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6 | MARINE REVIFW. CHICAGO LAKE INTERESTS. WESTERN OFFICE, MARINE REVIEW, -- | No. 210 So. Water Street, CHICAGO, IIl., Mar. 24,1 Robert Rae delivered a fine lecture before the captain's organization Wednesday. His subject was "Treasure Trove," and took up the search from the earliest times to recent instances on the great lakes, when it has been sought to have the deep give up its treasure. Capt. Wiley M. Egan has been re-elected president of the Chicago Vessel Owners' Association and Frank Higgie, secretary. The Line Agents' Association has not yet held its election. Some plan of re- organization was being talked of last fall, but so few of the agents were in town during the winter that no definite con¢lusion has been reached. The action of the Lake Carriers' Association in looking for some means to broaden its influence seems very wise. Your correspondent remembers instances where the lake carriers were called upon to take action regarding Chicago river, but aid was denied Chicago men on the grounds that the Lake Carriers' Association was formed for "general" matters and the Chicago river was "local." The aid that was wanted was moral, not financial. Ifthe Chicago river is not "general" to the vessel owners of the great lakes it is hard to tell what is. It is just this squeam- ishness about jurisdiction, and this finding excuses for doing nothing "which has brought the lake carriers to a position where they find that something must be done, if the organization is to continue to represent the lake marine. What the lake marine needs today is an aggressive, go- ahead association, which will make itself felt from one end of the lakes to the other. Secretary McKay's labors for the Cleveland Vessel Owners' Association shows what can be done in that direction. What he wants he goes after, and does'nt wear kid gloves when engaged in the task. There are many people who. know the Lake Carriers' Association only as pro- testing against bills in Congress. If the association is to be remodeled they hope it will have a positive as well as a negative character. The tug Meteor, which was to have gone to Honduras last fall, has at last been caught by the creditors, and is now safe in the hands of the United States marshal. There were a lot of bills against the boat, and the apparent scheme was to get her well on her way to Honduras before her departure became known. A premature publications of the boat's proposed trip caused the plans to go astray. The exclusive privilege of the World's Fair transportation by water is getting in a woeful muddle. The trouble arises from a curiosity of a bid tendered by J. C. Amendt. a real estate broker. This bid gives the exposition all of the plum there could possibly be in the fruit and a good deal besides. On the basis of 25 cents for the round trip, he offers 64 per cent to the exposition, and for single fares of 15 cents he gives up two- thirds. In other words, he offers to carry passengars by water at a net cost of 4% and 5 cents. No marine man believes that these figures cover the actual cost of transportation, and there must be something else to count upon. Congressman McGann is going to have the general government do the dredging in Chicago river. Ten to one he will do nothing of the kind, although the city authorities jump at the scheme. Dredging in Chicago river is not for the improvement of navigation, but for the removal of the city's sewage. All the dredging in ten years has not really improved navigation. Congress may help this ambitious and not over backward town out of the World's fair job, but it will let the "metropolis of the western empire" cart away its own sewage. McGann's proposition is decidedly "cheeky." But if the general government began dredging Chi- cago river, there is a clause in the river and harbor act about running refuse into the navigable waters of the United States which would break up the entire sewerage system of the city. The talk about the scheme is all wind. To Offer a Bonus on Canal Grain. Special Correspondence to the MARINE REVIEW. KINGSTON, Ont. March 24th.--The various propositions which were laid before Mr. Blaine by the Canadian deputation which visited Washing- ton a few months ago, have been laid before Parliament for the benefit of members. One of them reads as follows: "It is proposed the United States vessels and wrecking appliances may render aid and assistance to American and other vessels and property wrecked, disabled or in distress in the waters of Canada contiguous to the United States; and that Cana- dian vessels and wrecking appliances may render aid and assistance to Ca. nadian and other vessels and property wrecked, disabled or in distress in the waters of the United States contiguous to the Domiuion of Canada. Also that aid and assistance shall include all necessary towing and that nothing in the coasting or custom laws of either country shall apply to vessels and wrecking appliances while actually employed in rendering such aid and assistance of such vessels and appliances." The suspence concerning the government's action on the rebate of canal tolls is still agitating mariners. It is expected that next week will settle the matter, as the government has decided to have before it a depu- tation of ocean steamship men who fayor Ogdensburg getting the rebate 'Catherines millers pay canal tolls for wheat and receive no rebate. They sailors who are domiciled in the United States at the time of beginning and of western men who are opposed toit. The two deputations wil argue the matter before the ministers. who will then be in a. good po tion to decide. It appears that Mr. Blaine told the Canadian ministe that they were not observing the Washington treaty, which caused th considerable anxiety. Some members of Parliament now favor allowi the rebate for grain transhipped at Ogdensburg but at the same tim granting a bonus of so much per ton on all grain transhipped at a Can dian port for Montreal, American boats could secure this bonus just t same as Canadian boats. The probabilities are this policy will be adopted as it is considered fair to all concerned. ; ' In the House of Commons a few days ago Mr. Dennison moved his resolution: "That wheras the new United Siates canal at Sault Ste. Mari is being constructed of a depth of 18 feet, and whereas it is proposed: that country to deepen their canals on the great lakes to not less than feet, and whereas the proposed increase in depth has already been mat at the mouth of the Detroit river, in the opinion of this House it is expedi- ent that the Soulanges canal and the other canals on the River St. La rence should be deepened to 20 feet." Hon. Mr. Haggart minister canals, pointed out that the improvements mentioned would cost million and if the canals were deepened harbors would have to be deepened also t admit the deep draught boats. The motion was then withdrawn. -- It turns out that the rates on the dry dock here are exactly the sar as those of American docks. Owners claim this should not be, inasmuch as vessel property is far more valuable in the States than in Canada be- cause vessels can get return cargoes in the former country; in the latt they can not. The dock charges will no doubt be reduced. a _ Avery peculiar case promises to be ventilated in parliament. -- claim that after the wheat is manufactured into flour and sent to Montre 18 cents rebate which is allowed on wheat passing the Welland and St Lawrence canals for export at Montreal, has been paid by the governmen to the parties who purchase the flour at St Catherines. The millers claim that the rebate is due them and not the shippers. Canadian Seamen on American Vessels. Special Correspondence to the MARINE REVIEW. te WASHINGTON, D. C., March 24.--Acting Secretary Nettleton has in formed the commissioners of immigration at the different ports that th treasury department regards the bringing of aliens to this country unde contract to perform labor as seamen on board American vessels saili between ports of the United States and Canada as a violation of the ali contract labor law, but that this construction of the law does not apply of such employment. He saysthat an American vessel deprived of crew in a foreign port by desertion or otherwise may engage alien sailor to run the vessel. But that the importation of alien sailors under other circumstances is contrary to the purpose of the laws and would tend t cripple American commierce. ; Bh: The Senate committee on naval affairs, on Thursday, had under co sideration for the first time this session, the bill tratsferring the revenue cutter service, to the navy department, and decided after giving due weight to the letters of Secretary Foster, who opposes the measure a Secretary Tracy, who advocates it, the adoption of the recommendatio1 made in Secretary Tracy's letter of some weeks ago, which practically puts the bill in the same form as that which passed the House last session, but failed in the Senate, just before the adjournment of that body. The bill will -be favorably reported. The friends of the measure had a hear ing before the committee, and presented some strong arguments in be- -- half of it. Ex-Congressman Eppa Hunton of Virginia, Hx-Senator Co ger of Michigan, and Capt. Shoemaker of the revenue service made < dresses. ae The new steamer El Sud built at Newport News for the Morgan Line Steam Ship Company of New York and launched recently will ply be tween New York and New Orleans. The name is Spanish, meaning "th south," and was given to the new boat as she is the first big ship built | south of the Potomac. Lake Michigan Lumber Craft. Special Correspondence to the MARINE REVIEW. h GRAND HAVEN, Mich., March 24.--Capt. T. W. Kirby has begun at hi: yard the construction of a small steamer, 87 feet keel, 17% feet beam anc 6% feet hold. The engine will be 16x16 inches, and the boiler, to be built by Johnston Bros., 6x12 feet. The boat will be finished by June I Capt. Kirby has sold the steamer Joe to Capt. Bradley of Muskegon, anc Capt. Cobb has bought from Capt. Bradley the small steamer Ellen. Capt Cobb will sail the Ellen, running her between this city and Frankfort. Another transfer is that of the schooner Hunter Savidge from Cutl Savidge & Co., lumber dealers of this city, to John Mullerweiss of Alpena terms private. The boat has an insurance. valuation of $35,000. If this company does not succeed in selling the other schooner owned by t she will be placed in the Lake Superior lumber trade. a '