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74 'THE MARINE REVIEW DEVOTED TO MARINE ENGINEERING, SHIP BUILDING AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES Published Monthly by : The Penton Publishing Compan Penton Building, Cleveland. - - - - - - Room 510, 201 Devonshire St. Bere aco - - - - « - 1521-23 Lutton Blag. CINCINNATI - - - - - 603 ee rave Bere ' i « 5 . = A est Stree g. SE TSBURG 2148-49 Oliver Bldg. PITTSBURGH - is fs ' z _ WASHINGTON, Dac - - : - 501 Metropolitan Bank Bldg. BIRMINGHAM, ENG. - - - Prince Chamber. Subscription, $2 delivered free anywhere in the world. Single copies, 20 cents. Back numbers over three months, 50 cents. Change of advertising copy must reach this office on or before the first of each month. The Cleveland News Co. will supply the trade with THE MARINE - REVIEW through the regular channels of the American News Co. European Agents, The International News Company, Breams Building, Chancery Lane, London, E. C., England. Entered at the Post Office at Cleveland, Ohio, as Second Class Matter. (Copyright 1914, by Penton Publishing Company) February, 1914 Panama Canal and Shipbuilding It is understood that the cruiser Denver has been selected to officially open the Panama canal some time in March. Sweepings through the Culebra Cut in- dicate a draught of 30 ft., which, of course, is ample for all but the very largest class of merchant vessels plying in the North Atlantic trade, and which are not likely.to be diverted to Panama for many years to come. Jealous guardians of our merchant marine, and we wish there were more of them in the land, have been inclined to take exception to certain remarks in our January shipbuilding review regarding the influ- ence of the canal upon shipbuilding in the United States. It was certainly not intended to withhold credit where credit is due, nor was it intended to minimize the loyal efforts that have been-made by steamship interests to construct fleets of vessels for this waterway. It was, however, regretted that in this continent covering country, containing ninety mil- lions of people, being virtually the constructive force of a whole hemisphere, that not more was being ac- complished. It is quite true that the American-Hawaiian Steam- ship Co. have built during the past two years eight splendid steamships, six of which are already in com- mission. It is true that W. R. Grace & Co., of New York, have built four new steamers, all of them in commission. It is true that the Emory Steamship Co.; of Boston is building two at the Fore River yard, that Cramp's are building two for an interest as yet unannounced, that the Great Lakes have also contrib- uted their quota, and that the construction of all these THE MARINE REVIEW February, 1914 vessels has been inspired by the creation of the Pap- ama canal. The coastwise lines have undoubtedly added to their equipment, but it is nevertheless to pe regretted that more has not been done. This country has spent over $400,000,000 to bring the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards closer together and to open up new markets by shortening routes. We hope the time will come when not twenty, but two hundred ships will be built for Panama canal service, and they would be built, too, if the public conscience could be awakened to the necessity of extending help to our merchant marine. Nothing will ever be done by congress until the necessity for action is brought home to the people. It is surprising that the people remain inert in the face of a situation that is fraught with the utmost danger. The trouble is that inland interests cannot conceive the ship to be an integral part of their business, yet it is a necessary and im- portant one and the time will come when the whole nation will realize it. When that time comes, we will have ships in plenty. The Great November Storm Owing to the great interest aroused over the No- vember storm on the Great Lakes, THE MARINE RE- view has decided to reprint in its supplement in the March issue, the account of the storm as contained in the December issue with numerous additional illus- trations and particulars. The December issue is totally | exhausted. An effort will be made to make the sup- plement a very complete history of the storm, one that will doubtless be preserved and called for for many years to come. In all probability it will be many years before a storm of such a character visits the lake region again. Certainly no such storm has occurred before since the lakes were. commercially navigated. Panama Canal Tolls It now seems that President Wilson thinks that vessels' engaged in coastwise service should pay tolls in passing through the Panama canal. It does appear as though whenever a favorable opportunity arises to help the American ship some one is sure to find a stuffed club handy somewhere. Let us for a moment grant the force of the contention that American ships in foreign trade which meet the open competition of the world, should pay the tax the same as the ships of all other nations; but what has that got to do with our domestic shipping? ws far As our domestic trade is concerned, the Panama canal is but an arm of our artificial water- ways. It is merely the extension of a dredged area through which our domestic shipping may go from one American port to another American port. An American ship can carry a cargo from New York to Charlestown, Galveston or New Orleans and_ pass through many a channel which has been improved by