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8 MARINE REVIEW. MARINE REVIEW. DEVOTED TO THE LAKE MARINE AND KINDRED INTERESTS. ae Me Ina PROPRIETORS. . M. ; HOMER J. CARR, - ". "Associate Editor and Manager Chicago Office, 210 South Water Street. Published every Thursday at No. 516 Perry-Payne Building, Cleveland, O. SUBSCRIPTION--$2.00 per year in advance. Convenient binders sent, post paid, 75 cents. Advertising rates on application. The books of the United States treasury department contain the names of 3,600 vessels, measuring 1,154,870.38 tons in the lake trade. In classification of this fleet the lakes have more steamboats of 1,000 to 2,500 tons than the combined ownership of this class of vessels in all other sections of the country. The number of vessels of 1,000 to 2,500 tons on the lakes on June 30, 1891, was 310 and their aggregate gross tonnage 512,- 787.58; in all other parts of the country the number of this class of ves- sels was, on the same date, 213 and their gross tonnage 319,750.84. The classification of the entire lake fleet is as follows: Class. Number. Tonnage. Steamsevessels sos <cceuantetieectnesseeiaei aside 1,592 756,751-53 SALINE VESSEIS..crscces ccceeces techs sestcqcr eect 1,243 325,131.06 Canal DOater oii sos. ctiee phic as Stee ace e sae 703 72,515-42 PRAT ES recoil ecircn oe sciectane aus toaciat clam owtrcla os 62 20,472.37 OCALA... FRE ace rt faseee tts dace .3,600 I,154,870.38 Tonnage built on the lakes during the past five years, according to the report of the United States commissioner of navigation, is as follows: No. of boats. Net Tonnage. TOS J veseadaetasscenelse cee gat sno tceer arenes 152 56,488.32 TOSS soe uicceadieen Sesateteteae fer saeac tence sau 222 IOI, 102.87 TSSO? sic eecisc.cwtrcadscwte stk wieeled tesak anodes 225 107,080.30 DOG Os toseicis cexseieine cts csntsls « waeeaae es cone cess 218 108,515.00 TOO Macssscatwuseeerecarcesecies crores evechegas 204 T11,856.45 PR Otalisz: heeds spe doses atioes eye OL, 485,042.94 St. Mary's Falls and Suez canal traffic: Number of boats through St. Mary's Falls canal in 1890, 234 days of navigation, 10,557; tonnage, net registered, 8,454,435. Number of boats through Suez canal during 1890, full year, 3,389; tonnage, net registered, 6,890,014. Entered at Cleveland Post Office as Second-class Mail Matter. In the Senate a few days ago there was passed without op- position the two resolutions recently introduced by Senator McMillan of Michigan, one asking the secretary of state whether the treaty of 1817 governing the naval force to be maintained on the great lakes is still in force, and the other seeking an answer from the secretary of the navy as to whether lake ship- builders have been barred from participating in the work of building war vessels on account of this treaty. 'These resolu- tions have been made a basis for a great deal of sensational newspaper talk throughout the country about the defenseless condition of the lake cities, and the question of protection on the lakes against invasion by foreign powers has also been coupled with the project for a deep-water connection in American terri- tory between the lakes and the Atlantic seaboard. While news- paper and magazine writers in New York and other places have been indulging in a visionary discussion along this line, how- ever, the vessel and shipbuilding interest along the lakes have looked upon the whole matter in a practical way only. If the treaty of 1817 is to stand in the way of the ship builders of the lakes entering into competition with coast builders for such war vessels as may be constructed here, as it certainly did sometime ago in the case of the bid of F. W. Wheeler & Co. of West Bay City, Mich., for a practice vessel for the navy, then the lake in- terests want this treaty abrogated, or so changed as to admit of their competing in this kind of work, which they are capable of doing. 'There is no clamor though for a great naval force on the lakes, or any show of hostilities against Canada building a few revenue cutters; neither is there any hope of the project fora seaboard outlet being advanced through the claims that a ship- canal of the kind would be of advantage in time of war. Asa great commercial enterprise this project has already reached the point where it is probable that a majority of the present Congress will vote a large sum for a survey, but this is, of course, only a preliminary step in a very important matter. Some of the leaders in lake commerce, while discouraging the present agitation in favor of the Lake Ontario-Hudson river project, are inclined to 7 the belief that the great cost of such a work will yet force an agreement between this country and Canada for the completion of the St. Lawrence canals, or that the question may even tend to bring about annexation. The St. Lawrence river outlet is the natural outlet and unless the signs are mistaking it will within a very short time be a subject of international importance. THE sundry light-house bill for which Senator Brice and Congressmen Taylor, Brickner and Houk are working so earn- estly carries appropriations for light-ships at Bar point, Ballard's reef and the Lime-Kilns' crossing, where the absence of private lights this spring has already resulted in losses aggregating several thousand dollars. Vessel owners in all parts of the lakes should write to their congressmen to do allin their power in sup- port of this bill. The bill has passed the Senate and will in all probability pass the House, but the best efforts of the lake rep- resentatives will be needed in the committee on appropriations to secure the incorporation of all its provisions in the civil sun- dry appropriation act. A RECENT issue of the New York Press attacks for political effect the work of the present river and harbor committee in the house. A number of projects including the 20-foot channels for the lakes are attacked on account of the appropriations which they carry. 'The Press seems sadly out of line with its party in this sort of nonsence. The Republican party from its foundation has been heartily in favor of internal waterway improvements, and the passage of the river and harbor bill now before Congress _ will'meet with the approval of fair-minded people throughout the country. No measure could have been more carefully prepared. ANOTHER accident to the lock machinery at St. Mary's Falls canal serves to show that, no matter how great the precautions may be, the danger of Lake Superior commerce being entirely shut off at any time during the season of navigation is still a great obstacle to the vessel interest that will continue un- til the new lock now under way is completed. It is a serious condition to consider in connection with such an important trade as that now carried on from the northwest by water. CHAIRMAN HOLMAN of the appropriation committee of the House is said to be opposed to the river and harbor bill. He wants the bill returned to the committee with instructions to bring in a measure appropriating $15,000,000. It is fortunate that the river and harbor bill carries its own appropriations and it will not be necessary to have it pass inspection in Mr. Holman's committee. The chances of passage of the bill in the House are very favorable. UNITED States Senator Calvin S. Brice of Ohio writes Capt. George P. McKay, secretary of the Cleveland Vessel Owners' Association, "that he will be glad to receive at any time such suggestions and information of interest to lake commerce as oc- curs to any individual or any officer of lake organizations." Dele- gations of vessel owners visiting Washington have found Mr. Brice an earnest worker in behalf of the lake marine. Such. willingness from one in high position should be appreciated. Grain at Chicago and Duluth. Stocks of wheat at Chicago and Duluth on Monday,the 25th inst. were: Chicago. Duluth. Teg SHORE. #1. chicanh Merge! ote hata ane 7,958,654 bu. 15,103,186 bu. Decrease last iweeksrgm. wcsiss. ead 739,457 bu. 160,755 bu. Excess over same time last year..... 2,430,368 bu. 9,726,452 bu. Stocks of corn in Chicago aggregate 1,803, 392 bushels, a de- crease of 117,360 bushels for the week and an increase of 1,091,- 173 bushels as compared with stocks on the same date last year. Stocks of oats foot up 583,501 bushels as compared wie 474,690 bushels on the corresponding date last year.