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1900.] INTERNATIONAL CO.'S SERVICE FROM PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia in a short time will increase her facilities for passenger and freight traffic with Liverpool as a result of a change that the Inter- national Navigation Co. will make in its line between Philadelphia and the English port in the fail. The company has decided to transfer to its Philadelphia-Liverpool service the two vessels Westernland and Noord- land, now running between New York and Antwerp. The two vessels will displace two of those now in the service to Philadelphia. The Wes- ternland and the Noordland, however, are larger and faster, and can thus accommodate more passengers, carry more freight and convey both to their destination faster than any of the vessels the. company now has in the Philadelphia service. One of the vessels to be displaced is the char- tered steamer Ikbal, which carries only freight. The other will probably be the Pennland. The net result of the change will be that instead of operating four passenger steamers and one freighter between Philadel- phia and Liverpool the company will have five steamers carrying both freight and passengers, and the service will be improved generally by the superior character of the vessels transferred. The Westernland is a vessel of 5,736 tons, and the Noordland of 5,212 tons. They were built in Liverpool, about twelve years ago. Their place on the New York-Antwerp line will be taken by the Vaderland and the Zeeland, two 12,000-ton vessels, building in Scotland, that will be ready for service in six weeks. It is said that the policy of the company will continue to be to increase the accommodations of the Philadelphia line as often as circumstances permit. C. E. Griscom, manager of the Phila- delphia office of the International Navigation Co., says of the transfer: "The Westernland and Noordland will be the fastest boats in the Philadelphia part of the company's service. They will be transferred as soon as possible. Capt. Ehoff, for many years master of the Waesland, of the Philadelphia service, will be assigned to the command of the West- ernland. It was planned originally to transfer to this branch of the ser- vice the Merion and the Haverford, two 10,000-ton vessels now building in Scotland, but this was found impracticable on account of their too great draught. The company is anxious to increase its facilities in Phil adelphia as much as it can and as fast as the conditions of the river will justify it it will do so. The question of the channel is of prime impor- tance in this matter. We had to withdraw, with great reluctance, the Southwark and Kensington from this service because they drew too much water. It is sreatly to be regretted that even after the channel has been dredged supposedly to a depth of 26 ft., various causes, which cannot all be explained, have led to shoaling here and there, and we cannot every- where be sure of our 26 ft. The whole question depends simply on the condition of the channel, and we shall be only too glad to take advantage of every opportunity its deepening and improvement permit to improve the service." : The company's fleet now sailing from Philadelphia is composed of the Belgenland, Pennland, Rhynland, Waesland and Ikbal. The company will continue after as before the transfer to run one vessel a week to Liverpool, but the new boats will give passengers an opportunity of making the run in much better time than has been possible before. OFFICIAL REPORT ON OREGON'sS MISHAP. Capt. Geo. F. F. Wilde of the Oregon has filed his report' by mail with the navy department on the grounding of the vessel in the Gulf of Pe-chi-li last June. The report is as follows: "T have the honor to report that the U. S. S. Oregon, under my com- mand, grounded upon an uncharted ledge in Pe-chi-li Gulf at 3:05 p. m., June 28, 1900. The ledge has 3% fathoms over its highest part. Its posi- tion is located by sextant angles upon an accompanying chart. The chart shows at this place 17 to 18 fathoms. Preceding the grounding of the ship I have to state that I received urgent orders from Hong Kong from the commander-in-chief to proceed to Taku as soon as ready. This order was dated June 23 and was received the same afternoon. On June 20 a cable was received from the commander-in-chief. The Zafiro arrived at 4:10 p. m. June 23, and the moment men and stores were taken from her the Oregon went to sea, leaving Hong Kong at 6:50 p. m. Weather fine and clear until the 26th, when fog set in very thick. Slowed to half speed. At intervals fog lifted and ship sent ahead full speed. S. E. Promontory light was sighted at 8:14 o'clock on night of June 27; N. E. Promontory light was not sighted, as fog had again shut down. Neither was fog sig- nal heard. Ship was being leaded right along with patent sounding machine. Off Wei-hai-wei the fog lifted for a few moments, just long enough for me to see the flashing light. That was the last absolute fix I had. I judged myself to be off (Chefoo by seeing some junks, which are generally seen off that port. A steamer also crossed our bow, evidently bound to Chefoo from Port Arthur. The fog settled down denser and denser. Sounded with patent lead every half hour. When my distance to Howki light had been run down to within ten miles I slowed to 5 knots, and had leadsmen in both chains: also extra lookouts, listening for any whistle echo from any island, or to catch sound of gun from Howki light station. There were fully fifty men stretched along forward on both sides on lookout. Owing to density of fog I remained on the bridge night and day since the 28th; all hands, in fact, were constantly on the alert. The whistle was being constantly sounded, and as there were very light airs there was no reason why the light keepers should not have heard it. I continued on, sounding constantly, until 1:45 p. m., on the 28th, when I began deepening water, from 12 to 13 fathoms, which I had been getting right along, to 17 fathoms. This indicated something wrong, and getting no response to blasts of whistle, I anchored in 17 fathoms of water. Fog very dense. Two whaleboats sounded around ship, but found no obstructions. About forty-five minutes after anchoring, the fog suddenly lifted, and Howki light-nouse was plainly seen, bearing N. 12 W., distant 3 1/3 miles. The chart showing clear water, I got under way at once, headed for Howki light. "Fog shut down again, very dense, before I got my anchor; but, know- ing my position, and orders being urgent, and suspecting no dangers, I started ahead with starboard helm. when the vessel brought up with three distinct thumps. Not until then did the light keepers fire guns; they then fired two guns, according to rule. All water-tight doors were instantly closed. ---Engines were instantly stopped, but not reversed, as I feared she might sink if backed into deep water. The sea was as smooth as a lake. and I thought I would wait and see if she made water, which she did rapidly in compartments A 3, A 4, A 5, A 83, A 95, A 98, B 80, 13-in. mag- MARINE REVIEW. 75 azine, 8-in. magazine and passing room. At once got out and provisioned all boats; also armed and equipped same. Got over collision mat at once, and at slack water sent diver down and located break. Another diver was procured, very fortunately, from a wrecking expedition some ten miles distant, who located one long break extending a distance of 25 feet on port side forward. The current running at great velocity, divers can only work for two hours at high and low water slack. "Sent Lieutenant Leigh, navigator, to Chefoo on passing French gunboat Surprise to charter steamers to take ammunition, coal and stores, as ship would have to be lightened to get rock out of side of ship or out of bottom. Two steamers arrived from Chefoo on June 30, which had been chartered by Commander Rodgers, U. S. S. Nashville. Got two 10-in. centrifugal pumps from wreckers. Without them water could not be controlled, as ship's steam pumps could not do so because of the break- ing of main drain pipe by rock coming through the side. On July 1, at 11:57 a. m., ship floated, and swung to anchor, which had been laid out astern with 10-in. hawser. Hawser parted, and in order to avoid sinking chartered steamer, could not avoid going aground a second time. Ship rests between two large boulders forward. Diver. can see under keel. She shows no signs of strain as far as butts or streaks starting. I shall continue to lighten 'by taking out more coal and ammunition. Am con- fident can get ship off. Kure dry dock, Inland sea, is the nearest, and Japanese nava. department has oftered its use." The Oregon later, as announced in the Review, was taken to the Kure (Japan) dry dock, where she was temporarily repaired. NANSEN'S RECORD IS BEATEN. | The Duke of the Abruzzi reached Stockholm last week oa his return from the expedition to find the North Pole. He beat Nansen's record and gained a place nearer the pole than was ever reached before. The log of his vessel, the Stella Polaris, shows that after eleven months in the polar ice she drifted to latitude 86 degrees 383 minutes, while Nansen's record was 86 degrees and 14 minutes. One side of the vessel had been crushed in the ice, and it was with difficulty that she was prevented from sinking. Food became very scarce and some of the dogs had to be eaten. The plan of Prince Luigi Almedeo of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of the Abruzzi, for reaching the North Pole was totally unlike that of Dr. Nan- sen, who returned in 1896. Dr. Nansen's idea was with his strong ship, the Fram, to try to reach the pole by the open sea, or by drifting with the ice. The Italian, on the other hand, decided not to attempt the last stages of his journey on his ship, the Stella Polaris, but instead, to disembark and traverse the ice northward on sleds. The Stella Polaris carried twenty sleds, each of which was furnished with light storage boxes of aluminum and a canoe. Forty pairs of snowshoes were taken along and forty pairs of ski. Each member of the expedition carried a complete Eskimo equipment, and a suitable amount of scientific instruments and apparatus was taken. The expedition left Christiania on June 12, 1899. The Stella Polaris was provided with 350 tons of coal. Of provisions 250 tons were carried, and 1,500 small packages for individual transportation were packed with food, clothing and equipments, scientific instruments and useful incidentals. The 'Cavaliere Umberto Cagni, a captain in the Royal Italian navy; Count Quirini, a naval lieutenant, and Dr. Cavalli- Molinelli accompanied the Duke of the Abruzzi on his expedition. Other members of the expedition were two seamen of the Italian navy, four mountain guides, ten Norwegian sailors and one Eskimo to manage the 120 dogs which were taken to draw the sleds.. A MAGNOLIA METAL GATHERING. A convention of salesmen of the Magnolia Metal Co., -at which twenty-five representatives from all parts of the United States and Canada were present, was held at the Murray Hill hotel, New York, on the 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th of the present month, and all subjects apper- taining to the sale of Magnolia metal were discussed, the greatest interest in the company's 'business being manifested. Reports for all concerned showed that the company's business had never during the past fifteen years been so prosperous as during the last year and a half, and that the prospects for the future are far better than ever before. The utmost en- thusiasm was shown by all the men for the future of the company's busi- ness, and the affair wound up by the presentation of a loving cup to Mr. E. C. Miller, vice president and general manager of the company. Cables and telegrams from the conference were sent to the London, Paris, Ber- lin, St. Petersburg and San Francisco offices of the company, and to a number of absent salesmen who could not be present. The navy department has awarded a contract for the installation of an electrical conduit system at the Washington. nayy, yard to George W. Ledie of Philadelphia, at his bid of $15,246. The Nickel Plate road announces to the public that Euclid avenue station, Cleveland, is now open for all trains. Passengers may now secure tickets and have baggage checked for all trains east or west bound at this station. 204; Oct. 7 VALUE OF STOCKS---LEADING IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRIALS. Quotations furnished by HERBERT WRIGHT & Co., Cleveland, date of September 12, 1900. NAME OF STOOK. " OPEN HIGH LOW OLOSE American Steel & Wire........... ... : 36% 37 36% 36% - American Steel & Wire, Pfd.......... 75 75% 75 754% Federal Steel .......-...0.. ere 8434 35% 343 385% Federal Steel; Pfd....:05-. 0.030 Yo er ee 67 National Steel... c.c2.0.. specs, 263 ; 26% National Steel, Pfd................ (a ee ieeeee sacl ser American Tin Plate.......:25:.0..<.:: 283% re ee 283% American Tin Plate, Pfd.......,,....» es Bosal ao he American Steel Hoop........:sc0r1s2:00 19H ee. eee 19% American Steel Hoop, Pfd............ 67 tiles steed: 67 Republic Iron & Steel .......:t020..03 eee 124% Republic Iron & Steel, Pfd........... 54 sees bse 54