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16 MARINE REVIEW. PRODUCTION OF BESSEMER STEEL AND STEEL RAILS. The American Iron & Steel Association has received, direct from the manufacturers, the production of Bessemer steel ingots and castings and Bessemer steel rails in the United States in 1900. The ingot statistics of the association, printed below, include the production of a few thousand tons of Bessemer steel castings. a The total production of Bessemer steel ingots in 1900 was 6,684,770 gross tons, against 7,586,354 tons in 1899, showing a decrease in 1900 of 901,584 tons, or almost 12 per cent. The production of 1899 was the largest in our history, but it may be equaled in a year or two, although open hearth steel is proving to be a most formidable rival of Bessemer steel. The following table gives our production of Bessemer steel ingots, including steel castings, in the last six years. Of the production last year 6,467 tons were steel castings, against a’ similar production in 1899 of 3,939 tons. Years. Bessemer Years. Bessemer Gross tons. ingots. Gross tons. ingots. Reece tains void R esc ase oc sie'sie'ece 4,909,128 PROB ected eyethisieg © ca seis Gicleistaie ss 6,609,017 SURO a oie berth baw tev roe tb wre eles 3,919,906 BOs siete ue cgesieicet cs atths oloisatere 7,586,354 AGA peer aaa ul piaits.« winieslorns wie Rareelee 5,475,315 GOO RES aetna tera ev oiatals Opiate ons she 6,684,770 The following table gives the production by states of Bessemer steel ingots in the last four years: States—Ingots. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. Gross tons:| Gross tons.| Gross tons.|Gross tons. RVEUIA cata stirs eae anes es 3,060,049 3,402,254 3,968,779 3,488,731 rae o Ep Meas hae GA SL GSE ae Fete ae 1,041,541 | 1,489,115 1,679,237 1,388,124 MEGA ccisissrase cre picie + sisieSicce wie a Ldiecert sale lec erae 943,774: | 1,105,040 1,211,246 1,115,571 MAO Te RLALOB o.oo iassiee. ois cle oiersipiois oreieinin’s Sues eo 429,951 612,608 727,092 692,344 CDE Av eA UR a begrec Tres 7 aD pnt ee epg 5,475,315 6,609,017 7,586,354 6,684,770 There were no ‘Clapp-Griffiths works in operation in 1900 and only one Robert-Bessemer plant was active. Seven Tropenas plants were at work that year, and all were employed in the production of steel castings. The production of all kinds of Bessemer steel rails by the producers of Bessemer steel ingots in 1900 was 2,361,921 gross tons, against a similar production in 1899 of 2,240,767 tons and 1,955,427 tons in 1898. The maxi- mum production of Bessemer steel rails by the ‘producers of Bessemer steel ingots was reached in 1900. The year of next largest production was 1899. In 1887, thirteen years ago, 2,044,819 tons were made. This was: the third year of largest production. The following table shows the production by states of Bessemer steel rails by the producers ~ of Bessemer steel ingots in the last four years. The figures given do not include a very small quantity of rails made each year from purchased blooms or re-rolled steel rails, statistics for both of which prod- ucts for 1900 are not yet available. States—Rails. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. Gross tons.} Gross tons.|Gross tons.| Gross tons. PROTA VV ATLA ects viene fs oss she vrs sctes wees 1,024,386 1,052,771 1,224,807 1,195,255 1,015,960 1,166, 666 NDT SEAL OM 2 ooscroia cialis sisbig gia isinis;s sine) ve oe ~ 590,013 902,656 1,614,399 _| 1,955,427 2,240,767 2,361,921 At the request of the manufacturers we separated for 1897, for the first time, the production of Bessemer steel rails weighing 45 lbs. and less than 85 lbs. to the yard from those weighing less than 45 lbs. and over 85 lbs. This separation we continue for 1900, as follows: Under 45 |45 lbs. and/85 lbs. and States—Rails. Ibs. less over. Total. Grosstons.|. than 85. Gross tons. |Gross tons.|Gross tons Penm Sylvania: ¥.:)0 55 Servis < siers ae Ge. 82,161 "184,976 328,118 1,195,255 MOIMROTOSL ALOR S55 oot ion cs a Sy bie ave p.csese.ace as 72,635 820,091 278,940 1,166,666 PROUD ee vette luceisr tete ovele mee Unwicls - 154,796 1,605,067 602,058 2,361,921 _ The total production of rails in 1900 will include rails made from open hearth steel and iron rails. When all the figures are collected it will probably be found that our total production of all kinds of rails in 1900 was about 2,400,000 tons. TO PROTECT CHICAGO RIVER NAVIGATION. Commercial organizations of Chicago are supporting the position taken by the Lake Carriers’ Association with, reference to regulation of the flow of water to the drainage canal. Following are a couple of letters on the subject forwarded recently to the secretary of war: Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:—The vari- ous interests, as manufacturers, shipping, railways, grain, lumber, coal, elevators and the like, doing business in and along the Chicago river and its south branch, have been put to serious cost and loss, by reason oi the large volume of water allowed to flow through the river much of the time since the board of trustees of the Sanitary District of Chicago have turned the water through the drainage canal oP the district. The flow of water at times has exceeded 350,000 cu. ft. of water per minute, causing so strong a current that the navigation of the river has been made so hazardous as greatly to curtail business, to’ the serious damage of all interests. ‘ The current has been found to be nearly three miles per hour at times, a speed that is not consistent with safe navigation of the river under the existing conditions, as has been proved beyond question, and it is the opinion of this association, which is composed of representative men in business, banking and professional pursuits, who are deeply interested in the welfare of Chicago, its interests, our great inland marine and the interests of the middle west and the northwest, that until further improve- ments are made in the Chicago river, a maximum current of more than one and one-quarter miles per hour should not longer be permitted in the river. Therefore, the Chicago. Commercial Association. respectfully petitions [March 28, that you take the proper steps to cause the board of trustees to maintain a flow of water through the Chicago river of not more than 200,000 cu. ft. of water per minute. The Chicago Commercial Association. By Wm. H. Chadwick, President. Chicago, March 16, 1901. La Verne W. Noyes, Secretary. Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.: Dear Sir— The Lumbermen’s Association of the City of Chicago respectfully repre- sents that the discharge of water through the Chicago river into the drainage channel during the past year seriously interfered with the hand- ling of vessels engaged in the lumber trade. The volume, and particularly the current, were so excessive that great damage resulted at times, not only to vessels, but to other property along the river. We believe that the river can be navigated safely and speedily only by a reduction in the volume of water to a maximum of 200,000 cu. ft. per minute, and to a speed of not to exceed one and one-quarter miles per hour. We earnestly request, therefore, that you will give such order to the drainage trustees as will cause them to reduce the volume and speed of the current to the maximum above suggested. V. F. Mashek, Vice-President. Chicago, March 16, 1901. AROUND THE GREAT LAKES. A report from Cheboygan, Mich., is to the effect that teams are still crossing the ice to Bois Blanc island and it is still solid as ever. March weather thus far has been the severest ever known. North-east gales have prevailed with snow. The snow is 8 ft. deep in some places. Grain in store at the head of Lake Superior—ports of Duluth and ‘Superior—ageregates 15,500,000 bu. compared with 18,250,000 bu. at this time a year ago. Little is doing in the chartering of vessels. Occasionally a ship is engaged at 2 cents, wheat to Buffalo on the opening of naviga- tion. Ice in the harbor, 24 in.; outside, 14 in.; field now extends several miles down the lake but is considerably broken. An increase in the freight traffic of the Pittsburgh, Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad (Carnegie ore road between Conneaut and Pittsburg) has made necessary an addition to the rolling stock of the company. An order has been placed with the Pressed Steel Car Co. of Pittsburg for 1,000 gondola cars of the latest type. A contract for stock cars has been given to the Erie Car Works. Capt. Joseph P. Cottrell, whose home is Marine City, Mich., but who ’ has been in California of late, has been appointed local inspector of hulls at Detroit, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of ‘Capt. Sidney ~ J. Millen. His last command was the steamer Tacoma of the Gilchrist fleet, but prior to his engagement in the Tacoma he commanded for several seasons steamers of the 'Minnesota line, including the Maruba, Maritana and others. One of the two large freight steamers building at the Chicago works of the American Ship Building ‘Co. for Mir. C. W. Elphicke and others was launched Wednesday and named William L. Brown, in honor of the president of the ship building company. The Brown is 450 ft. over all, 430 ft. keel, 50 ft. beam and 28% ft. depth. Engines will be triple ex- pansion with cylinders of 23, 388 and 64 in. diameter and 40 in. stroke; Scotch boilers of 180 lbs. steam pressure. This ship will carry about 6,400 gross tons and will cost about $280,000. - In its plans for direct representation through salaried agents the Erie & Western Transportation Co. (Anchor line) is certainly providing the best of facilities for the care of passenger and freight traffic on the lakes during the coming season. In Cleveland, John Maron, who is well and favorably known to the manufacturing and shipping interests, will repre- sent the company, and the dock and warehouse’ property secured is that formerly occupied by the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Co., No. 23 River street. This property is easily accessible to teams and the large warehouses afford ample facilities for the handling of freight. In Detroit the dock property just secured is equally advantageous. It adjoins the property of the D. & C. company and has 500 ft. frontage. Referring to the failure of the river and harbor bill in the last con- gress, Col. G. J. Lydecker, who is in charge of the important improve- ments in the St. Mary’s, St. Clair and Detroit rivers, says that the loss of additional appropriations will not, of course, stop work entirely. ‘We shall go on with the work under contract at the Limekilns,” said Col. Lydecker, “and with the money available will be able to widen the 300-ft. channel through island No. 1, at the entrance to Hay lake, to 600 ft. Of course, we are always authorized to remove dangerous obstructions in the channels. I believe we have about $1,750,000 available to use this year, but, of course, the improvement of the St. Clair flats channel (a second canal) cannot be begun, and that is what I regret most in the loss of the appropriations.” Two more Chicago Nautical School students have secured papers for salt water navigation and are to have places on vessels of the Northwestern Steamship ‘Co. (Charles Counselman), building at Chicago for trade between ‘Chicago and European ports. Lieut. Wm. J. Wilson, principal of the Chicago school, was informed recently by telegraph from Boston that Capt. John Crangle and Albert Swanson had been successful in an examination that followed a course of study at Chicago. They are to be rewarded by positions on the Counselman boats, which they were prom- ised in event of success at the Boston examination. Swanson’s experience was not equal to that of his fellow master, but by hard work he secured master’s papers and goes out as first mate in the Northwestern, which will be the first of the four steamers to leave Chicago—about April 24. The American Ship Building Co. keeps on paying quarterly divi- dends of 134 per cent. on the preferred stock, and from the manner in which the common stock has been increasing in value of late it is quite evi- dent that the holders of that stock are expecting a share of the profits with the close of the company’s year in July. The consolidated yards are ' certainly accumulating a surplus large enough just now to pay a liberal dividend on the common stock and still leave a big item of undivided profits in the treasury, but the policy of the company in this respect will, of course, be dependent upon the views of the executive board. At a meet- ing of the executive board a few.days ago a dividend of 134 per cent. on the preferred shares was declared, payable April 15 to stockholders of record at the close of business April 5. ransfer books will be .closed- April.5 and reopened April 16. EG SARI neg ‘ a 285