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THE MARINE RECORD. —_—- --w—N7"#7-0—™T0—0c01V\1T..001:1. 2. 0 _— ———————— eee" greatly decreases the wind power, As, if the two motions were equal in speed, the wind could impart no power. The safety ship's sails, wind forward of the beam, are mainly in one plane, and the sails borrow wind, one from the other, and impart great ower. The principles that give this great wind power are given, from my pen, and jllustrated,in the Aquatic Mouthly for Marek, 1875. If this vessel was of the tonnage that you 4ndicate in your editorial, she would have in her main line of eails x plane 260 feet long by 75 feet hoist. If the wind and steam speed of the vessel were equal, say twenty miles an hour, and the course was at an angle against the wind of 45 degrees from its course, these sails would receive a force of wind equal, at least, to thirty miles an hour. ‘he points in this veseel fully “fill the pill” of economy. Space in this will not allow of details. Asan unsinkable ship, she also fills the bill pointed at in your article jn the 3lst of July number. Unainkable. Her displacement buoyancy, say of 6,000 tong, is all of it under her intact, and in cells jnclosed by both longitudinal and cross sec tion bulkheads Her above water buoyancy, also inclosed in tells, is greater than, her un- der water buoyancy. It will not be possible to sink her by natural causes, or by collis- ion. If her whole bottom was knecked off her above water buoyancy would sustain her. Collision could not reach her under water buoyancy. All objectives in her have ascientific origin, nothing hae been left to judgment or opinion. 1 have no desire in this to gain notoriety. My aim has been to have Congress appoint a board of scientists to in- vestigate the truth of this matter. By agi- tating it this may be brought about. % Yours truly, JosEPH W. Norcross. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS, Major Uharles J. Allen, of the Corps of Engineers, who has charge of the improve- ments of rivera and harbors in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Dakota, has made his annual report. Appended is a tabulated statement of work proposed, money at hand, and money naked for continuing the improve- ments during the fiscal year, 1885-86: > > 5 B z | € , 5 5 o o RIVERS AND HARBORS i S AND we “4 3 WORK TO BE-DONE. £, & = Fy ° ? St. Croix River, below Taylor} ; : Falls, removing obstructions ..... $9,838] $26,450 Chippewa River, Wis., ah Yellow anks, continuing work of pro- FOCUIONS iat, sscsascstascossacsosassansesesiny 785 3,000 Chippewa River, confining flow to) fs ONE CHANNEL «.....ss--ecessreeseensereess 16,097 25,000 Dam and lock at Meeker’s Island, Rein aneerearere eonsee ™ 25,000] ceseeseee Mississippi above St. Anthony’s U Falls, removing obstructions... 951 19,000 Lock and dam on Red River of| Sey the North, construction ........ ... 46,947|' 100,000 Red River of the North, dredg- < ne 12,137 10,000 St. Ant ’s . Falls, preserva-| fone e 10,386] 50,000 yoirs upon headwaters Mis- ippi and tributaries, con- uction of reservoirs to collect surplus water from_ precipita- tion, to be released to benefit MAVIZALION...... ce sscsesesesenegeeeseeeeee 166,632} 140,000 Surveys for above reservoirs, ex- AMINALIONS ........0eeeeegeee sesenees 50,000 Duluth Harbor, dredging . 54,570] 125,000 Superior Bay, Wis., dredging. A 49,023 50,000 Grand Marias Harbor, dredging... 12,716) 20,000 _ Colonel Poe, in charge of river and harber improvements in Michigan has also submitted his antiual report which is as follows: > > BE 8 ca] co} & & 5 5 RIVERS AND HARBORS re ‘ AND = ‘a WORK CONTEMPLATED. a g & : e $202,220) $500,000 250,000 Soret 150,000 5,000] 45,000 4,541 5,458 elOlesessaocasassotsaasseseasavssssnedooses 35 4,900 27,221 “aginaw River, deepening chan- DOL ecesscgicnees 51,606) 200,000 Harbor Refuge, Mich., dredging. 76,031 98,968 ce Harbor, Belle Sresrth 132,908 Rips aanes 25,000 200,113; 27,586 Referring to the Saginaw river improve- Ment Colonel Poe says: ‘I beg to invite ‘ttention to the necessity for legislation to Prevent injury to the channel by waste ma- terial thrown into the river by the lumber mills, and rejected from the ratts. ‘This Matter is so serious that prompt action must be taken, if we would avoid Laving to dupli- cate the work already done. The improvement of Sault Ste. Marie river Colonel Poe considers a National benefit. ‘The estimated cost of the work is $2,127,200. Of that sum $200,000 was appropriated in 1882, and $125,000 July 5, 1884. ‘The engi- neer says: “With appropriations so small in amount it can readily be seen many years must elapse betore the channel can be com- plored and inasmuch as the work done can e Of value only when the whole is finished it is respectfully submitted whether it would not be good policy to push the work faster than is possible with such small appropria- tions.” Lieutenant Colonel J. W, Barlow of the engineer corps, has forwarded the chief engi- neer his report for the fiscal year ending June 80, upon the work of improving the harbors of Lake Superior, east of Superior City, on Green Bay, and on the western shore of Luke Michigan north of Milwaukee. ‘The following is the tabular statement and the amount of money available for the work on the several harbors named this year, and the appropriations recommended for the fiscnl year of 1885—86: Pa > g | 8 s s aes Et et RIVERS AND HARBORS. ¥ B WOKK CONTEMP! ATED, 2 $ 3 o sg Ontonagon, extension of pieri j 144) 5, Marquette; extension of. br. WALT sess, seca ssrepsecccronanseneses ~ 12,167 68,000 Grand Marias, extension of piers.. 40,000} 200, Cedar River Harbor, Mich § exten-| sion of pier.. i 16,119) 40,000 Dlon sh plan 21} 80,000 sion of. pier, 10,921 Oconto harbor, . : provement... 15,195) 50,000 Pensaukee harbor, Wis., general improvemeat. 5,815 35,000 18,863|' 37,000 11,105) 20,000 15,092 25,000 18,875 50,000 tension and dredging... 12,846 50,000 Manitowoc harbor, Wis., pier ex- tension, dredging and sup r- 3 sirueture on sout pier, 16,889) 89,000 Sheboygan harbor, W - tension, 28,844 60,000 Port at extension ... 10,060! With referance to the improvement of the ‘harbor of retuge at Grund Marias, Mich., Colonel Barlow says: “Considering the safety of crews the value of vessels, and cargoes annually subjected to risk in naviga- tion on Lake Superior, the sum of $200,000 is asked for this harbor for the fisexl year end- ing June’ ‘30,°1886,that work may be vigorously prosecuted by pier extension, so ag to afford safe anchorage, and thus lessen the chances of casualty.” NOTICE TO MARINERS. Notice is hereby given that on and after August 15, 1884, a ten-inch steam whistle will be sounded at Sturgeon Bay canal pier- head light station during thick and foggy weather, giving blasts of five seconds’ dura tion, followed by intervals of twenty-five seconds, Muskegon, Mich., will hereafter be struck by machinery giving one blow at intervals of titteen seconds, By order of the Lighthouse Board. STEPHEN C. Rowan, Vice Admiral United States Navy, Chair- tnan, A charter was reported to have been made at 75c from Escanaba toa Lake Erie port. Shippers were offering but $1 from Mar- quette to Ohio ports.. ‘hese are the lowest rates on ore ever known. The schooner City of Green Bay was chartered for ore from Escanaba to a Lake Erie port at 8&0 cents, and the schooner F. A. Georger is said to have accepted a lower rate between the same ports. Lumber freights are demoral- ized. Charters of steam craft for lumber from Muskegon to this port are being made at 90 cents, and $1 is being paid to sail ves- sels. ‘These ave the lowest rates known in years. Captain James. Trowell, formerly com- mander of the steamship Milwaukee, which many years ugo plied between this port and Grand Haven, has been appointed harbor master, subject to confirmation by the coun- cil.. Captain ‘Trowell subsequently sailed boats of the Goodrich line. GREEN BAY. The sidewheel tug John Spry, belonging to the estate of the late F. B, Gardner, at Pensaukee, was sold to J. A. Counts, of Little Suamico; consideration, $500. TOLEDO. The independent tugs at Toledo were mak ing so much money the association has left the fleld. All tugs now go as you please. Notice is hereby given that the fog bell at. DETROIT, Special to the Marine Record. Aug 6—The destruction of property on the lakes during the month of July exceeds other corresponding months for many years past, the sum total being $248,142, an excess over the preceeding month of $119,842, and of July,last year,$107,217. 1 here were ninety- eight disasters, which is seven more than in June, and are distributed as follows: Lake Michigan, 42; Luke Huron, 10; Lake Su- perior, 4; Sault river, 4; St. Clair river, 7; Lake 8t. Clair, 2; Detroit river, 7; Lake Erie, 17, and Lake Ontario, 6. The nature of the casualties may be summarized as fol- lows: Disabled, $82,400; stranded, $80,600; heavy weather, $81,500; collisions, $78,842; fire, $17,300; capsizéd, $400; ashore, $500; | lightning, $300. Included in the sum total is the loss or damage to cargoes, amounting to $56,700. The number. of deaths from all causes was 31. Of these 25 were accidental, 2 from natural causes, 2 suicided, and 2 were murdered. It will be seen from the foré- going that Lake Michigan outnumbers all others in casualties, which may be’ attribu- ted to the greater number of vessels there employed, together with the numerous accl- dents occurring in and about Chicago. Yet in point of losses by fire, Lake Erie has from the first exceeded all others combined, which | reminds me that just forty-one years ago the tourth of this month one of the most de- structive of those calamities occurred on that; lake, off Silver creek, by the burning of the stermboat Erie, the loss of 225 lives anda valuation of property amounting to $300,000. Well, the steamship Alberta has arrived here again, and, I regret to add, under en- tirely different circumstances tha) on her first appearance early in the season, when so many thousands were delighted co step on board and inspect the magnificent ship. She now presents a saddened appearance, with scare, indentations and bruises horrible to lvok upon. But these things, in due course of time, must needs happen on these inland ponds, over which are scattered so many reefs and shoale, together with the frequent ‘visitation of dense fogs and terrible northers; it.mattera Lut little who is at the helm or who is in command. It is true, there are plenty of beacons, buoys, stakes, fog whia- tes, fog horns and entirely too many steam whiatles to the square inch than-the law should allow. Pray tell us of how much avail is a fog whistle or a fog horn during a dense fog when lights are unavailable, and with a contrary course ef the wind so liable to deceive and mislead the most skillful of lake navigators. In-the olden time we had none of these prerequisites, and, up to vom- paratively a late period, there were no charts to guide the mariner that he might escape destruction on some reef or shoal. A good compass and a knowledge of the lay of the Iand was sufficient to all intents and purposes, and I guarantee to say that in pro- portion to the number of vessels there were less accidents than are now occurring. But to use an old and not altogether hackneyed term, [ will return to my mutton. I do not wish to leave the Albertain so abrupta man- ner. She has been the cause of un unfortunate disaster, and the Osborne lies in the depths of Lake Superior, and also the bodies of four persons, one of whom is at least deserving of a monnment to his memory for the hero- ism displayed on that sad ovension. It has been stated that there are four possibilities under which an accident of this kind may occur and no blame attach on either hand. A steamer moving along ina fog with her speed abated and the usual alarm being sounded, comes in contact with another trom a misapprehension of sound, certainly ought to be considered as one of them, and from the statetnents thus far received, L do not consider there is blame on either hand, but simply unavoidable. [Tam unacquainted with either of the masters in the late collis- ion, and present my views from a disinter- ested stand point. he damugesto the Al- berta are estimated at $12,000 and the re- pairs are going on at the Detroit Drydock Company’s works. ‘There have been rumors of late, emanating from Lake Michigan, of reviving the lake and ocean trade by sending vessels to Europe with deals. ‘he season thus far bears a close comparison to1859 and few following years, when the traMe first originated, and with the results of the lessons therefrom, it ia hardly presumable it will again be ventured 5 ; upon, aud the reasons then are the same as now. There must be a free course frow the lakes to the Atlantic, .a sufficient depth of water for Jarge vessels and the removal of all tonnage dues. When this is accomplished it will be time enough to talk of sending vessels on European voyages. he schooners M. P. Barkalow, John Jewett, J.J. Hill and F. L, Jones arrived here on Sunday, simultaneously, with coal, but as all are consigned to the ono dock, there will be more or less delay until all are discharged. ‘There is, on the part of some of the wise- acres here, a faint hope of better timee not far distant. Bountiful crops are at hand, and such things, they say, must needs be. On the other hand, a shipper of long expe- rience yives it as his opinion that before Sep- tember has arrived wheat will move from Chicago to Butfalo at 1 cent per bushel. Of course time will determine which of the prophets are the most wise, meantime the fuint-hearted must whistle to keep their ‘courage up. : The wrecking steamer International, which left here two weeks since to raise the propeller Georgian, sunk at Peninsula Har- bor, Lake Superior, succeeded in getting her afloat on Saturday last, and she is now on her way here tor repairs, without assistance, The work was much aided by John Quinn, the. submarine explorer, who effected re- pairs so as to enable her to proceed on the way here. She was lifted by two large pon- toons, each capable of. raising 1,000 tone. Before returning.the-wrecker will raise the steambarge J. C. Severance, which lies sunk in ninety feet of water,near the mouth of the Michipicoten river. : Charters here possess but little interest. Wheat, Detroit to Buffalo, 2 cents; coal, from Black River, O., to Walkerville, oppo- site here, 35c per ton. ; Captain Stone, of your city, wasin this city on Saturday, on business matters. Another of the old veteran craft on the lakes passed up this (Tuesday) forenoon, which, at one period, was one of the finest barkentines afloat, but her attractions have long since disappeared and she now travels among the common heard, yclipt barges. Her name is the Sonora, built ‘at Sackett’s Harbor thirty years ago. 3 A gentleman long engaged inthe stave business informed me thata revolution is near at hand in the mode of shipment of that commodity, and instead of their deliv- ery at points for veasels, they will be taken hy cars from the place of manufacture to their destination, and a large percentage saved. J. W.H. AMHERSTBURG, George Gott, deputy collector at Amherst- burg, has been appointed collector of customs at that port, vice E. Anderson, deceased. This appointment gives satisfaction to the general public and the marine interests are delighted. Collector Gott was always a very obliging officer, and in the discharge of his duties endeavored to make it pleasant for those having business to transact with him, and always used good judgment when cir- cumstances demanded. Ne doubt Amherst- burg will become a popular port with the tug captains as well as with the vessel in- terests generally. KINGSTON, The Canadian yacht Norah won the honors in the regatta on the 4th, the Aileen and Garfield both outsailing the Verve, which did not get a place. The Iolanthe won in the second class and the Mabel in the third. Captain Sweet, of the J. F. Maynard, was the first man to run the route from Cape Vincent to Alexandria Bay, thirteen years ago. After the ‘I’. S. Faxton was taken to Oswego, Captain Sweet made arrangements with the U. & B. R. R., and has ainee run in connection with their trains. He is one of the oldest and best known pilota on the river, CHEBOYGAN, A part of the Canisteo’s machinery has been recovered and brought here. The Canisteo was sunk in collision with schoon- er George Murray several years ago near Waugoshance, SAUGATUCK, Special to the Marine Record. The new steam yacht built by Captain J. B. Martel for Captain Sam Moore, of Chi- cago, was launched on Monday last. Her dimensions have been previously given in the MARINE REcorp, w.