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years must elapse before the American to South south of the Carribean can be estab- ocean-mail lines America lished and a line to Atistraldsia re-es- tablished. Accordingly, I earnestly recommend the passage by the House of Representatives of the ocean-mail bill which has already passed the Sen- ale, "We ought to provide better facili- ties for passengers between Hawaii and the mainland of the United States. It would be preferable to use Ameri- can steamships for the purpose, and the passage of the ocean-mail bill rec- ommended would bring about that re- the establishment of sult. Pending such American mail lines our coasting ~ laws in this particular could very prop- erly be modified as proposed in a bill which has passed the House and is now on the Senate Calendar." STEAMER THEODORE H. WICK- WIRE LAUNCHED. The bulk freighter Theodore. H. Wickwire, building for the American Steamship Co. of Buffalo, was launch- ed from the Ecorse yard of tthe Great MR. THEODORE H. WICKWIRE. Lakes. Engineering Works on Satur- day last and was christened by Miss Adda Cornelius, sister of Adam Cor- nelius, of the firm of Boland & Cor- nelius, who will manage the new ship. The new steamer will carry ore to the new furnaces of the Wickwire Steel Co. that are now being built on the Niagara river. The new steamer is 464. ft. over all, 444. ft. keel, 56 ft. beam and 28 ft. deep. 'christ, its president, THE Marine. ReEvIEW PIG IRON SITUATION. Despite the usual holiday dullness, the market is not weak at any point. A considerable falling off in specifi- cations on steel products has been 'noted since the tariff controversy be- came animated. The starting of one blast furnace at' thé néw. plant at Gary, Ind. marks the beginning of manufacturing at that new industrial center-. Comparison (Of the year's business in. structural material dis- closes 'some interesting statistics; the - American Bridge Co. delivered about 350,000 tons and independent inter- ests about 800,000 tons of material. About 35,000 tons of basic pig iron -- have been soldin the eastern territory the past week and there are very fair sized inquiries out for foundry iron. The trade, generally speaking, is quiet but firm. Railroads are still order- ing steel: cars, box. cars and under frames, and considerable steel car business is under negotiation, with the likelihood of being placed early in the wear." "lin plate specifications were the heaviest the past week of any week since the summer of 1907. 'The scrap market is showing some signs of weakness, although quotations in only a few cases are lower. ORE SHIPMENTS FOR 1908. The final shipment of ore for the season of 1908 was taken by the steam- er W. D. Rees from Escanaba to Mil- watkee, consisting of 5,349 tons. De- cember shipments were therefore 78,- 924 tons, and the total movement for the year 25,427,024 tons. Shipments for the past three years by ports have been as follows: Dec. Dec. Dec. Port. 1906. 1907. 1908. ~ Escanaba ..----+2+-> 134,778 39,572 195272 Marquette ..--.-+-+++- 47,814 4,466 19,305 PN balck mers Aho one 54,551 14,396 14,707 Superior ....-++-+++> 103,679 13,204 25,640 Duluth: = oes ee 122,043 Pa ia Two Harbors .....-- TI729 @ AGO. cerns Pol 340,594 90,817 78,924 Season Season se Port. 1906. 1907. 1908. Tescanaba <2. 5,851,050 5,761,988 3,351,502 Marquette 2... 55 2,791,033 3,013,826 1,487,487 d Ashland 3.0.10 3,388,112 3,437,672 2,513,670 Superior 2+ 6,083,057 7,440,386 3,564,030 Duluth 6 11,220,218 13,445,977 8,808,168 Two Harbors... 8,180,125 8,188,906 5,702,237 Total ...c04+-37)513)598 41,288,755. 25,427,094 GILCHRIST TRANSPORTATION CO. REORGANIZED. The Gilchrist Transportation Co. has been reorganized. All the old officers and directors, iaclading 36 GE have resigned. For some months past Mr. Gilchrist has been unable, owing to ill health, to give any attention to the business, mittee, two. steel "al which has been managed by a com- At a meeting of the stock- holders last week it was decided to teduce the board of directors from 11 to five members, and the following were accordingly elected. F. M. Os- borne, president of the Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Co.; Gen. G. A. Garret- son, president of the Bank of Com- merce National Association; H. P. McIntosh, president of the Guardian Trust Co.; James C. Wallace, presi- dent of the American Ship Building Co.;. and Frank W. Gilchrist; of "Al- pena, Mich. ihe directors elected" f.. Mu ()s- borne pfesident and C. L... Mosher secretary and treasurer. Mr. Mosher is the vice president of the Guardian Trust Co. Mr. Mosher announced that the float- ing debt of the company had been taken care of some months ago 'and that the company is' in good shape. With the exception of the Pittsburg Steamship Co., the Gilchrist -Trans- portation Co. controls more vessels than any steamship company on the lakes. Its fleet consists of 60 boats, 32 steel steamers, 25 wooden steamers, barges and one wooden barge. Many of these vessels were owned by individuals, but were con- solidated about eight years ago and the company since that time has made it a practice to add a few steel steam- ers to the fleet each year. A manager for the fleet has not yet been selected, though it is understood the place has been offered to Silas Hitchcock. STEAMSHIP BONDS IN DE- MAND. Steamship bonds on bulk freighters of the great lakes are in great demand as a security, nearly all the issues on existing steamers having now been dis- posed of. The Cleveland Trust Co. 'during the year has floated over $3,000,- 000 worth of these bonds. In fact, it 4s now buying back these bonds, when- ever it can, at the price at which it sold them. iThe bonds have been sell- ing at somewhat less than par and net the purchaser about 6 per cent. The Susquehanna Coal Co., 1305 Old Colony building, Chicago, AEE, has just issued a memorandum book for 1909 which will be found espe- cially serviceable. The 'book has a number of excellent conversion tables including conversion of gross into net tons that will be found very valu- able.