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MARINE REVIEW. VoL. X. CLEVELAND, .0., AUGUST. 23180921 No. 5. Two St. Clair Canals--Other Improvements. Preparations are now being made among executive officers of the Ivake Carriers' Association to take up, at the next annual meeting of the association in Detroit, the matter of urging congress to provide for a second cut or canal through St. Clair flats. The present canalis notin keeping with the demands of commerce that will be greatly increased upon the completion-of the second lock at Sault Ste. Marie and the wide 20-foot channel throughout the lakes, and there is no doubt of active and urgent support from the government engineers in presenting the matter to congress. An expensive canal will not be required, and no comment is needed on the advantages of a second channel as against increased width in the present one. The nature of the soil at the point where it is proposed to make the second cut is understood to be such that no walls will be required. Improvements on an extensive scale in the Detroit river below Bal- lard's reef are also contemplated. It is understood that Gen. Poe: has recommended immediate action on an increase of widthin the Lime- Kilns cut to 600 feet, and appropriations amounting to about $57,000 that are now practically in hand will be used at once in increasing the width of the channel in this part of the river, aside from the cut, to 800 feet in accordance with the 2(-foot channel project. A Canadian dredge, now at work in the vicinity of Bois Blanc island, is removing New York shoal, and other similar obstructions in this locality will also be hurriedly re- moved. In pursuance of the 20-foot channel work on Lake Huron just above Wilbur of the line and other Lehigh officials. Renewed Life in Lake Passenger Business. A sort of a renewed life is shown in passenger business on the lakes this season, the various lines sharing a big patronage in common with the new steamer North West. It is more than probable that ship builders will profit during the coming winter by this fresh interest shown in lake travel, as negotiations are now pending for at least four new passenger ships. Four governors of states took passage during the past week for lake tours. Governor McKinley of Ohio with members of the family of ex-Gov. Merriam of Ohio left Cleveland Wednesday on the North West in company with Mr. M. A. Hanna and other Cleveland friends. Governor Rich of Michigan was also a passenger on the big boat. Governor Pattison of Pennsylvania and friends spent the week on the Lehigh Valley steamer Saranac, running betwen Buffalo and Chicago, in company with President Governor Francis of Mis- souri made the trip from Chicago to Sault Ste. Marie on the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior Transit Company's steamer Manitou. Itis expected that the presidential party, talked of some time ago for the North West, will be on that boat next week, or the week following. Secretary Lamont of the war department, with Mrs. Cleveland and other ladies of the cabinet, will be in the party, but it is not probable that the president will accom- pany them. Lake Freight Matters. Although reports of soft coal contracts at 40 cents from Ohio ports to the head of Lake Superior have been numerous of late, careful inquiry FORTY-FOOT SLOOP YACHT PILOT.--DETROIT BOAT' WORKS, DETROIT, MICH. the entrance to St. Clair river, a channel 900 feet in width and 20 feet deep has been dredged, and vessels can pass between the dredges at work in that vicinity with safety. Legislative Matters--New Laws. After all the trouble to which officers of the Lake Carriers' Association were subjected in the matter of raft towing regulations, the subject must now go over to next year and again be rehearsed through committees and both branches of congress. The quiet actions of Gen. Alger of Michigan with the commerce committee of the senate is the cause of this trouble. The conferees of the house and senate on the river and harbor bill were unable to agree on a compromise regarding the regulations, and rather than accept the senate amendments the vessel owners asked that the sub- ject be held over. The feature of the Lockwood immigration bill prohibiting the em- 'ployment on lake vessels of aliens who have not resided in this country six months will also go over to the next congress. Both houses of congress have within the past week passed a bill pro- viding that life-saving stations ou the Atlantic coast shall be opened on Aug. 1 and continue until June 1 succeeding, and on the lake coasts from the opening to the close of navigation, surfmen serving more than eight months to be paid $60 a month during the entire service. Another measure passed by both houses extends the benefits ofthe marine hospital service to keepers and crews of the life-saving service. These bills now require only the signature of the president. A bill authorizing the establishment of a fog signal at Kewaunee, Wis., has also passed both houses. in the Cleveland freight market would indicate that business of this kind amounts to but about 400,000 tons. Early in the season, a few blocks of coal were taken at 35 cents, but those engagements have been fulfilled. Vessel owners are now fighting shy of coal contracts at low rates, but it must be admitted that the offer of 40 cents on contracts was accepted toa greater extent than was expected. The active movement of soft coal, which was long awaited, has materialized within the past few days and there are some advances in rates. Forty cents has been paid to the head of Lake Superior on single cargoes, andthe demand for Lake Michigan tonnage is such that there is little doubt of improvement on the rate of 50 cents to Milwaukee that has prevailed during the week. Brokers are not parties to any of the Lake Superior coal contracts, and in this there is an » advantage for the vessels. | Hard coal shipments from Buffalo show a gain of about 64,000 tons for July over the same month last year, and the shipments for the season to Aug 1 are at 1,045,079 tons, against 1,187,125 tons on Aug. 1, 1893. A Detroit-Built Schooner Yacht. A schooner yacht just launched by the Detroit Boat Works, Detroit, Mich., is illustrated in the accompanying engraving. The boat was de- signed by Richard P. Joy of Detroit for Henry B. Joy and John 5. New- berry. She is 40 feet over all, 28 feet 6 inches water line, 3 feet 9 inches draft and 9 feet beam. She carries 839 square feet of working canvass (lower sails), and has a displacement of 6} tons, The boat is intended for cruising, and is fitted with sleeping accommodations for six people. Her name is Pilot, and she will hail from Grosse point. Work upon this boat will compare favorably with that of any of the eastern builders. 1: --mer ae reams nena