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58.33 and 53.47. The uniformly higher wages and shorter hours prevailing on the Pacific coast are partially due to the domination of labor unions in that section. SEA WATER TESTS OF CON- CRETE AT THE NAVY YARD, CHARLESTOWN, MASS. The conditions of the tests to be undertaken by the Aberthaw Con- struction Co., of Boston, under the supervision of the navy department at the Charlestown navy yard have now been perfected. Mr. Herbert L. Sherman, cement chemist .of Boston, will assist. The object of these tests is to determine the effect of sea wa- ter upon concrete both as regards cli- matic conditions and chemical action. The specimens will be built in molds in the sea, properly erected for easy inspection and for photographing, and so marked as to be easily identified. A careful record of 'the materials and the methods used is to be kept for each specimen. The piers will be 16 in. square and 16 ft. long, so placed that the lower 2 ft. will be permanent- ly immersed in sea water, and that the top will probably never be im- mersed. There are to be 24 piers. In the first series of specimens a standard average composition Port- land cement will be used throughout which shall pass the standard specifi- cations of the American Society of Testing Materials; as required by the navy department. In the making of other specimens Portland cement will be selected for various character- istics; some will be entirely free from iron, other lots will be high in alumina or low in alumina. Some iron ore cement will be used which is practically free from alumina; slag cement will also be employed. Vari- ous proportions of cement, sand and stone will be used, some mixed quite dry; others with sufficient water to make the concrete plastic, and still others will be mixed very wet. Special conditions of mixing will be provided for certain specimens. In one case the mixing will be much better than ordinary commercial mix- ing, in others sea water will be em- ployed; hydrated lime, Sylvester mor- tar and clay will also be used. Another series of specimens will consist of 15 cubes 6 in. on a side of specified composition. One-third of these, after being thoroughly wet, will be immersed in sea water, anoth- er third will be supported at about half tide, and the rest will be kept perfectly dry, but exposed to the water. In addition briquettes will be made of the same cement and pro- "TAE. MarRINE. REVIEW portions of mortar as used for the large specimens. These will be held subject to tests at intervals marking a period of years. They will be ex- posed, in different ways and serve as a basis of tests of strength. All ce- ment will 'be tested for physical and chemical properties. The same tests will be applied to the stone. . The exact nature of the various ingredi- ents such as sea water, hydrated lime, Sylvester mortar and clay will be determined. The specifications go into considerable detail regarding the methods of mixing, building forms, reinforcing, testing, etc. The results of these tests will cer- tainly be awaited with much interest, and which will be reported from time to time, will certainly place the en- gineering public under great obliga- tions to the Aberthaw Construction Co. and to Mr. Sherman, who for the sake of their general value are freely giving of their time and experience to the carrying out of these experi- ments. LIENS ON VESSELS. Senator Lodge has introduced in the senate and Mr. Jenkins, of* Wis- consin, in the house a bill providing for liens on vessels for. repairs, sup plies and other necessaries. The bill is of considerable importance to ship- ping interests and is favored by the American Maritime Law association. Its provisions are as follows: "That any person furnishing repairs, supplies, or other accessories, including the use of dry dock or marine rail- way, to a vessel, whether foreign or domestic, upon the order of the own- er ot owners of such vessel, or of a person by him or them authorized, shall have a maritime lien on the ves- 'sel which may be enforced by a pro- ceeding in rem sand it shall not be necessary to allege or prove that credit was given to the vessel. "Sec, 2. That the following persons shall be presumed to have authority from the owner or owners, to procure repairs, supplies, and other necessar- ies for the vessel: The managing own- er, ship's husband, master, or any person to whom the management of the vessel at the port of supply is in- trusted. No person tortiously or un- lawfully in possession or charge of a vessel shall have authority to bind the vessel. "Sec, 3. That the officers and agents of a vessel specified in sec- tion 2 shall be 'taken to include such officers and agents when appointed by a charterer, by an owner pro hac vice, or by an agreed purchaser in 23 possession of the vessel, but nothing in this act shall be construed to con- fer a lien when the materialman knew, or by the exercise of reasonable dil- igence could 'have ascertained, . that because of tthe terms of a charter party, agreement for sale of the ves- sel, or for any other reason, the per- son ordering the repairs, supplies, or other necessaries was without author- ity to bind the vessel therefor. "Sec. 4. "That tothiig in this act shall be construed to prevent a ma- terialman from waiving his right to a lien at any time by agreement or oth- erwise, and this act shall not be con- strued to affect the rules of law now existing: First, in regard to the right to proceed against a vessel for ad- vances; second, in regard to laches in the enforcement of liens on vessels; third, in regard to the priority or rank of liens, and, fourth, in regard to the right to proceed in personam. "Sec. 5, That this act shall suner sede the provisions of all state stat- utes conferring liens on vessels in so far as the same purpose to, create tights of action against vessels for repairs, supplies, and other necessar- ies. a : 2 "Sec. 6.. That this act. shall take effect upon its passage." SHIP ALICE A TOTAL WRECK. The French ship Alice, bound from London to Portland, Ore. with a cargo of 11,200 barrels of cement, went ashore at Green Park, Wash.,. about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Columbia river, early in the morning of Jan. 15. The vessel and cargo are a total loss. The crew of 24, including Capt. Aubert, reached shore safely. The Alice is a_ steel ship of 2,509 grosg and 2,192 tons net register. She was built in 1901 at Bordeaux, and is owned in Nantes. She is reported as being in very bad shape. The seas are breaking clear over her; her masts are at different angles; she is sinking in the sand and at high water her decks are com- pletely submerged. She will probably be sold as junk for the interests of all concerned. a The Hamilton Steamboat Co., of Hamilton, Ont., at its annual meeting held last month declared a half-yearly dividend of five. per cent, making. ten per cent for the year. Directors and officers re-elected were as fol- lows: A. E. Jarvis, president; A. G. Nicholls, vice president; C. E. A. Goldman, secretary; W. E. Bishop, general manager; A. Angstrom, oA. : Bruce and H. B. Whitton, directors.