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26 Pensacola, Florida, was, on Sept. 27, 1906, demolished by a hurricane which also swept away all the life saving equipment of the station except a single boat, in which the station crew and their families fortunately made their escape. Within the year contract was awarded for replacing this station by a new structure, to be located not far from the site of the former one. Within the year motive power was- installed in several more of the large THE MarRINE REVIEW self-righting and self-bailing lifeboats of the service, making the total num- ber in operation at the end of the year 17. Numerous reports have been received from officers of the service in the field, and from keepers of sta- tions, commending them as a most important addition to the life saving equipment, By their use 157 persons were landed during the year. The appropriation for the maintenance of the service last year was increased over that of the year before with the 'supplied as 'rapidly as view of adding to the number of these boats, and they are now being possible to stations at which they can be advan- tageously used. The general superintendent renews his appeal for the passage of a Dill providing pensions and retirement for aged and disabled members of the ser- vice, and urges such legislation not only as an act. of justice to the Ire saving crews but also as a matter of sound public policy. MERCHANT MARINE LEAGUE The annual convention of the Mer- chant Marine League of the United States at the Hollenden hotel, Cleve- land, on Saturday last was one of the most important gatherings that has ever been in that city, and it un- doubtedly gave new life and new im- petus to the movement of the up- building 'of the American merchant marine in the foreign trade. Men were present from Maine to Califor- na and such unanimity of opinion as existed could bespeak nothing but an awakening conscience on the part of the whole people to the present. situ- ation. There was sufficient evidence, both tangible and intangible, that the movement for the upbuilding of the merchant marine is to gain such mo- mentum as to sweep everything before it. As ex-Governor Myron T. Her- rick, who acted as president of the day, said, it is the paramount question © Off ational life today. THe thought that the majority of the peo- ple of Ohio endorsed the movement as the most important before the pub- lic. He pointed out that the United States had neglected sorely its great atixililary naval fleet and that a great campaign of education, extending from Maine to California, should be promulgated to bring this fact perti- nently home to the people. He felt that the United States was moving on toward the supreme control of the commerce of the world and that coin- cident with this conquest must come a merchant marine. Lyman H. Treadway, president of the Chamber of Commerce, felt that the movement for the upbuilding of the merchant marine was non-partisan and non-sectional. He regarded it as amazing that the American. people should have permitted its decadence, as it is through ships alone that the great fabric of the country's com- merce is woven. A striking address was made by Tru- man H. Newberry, assisant secretary of the navy. He showed that all of the early naval vessels of the American navy were converted merchant ships and that the most signal victories won ° in naval: history were won by these vessels. At that time the country was in possession of a naval force that could man the navy eight times over--40,000 American sailors. Never before and never since has a superior fighting force sailed the ocean. The victories of the American navy in the early days of the republic were due entirely to 'the fact that a large, vig- orous and loyal merchant marine was belting it. Ele felt that a naval rfe- serve was as necessary now as then, more so in fact, as the modern war- ship is a complex and dependent in- strument. .- The early fighting ship needed no attendants. It was self- contained and was capable of taking to sea for years at a time without re- plenishment except for fresh water. It is not so with the modern ship. It must be supplemented with supply ships and. colliers which can be main- tained by the navy in times of peace only at enormous cost. There are years Of peace to every day of war. Tie felt that the present trip of the Atlantic squadron to the Pacific coast had given sharp and unwelcome proof of our deficiencies. He regarded it as both perilous and mortifying that @f the 30 colliers accompanyine the fleet 29 of them should be foreign ships. Congressman William S. Greene, of Massachusetts, who is the new chair- man of the committee on merchant marine and fisheries of the House of Representatives, promised that he would do all that he could to forward the passage of a relief measure through the house. He felt, however, that congress could accomplish little the dollar. until a campaign of education had been waged through the newspapers. He was inclined to blame a great many newspaper editors for opposing the movement without taking the trouble to acquaint themselves with its merits. He added that he had so- lidified his own district to him by his advocacy of the shipping bill in the face of opposition of the newspapers of his own town. He frankly admitted that his visit to Cleveland had given him new faith, new hope and new courage. Harry Coulby, of Cleveland, presi- dent of the Pittsburg Steamship Co., said that he had studied the question ofthe merchant marine a great -deal. Freight moves along the line of least resistance. There is no patriotism in In commerce people look for profit primarily. He felt that the American people would have to pro- vide transportation for its products and pointed to the illustrious exam- ple of Great Britain which has by un- ceasing devotion to shipping woven the web of her commerce across the whole world. Lewis stated present both as an American citizen Nixon that he =was and as the representative of the board of trade of New York. The board of trade had just adopted resolutions de- manding that the American navy be supplemented with coaling ships. Re- garding the future of ship building in the United States he felt that the American ship builder could surmount the handicap of cost. The lake ship builders have already done so and are turning out spendid ships at a price that cannot be met anywhere else in the world. In the construc- tion of locomotives the United States