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10 First Cost of Ships. . Charles H. Cramp writes of the "First Cost of Ships" in the North American Review for January. Mr. Cramp says: alte question, can you duplicate the City of New York, or the Ma- jestic, or the Columbia--using the word 'duplicate' in the purely structural sense--for the cost of these vessels in- Great Britain 2 would be putting the matter in an impracticable form. 'The City' of New York is a product of the peculiar methods, practices and systems of the Thomsons, of Clyde bank; the Majestic similarly represents the Belfast yard of Harland and Wolf, and the Colum- bia, the Lairds, of Birkenhead. In each case the vessel is of a special type, and embodies idiosyncracies which no other estab- lishment could imitate--at all events, not at equal cost. The proper form in which to put the questionis: Can you build a ship to do the work of the City of New York or the Majestic or the Columbia, in all respects, for the same cost? To that ques- tion I would reply: Yes, or within as small a margin as would be likely to prevail in a similar case between any two British shipyards. Our ship might differ from the City of New York COMPACT AND DURABLE DREDGE MACHINERY. in the ratio of principal dimensions, in the type of machinery, in style of finish, in fittings, equipment, and accommodations, and in many other things, as sanctioned by our experience or ap- proved in our particular practice; but she should exhibit at least equal performances in speed, seaworthiness, comfort, durability, and, all other things being equal, in economy of operation. But the point which I wish to accentuate is that the ship would be of our type and our model, and would embody our methods, our systems, and our practices; she would not be a duplicate or an imitation of any other ship, whether British or otherwise. <A proper apprehension of this point and an adequate realization of the importance of its bearing upon any question as to the com- parative first cost of high class vessels in this country and in Iingland are absolttely essential to practical or valuable knowl- edge on the subject." Mr. Cramp recentty visited the European shipyards, and has given the subject of which he writes a great deal of attention. Compact and Durable Dredge Machinery. The illustration on this page shows the machinery built by Sherifts Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis., for a dredge which began work this spring for the Sheboygan Dredge and Dock Company. The hull, 85 feet long, 35 feet beam and rz feet hold, was built by Reiboldt, Wolter & Co., Sheboygan. 'The cylinders of the engine are 14 x 16, with 6-feet frictions and gears and 30-inch hoisting drum. There is steam thrust on both frictions. The swinging engine is 8 x 12 and the boiler is 6 x 14 feet, locomotive style, Capacity of the dredge is 2,000 vards per day, MARINE REVIEW. 3 cases is presented in the following letter from the treasury de- Treasury Decisions. Among recent decisions from the treasury department is one brought out by collector of customs at Sandusky, who has.evid- ently charged that a freight vessel chartered by F ish Commis- sioner Stranahan of Put-in-Bay has been carrying passengers, -- The department holds that while public vessels of the United aa States are permitted to carry passengers, the privalege does not extend to vessels chartered by the government. Acting Secre -- tary Spaulding says: "Section 4400 of the revised statutes -- specially exempts public vessels of the United States from the provisions of title LII of the statutes, "Regulations of Steam Vessels," but this exemption would not cover the case of a char- tered steam vessel in the employment of the United States. If it is a fact, as your letter would seem to indicate, that the United States Fish Commission steamers engage in passenger traffic -- from port to port, such traffic is, in the opinion of this depart- 3 ment, a perversion from the legitimate duties of such vessels, as contemplated by law, unless the persons carried are employes of the fish conimission and directly connected with tts work." Masters of vessels may profit by remembering that the ship's papers must at all times be at hand for inspection by officers of ie tete Sainia "Hai res aN Liss ye! hy Pe ee Sas Rue the revenue marine service, even during the temporary absence of the chief officers of the boat. A decision bearing upon such partment to a collector of customsin Connecticut: 'The depart-- ment is in receipt of your letter relative to the schooner Veranda, reported by Capt. Slamm, of the revenue steamer Dexter, to have been found without marine documents, in violation of section 4336 revised statutes. The evidence shows that demand was made by the revenue officer, and that the papers could not be found, the master being on shore. He states that the crew on board did not know where the papers had been placed, and avers that there was no intention to violate the law. 'The Veranda is a small coasting schooner, and you report that the master and owners have usually been prompt in complying with the regula- tions. While there may be doubt, as you suggest, whether under a strict construction, there wasa technical violation of the section, the department is of the opinion that facilities for the inspection of the papers by the revenue officers, on demand; should be afforded in such cases. Vou will accept a penalty for the offense." The contract for furnishing Magnesia boiler and engine covering for the United States light-house steamer Amaranth, nearing completion at the yard of the Cleveland Ship Building Company, has been let to Macan & Co., 237 Bank street, Cleve- land, O. Horace See, superintending engineer for William Cramp & Sons, says of the magnesia covering on the boilers and pipes of the steamers Yemmassee, Mascotte, Cherokee, Seminole and a number of others: "Magnesia covering has been entirely satisfactory, the results being superior to anything else we have employed." at For the benefit of readers of the | | '0 e REVIEW who are onthe © eg ie over half the year, a special rate of $1 for six month's eersen is made. The paper will be sent to any part of nited States or Canada at this rate and the address may be changed at any ti the winter, y time, Order by mail before pds pee for