and aft, new arches, stanchions, bulwarks, and caulked, atan estimated expense ot $10,000. After the Champlain goes out they intend placing the schooner C. H. Burton in dock. She went ashore on Washington Island one year ago last October. It is impossible to say at present what it will cost, but probably in the neighborhood of $12,000. They are also laying the keel for a schooner of the follow- ing dimensions: 134 feet keel, 2016 teet beam, and 10 feet hold in shoalest place. She is to be used in the lumber trade. The Goodrich ‘Transportation Company are giving their boats a thorough overhaul- ; ing, to wit, the Menominee, Chicago, Mus- kegon, Corona, and Sheboygan. The steambarge Rube Richards is having a new deck and other repairs done by own- ers, and last, though not least, Captain Bundy is building another gospel ship, which, from her looks, is going to sweep everything before her. TOLEDO. About 9 o’cloek on the 24th M. ‘I’. Huntly, an old lake captain and well known all over the lakes, was badly injured in his effort to save a lay who was crossing the river in the terry. ne of the floor beams of the temporary bridge knocked him down, and under its weight he was badly crushed. He was taken to his residence at once and medi- cal aid summoned. ‘Ihe physicians labored with him an hour ot more before he was re- stored to consciousness. .What makes the affair peculiarly distressing at this time is the fact thac the Cuaptain’s son lies dead in the house, and Mrs. Huntley had a hip broken about a year ago and is hardly able to move about. Many kind friends are doing what they can to make the tamily comfort- able and render the burden of their many (rials, which in this case have not come singly, as light as possible. SHEBOYGAN. There 1s lots of water on the ice in the Straits and the lookout for a speedy break-up is more cheerful, but as yet little impression is notiecable. A streak of water can be seen from here on Lake Huron, ‘The Algomah will break a passage across the Straits to Mackinaw City. VERMILLION. Special to the Marine Record. J.C. Gilchrist & Co. are doing considera- ble repairs on the schooner 8. Hl, Foster, comprising some new stanchions, part new rall, new planksheer and a new jibboom. ‘They are having the schooner P.S. Marsh reealked ftom the water line up, and the boiler of the tug Relief is undergoing repaire, Captains Edson and Nicholls are busy fit- itng out their fish boats, ‘The tailors’ farewell dance came oft Tues- day night, and was a great success. Mr. Olmsted, of the Conneaut, who is largely interested in oil works In eastern Ohio and Pennsylvania, has leased land here and is about to put down an oil well. STURGEON Bay. About seven o’clock last ‘Thursday morn- ing fire was discovered in the interior of the tug Spear, lying near the foot of St. John street. An alarm was given, but before the steamer errived the blaze was extinguished by the copious application of water by per- sons who had hastened to the ‘scene. ‘The fire started from a stovepipe which had he- come disconnected where it passed through the roof of the upper works, ‘The damage was principally done by an attempt to cut a hole through the house ; otherwise the injury could have been repaired for less than two dollars. ’ The Depere came as far north as Lily Bay pler on Friday, and after landing a quantity of freight for the merchants of this city and the northern part of the country left for the south again. : » The ice on Green’ Bay is about two feet thick at this writing, while two years azo considerable open water was to be seen at this date. Captain Alex. Laurie has'made consider- able progress in his preparations for the re- pair of his scow, the W. B. Shattuck. The hull is to be raised six inches, and an entirely new deck laid. Work on Hagan & English’s new steam- barge, which the firm is building at Green Bay to replace the Minnie, is progressing at a satisfactory rate the frames being all in place and planking pretty well under way The dimensions of the craft is 180 feet long. 30 feet beam and 9 feet depth of hold. ‘wo engines 18x20 inches are to supply the places, ‘he Hilton .was only about two hundred feet fiom the beach and Captain Richardson thought it was about time to do something to prevent her:from going ashore altogether, At the Milwaukee shipyard a new ceiling or floor hus been given the schooner Julia ‘Willard, which will receive other repaire in the spring. A partial 1edecking is being given the schooner Amazon and three hatches are be- ing put in. The steambarge Ballentine is being given a general overhauling, as is alse the schooner Porter. On the steambarge Nahant the raile are be- ing repaired, the pilot being shifted forward and the wale strakes taken off. ‘he deck of the steambarge G. C. Mark- ham is being recalked. BUFFALO. Special to the Marine Record. Captain Gus Griffin well known in ma- rine circles, died at Buftalo on ‘Tuesday. The captain was an experienced navigator and also served with distinction in the army during the late war. Hosts of friends will learn of his death with sincere sorrow. A conference of the representatives of lake marine insurance companies, in session atthe office of Smith & Davis, came to a harmonious conclusion. The object was to fix hull rates for the season which opens on April first. Considerable discus sion was had, the tenor of it being in favor of much higher rates than prevailed during the demoralization of last year. The ques- tion of a tarift was referred to a committee consisting of ‘Il. H. White and 'T. G. Crosby of Chicago, and O.'T. Flint and E. B. Smith of Buffalo. ‘Ihe tariff reported by this com- mittee was finally unanimously adopted. It is graduated on steam. and sail vessels, ac- cording to their class and valuation. A low priced vessel is made to pay a higher rate than a high priced. one of the same class. This was done, the underwriters say, be- cause it costs abont as much to release a motive power, while the boiler formerly in the propeller Favorite has been secured for the new craft. It is expected that the boat will have a carrying capacity for about 150 cords of wood in the hold alone, which will make her the largest carrier on Green Bay. Mark Holt left for Manitowoc Wednesday morning to enter on the discharge cf his duties as engineer of tug Gregory. Captain Burnham will have command of this fine craft again during the coming season. MILWAUKEE, . Wolf & Davidson are making repairs at the present time to the following vessels: Schooner Reed Case is receiving a through overhauling, including new rails, planksheer and outside plank where necessary, new windlass, new stanchions where necessary, new bulwarks, recaulking, and other repairs, estimated at a cost of $1,800. Schooner Granger, new jibboom and other repairs, $200. Schooner Lake Forest is receiving repairs, consisting principally of ertire new stern, new knight heads, part new rails, planksheer stringers, timberheads, stan- chions,: etc., where necessary; estimated cost, $2,000. Steambarge Colin Campbell, general repairs; estimated cost, $400. The I. O. I’. Co’s fleet at this port are being over- hauled and calked. Schooner City of ‘Toledo, new mainmast and other repairs. Schooner H. M. Scove is being thoroughly repaired, receiving an entire new stern and other re- pairs where deemed neceseury. {n addition to the foregoing Wolf & David- gon have made minor repaira toa nuinber of vessels not mentioned, and have in prospect a considerable amount ot work which will shortly be commenced. The steamer Michigan will be docked to receive new brasses on her return from Grand Haven. This firm has just completed a new yacht for S. H. Seamang, of this city, twenty-five feet long and nine feet beam. .Mr. Seamans will take the yacht to Oconomowoc for his own use. They are also building a yacht for the Joys Brothers, of Milwaukee, thirty feet long and ten feet beam. ‘These yachts are pronounced by all to be models of beauty and excellence in line and construction, At last reports the steambarge Hilton was still fast in the ice off Two Creeks, | Friday a submarine diver left for Milwaukee | with a battery and cartridges to blow up the small and low priced vessel which has stranded as one of Jarge capacity and high value, and in the former case there is ruch less of cargo and hull to contribute to the expense ot wrecking. The lowest rate made is on Al vessels valied at $50,000 and over, which is +415 per cent. On sail vessels Walter Ross, of Port-Arthur, Can, Her cuptaln, engineers and firemen are here get- ting her ready for sea, The tug. Ganges has been sold to parties in St. Joseph, where she wjll be used on the canal between St. Joe and Benton barbor. There is arumored sale of the river steam er Alice Purdy to Escanaba parties, but can- not trace it positively, Gilman’s tug was launched at 4 o’clock on the 22d. Martel had a gang of men cut- ting ice all day, some of which was nearly two feet thick, ‘he boxt is made of the best material, the plank being from thirty five to forty-four feet in length. John Priest did the iron work, and has another improve- ment for fastening the iron plates to the stern. Dimensions: Length, 80 teet; beam, 17} feet; depth of hold, 93g feet. ‘This new candidate for honors in Chicago will be known as the John Gordon. George Phelps, of Saugatuck, for the past two seasons mate of the Anchor line propel- ler Delaware, has accepted the command of the steambarge Emma E. Thompson, Cap- tain F, Sears, of the schooner White Cloud, goes with him as mate. The Sangatuck fleet will be commanded by the following gentlemen: Steamer Douglass, Captain D. Cummings; steamer A. B, Taylor, Captain R. I’. Rogers; steam- er A. R. Colborn, Captain R. Aines; steam- er G. P. Heath, Captain O. Parks; steamer C. W. Moore, Captain Wm. Turnbull. DULUTH. The Board of Underwriters held a short session Monday afternoon, during which there was considerable discussion the elevator rates on grain, resulting in the board doing away with the six-month rate and placing everything on the annual rate ‘basis. Ata late meeting of the tug owners of Duluth an agreement was made to adopt uni- form wages. to be paid to tug-engineers, fire- men and deck hands. It is learned that en- gineers will be paid $75 per month, instead of $90 which was paid last season. Wages of firemen and deck hands were also reduced, but we have not learned how much. Because captains have been very generally hired for the coming season for some time, the ques- tion of wages to be paid them was not con- sidered. It was agreed, also, that raftsmen will be paid $26 per month and board; and that lumber pilers and other yard men about classed Al and worth $50,000 and over the rate is 5 percent. The entire range on Al vessels is trom 414 to 6 per cent.; on A2, from 6 to 8 per cent.; on. Bl, from 7% to-9 percent. As stated, all of the agents sub- scribed to this tariff, and an agreement was made that no rate should be cut without the unanimous consent of the companies rep- resented at this meeting. ‘This means that the low rates and serious demoralization of last year shall not. enter into this season’s business. The rates madeseem to be only fair for the risks assumed, anc it is to be hoped that the harmonious feeling which characterized the conference will continue to the season’send. It was decided to lower the discount on total loss and general aver- age from 20 to 10 per cent., and on total logs from 40 to 80 per cent. An executive com- mittee was appointed, comprising Messrs. Crosby, White, Flint and Smith. There will be no general hull or cargo pool, but it is probable that some of the companies may pool their business, especially such as are represented by one firm. SAUGATUCK. The new propeller A. B. Taylor is about ready for business. She is 110 feet long, 19 feet beam, and 8 feet depth of hold. She has a double deck and accommodations for thirty passengers. She is provided witha 6x10 steel boiler, and a 16x20 engine of the Montague Iron Company’s works, and a Pierson wheel 6 feet 6 inches. ‘The landing places will be at O’Connor, Ind., and Law- ler’s dock, near Rush street bridge, Chicago. Caytain R. LL. Rogers, formerly of the steamer J. 8. Seaverns, who is half owner of the Taylor will command the boat. She will ply between Saugatuck, Holland, and Chicago. She is an independent boat, hav- ing no connection with the old line. . Work on the new steamer for Messrs. Brittain, Parks, and Reid, Jr., has begun. | by Last | She will be 110 feet long, 22 feet beam, and | placed at 3.000 tons of iron ore; 100,000 bush- 8 feet deep in the hold. [t is the intention of her owners to get ready for Dusiness by ice, which now surrounds the boat, and} which is sald to be twelve feet thick in some | July Ist. James Eliott will build her. The steamer J, S. Seavern has been sold to the saw mills will be paid $1.50 per day, out of which they must board themselves. BAY CITY. Special to the Marine Record. Retering toa paragraph in your Detroit correspondence in regard to the monster be- ing built by James Davidson, permit me to add the following. The steamship’8 upper works will resemble those of the Hope. ‘The pilot house and officers’ quarters will be for- ward; the engineers’ apartments, mess room, ete., aft. She will carry three spars, will be wire riggid with steel lifts, ete. Her windlass will be of the American Windlass Company’s" manufacture, or what is known as the Provi- dence windlass, the same as is used by ocean steainships. All capstans will be worked by steam. ‘The anchors are of the Boston patent make, each weighing about 3.000 pounds. ‘The machinery will be a duplicate of that in the steamships Bay City, Siberia and Hope, only atrifle larger, being a fore-and aft compound. The high pressure cylinder will be 30 inch bore by 45 inch stroke; low pressure 54 inch bore with same stroke.- ‘l'hese dimensions are three inches more bore and four inches more stroke than the Hope’s and make the engine the largest on fresh water. It is now being made by the King Iron Works Company, of Buffalo. The new craft will have two Otis steel boilers, eight feet shell and seventeen feet long, which are also being builtin Buf- falo, by Riter Bros. ‘The engine and boilers will be brought here and placed in the boat after launching. The shaft will be eleven in- ches in diameter, and the wheel twelve and one-half feet, with a pitch or lead of four- teen feet. The new boat is being built of white oak, and 1,500,000 feet will be used in her con- struction. Of pine 309,000 feet will be con- sumed for decks and eabins, Captain David- son expects to have her ready for launching August 1. THler carrying capacity is Yee els of corn, or 2,000,000 feet of lumber. Ter cost will be in the neighborhood ot $150,000, She will be used in the iron ore, coal, and grain trade.