British Whig (Kingston, ON), Aug. 10, 1883

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PORT DALHOUSIE DOINGS.

The Muir Bros.' workmanship and timber are in good demand.

The owners of the prop. Alma Munro have decided to lengthen her this winter. They have already engaged the dock.

The str. Empress of India runs daily between this port and Toronto but does not appear to be doing a very remunerative trade.

The harbour tugs here pay $30 each per season for permission to tow through the canal. There is some talk of making them go through the old canal when running light. If so they will have to work one side of the locks themselves.

The tug Active burst her feed pump starting out from the piers on Monday last, necessitating a delay of probably 36 hours, as the engineer had to take the pump to St. Catharines for repairs. The Active's consorts started down the lake under full sail.

Since the prop. Cuba was docked on the 17th of May Muir Bros. have had out for repairs about forty different crafts, although the work was done at night in order to allow the men to keep at work on the Cuba, the dock being common to both.

Some very large crafts are going through the new canal. Many go through to Ogdensburg. The canal is not working to one third its capacity. Lock No. 2, on the old canal, is just completed, the props. Ocean and Persia having gone through it to St. Catharines for the first time this season. Vessels will now get through to Shickluna's dry dock.

The fine steamer Cuba, of the Montreal and Chicago line, is rapidly approaching completion and will be ready in about a month. Besides being lengthened 36 feet she is having a first-class rebuild throughout, having received new floor frames from stem to stern; new ceiling 5 1/2 inches thick; from floor to covering board three streaks of clamps, each 15 inches wide, running completely around her and tabled into each other making them as one piece, the whole being edge-bolted between every frame from the floor to the shelf; new oak stanchions and new bulwarks, the lower bulwarks being 2 inches thick and the upper 1 1/2 inches. The boat also receives a new deck and deck beams, the main stanchions 12 x 8 inches being run up through the main deck, carrying it, and to the top strongbacks are fastened for holding up the promenade deck and saloon; to these also are fastened the strong double iron centre arches. These improvements, with steel arches 14 inches wide by half an inch thick, fitted and rivetted together and bolted on each side in the hold, and with new main and sister kelsons will make the Cuba the strongest and best carrying steamer that has been lengthened yet. Mr. R. McCaul, of Kingston, besides having charge of the overhauling of engine and boiler, looks after the whole work in the interest of Messrs. Hagarty & Grasett, of Toronto, and they have the right man in the right place. Mr. McCaul has had a long experience in steamboat and engine work, and the changes in the Cuba, under his supervision will prove this fact. - Com.

A RAFT BROKEN UP.

The raft owned by Calvin & Son upon which Chester A. Arthur, a son of the President, ran the rapids, between Coteau and Montreal, was broken up at the foot of the Lachine Rapids, and although the raftsmen were in great peril none were drowned. It appears that the dram of extraordinary heavy draught ran the Rapids all right, but at the foot of the Rapids was caught by the current and thrown violently on to the battures, the shock dashing the huge mass to pieces and throwing the raftsmen into the water. Several fellows were severely bruised, and they were all surprised that none of their number had been lost. Some of the first few men to reach safety expressed the belief that half of their party had been drowned or crushed to pieces by the logs. Some were picked up by the men from the other drams, but the majority were not picked up until some time afterwards, boats putting off from the shore to their assistance. A number of them were not rescued from their perilous positions until the logs on which they rode had drifted to the harbor, where they were promptly taken off by some of Joe Vincent's men. The logs from the raft continued to float down the river all evening, interfering with the running of the Island ferry. The timber was collected at Longue Point, where it will be boomed and towed to Quebec. But for the pressure of time Mr. Arthur would have continued his trip on the dram and have come in for the smash up.

MARINE NEWS.

The steam barge Clinton, with lake barges Clyde, Chicago19,513 bush. corn, and Grimsby, 22,346 bush. corn, have arrived.

The prop. Niagara and schr. Garibaldi, from Ashland, have arrived with deals. The vessel will be discharged into pin flats for Quebec.

The steamer Maud will got to Cape Vincent tomorrow afternoon by the head of the island, weather permitting. The craft is made very cozy by the addition of a new awning. Yesterday the boat carried 400 excursionists from Cape Vincent down the river.

Secret agents of the Canadian Government have been in Chicago shadowing prominent Irish Nationalists. They have discovered a design to destroy the Welland Canal by explosives. It is asserted that a request has been made on the United States to assist in thwarting the conspiracy.

The steamer Gipsy arrived this morning with a large number of passengers from Ottawa. On Wednesday, as she was starting up the canal a collision with the Olive, which was coming into the basin, nearly occurred. The steamers were not sailing fast at the time, but the escape was very narrow.

The Captain of the steam barge Clinton says he towed through the Welland Canal (old cut) for ten years, and handled the steam barge and consort without accident. For that reason he does not see why he should be stopped towing in the new canal and put to an expense of $30 ($80 ?) when it can be avoided. He will bet $100 and the owners of the Clinton will bet another $100 that he can handle a tow in the long reach as well as any of the tug men whose interest the Superintendent's order favours.