Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================== THE LUDINGTON RECORD, Ludington, Michigan Thursday, February 3, 1881 VOL. XIV. OLD SERIES, NO. 22 VOL. I NEW SERIES, NO. 37 LOCAL MATTERS ------------- The propeller CITY OF LUDINGTON is still held by the ice about ten miles off Grand Haven. Lyon's barge building and repairs on the fleet gives employment to fifty men. Operations on the barges are continually checked for want of a full supply of timber. We are informed that four million bushels of grain will pass through Ludington within the next ninety days, if the weather will permit. Four propellers have been running during the winter and another will be put on the route at once. Capt. Fred. Kendrick and Engineer Cummings have received orders to put all necessary repairs on the U.S. tug now lying at Grand Haven, and be ready for business as soon as the weather will permit. Capt. J. J. Brown, of the life-saving station, have gone to Manistee to assist John A. Mitchell in taking soundings off that harbor. LOSS OF THE PROPELLER ST. ALBANS The N. T. Co.'s propeller ST. ALBANS left Milwaukee for Ludington last Sunday morning, but foundered when about twenty miles out from Milwaukee. The following information taken from the masters protest will be of interest to the general reader: At the time of leaving Milwaukee harbor Sunday morning at 9 o'clock, the weather was particularly fine. The wind was northwest, and the propeller was put directly on her course, northeast half north, for Ludington. Immediately after leaving port, the pumps were tried and there was no water in the vessel. From that time the pumps were tried every few moments, for the propeller was continually encountering fields of ice, which were dangerous, and it was desired to take every pre- caution against injury that might have been done by the ice. Not- withstanding every precaution by the officers in charge and the crew, when near the ice that appeared to be dangerous, at 10:45 o'clock A.M. Sunday, the engineer reported to the master that the vessel was making water fast. Immediately all the pumps were started and the propeller's course was changed to west by south with the intention of returning to Milwaukee if possible and if not to run her on the beach, but the water was found to be gaining and it was decided to throw over the deck load. In 30 minutes the water had gained so as to put out the fires, and the engine stopped when the deck load was thrown over. The vessel drifted up forward. We went down and found a hole in the port bow. This hole was still under water. The master went down to the edge of the water and found that the hole was through the iron plating, and through the planking of the hull between the two frames. Immediately every effort was made to stop the leak with blankets and bedding, but it could not be done, when we attempted to get at the leak by chopping away the ceiling from the inside, but it turned out that it could not be done, and that it was unsafe for men to work in the hold. A consultation was then held and it was decided that it was best to try and save the lives of those on board. The crew were ordered to quarters, and orders were given by the master to lower the boats. Boat number one was placed in charge of the first mate, number two in charge of the first engineer, number three in charge of the master, number four in charge of the second mate. The boats was lowered successfully. They were each supplied with provisions and woolen blankets for each person, also axes, lamps and a com- pass for each boat. The passengers were apportioned to the boats as was deemed best and expedient by the master. The crew of each boat left the steamer in a deliberate and orderly manner. We pushed away from the propeller at 12:30 o'clock P.M., with Mil- waukee point bearing southwest by south, and about 20 miles dis- tant. We headed our boats for the shore, but in consequence of a drifting lee we made slow progress, and at dark had only made about five miles in a southwesterly direction. We continued working all night in fields of slush ice. At 9:30 o'clock A.M. Jan 31st, we saw the propeller NASHUA coming out of the harbor. She came as near to us as was safe and lowered a boat along side of us, but we deemed it safer to try and land the boats than to risk the danger of being swamped by getting alongside of the pro- peller. We finally reached the beach, by the assistance of the life-saving crew and the efforts of the citizens." The protest was signed by Capt. Casey, first mate Thos. Lenhy, first engineer Albert Wilder and steward McQuillan. One deck hand is missing and is undoubtedly lost. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE LUDINGTON RECORD, Ludington, Michigan Thursday, February 10, 1881 VOL. XIV. OLD SERIES, NO. 23 VOL. I NEW SERIES, NO. 38 LOCAL MATTERS: -------------- The petition is afloat to get a harbor of refuge at this place. It will be signed by men of all occupations connected with, or in any way interested in shipping of the transfer of freight. We think it would be an easy matter to prove that Ludington possesses a more capacious and better harbor for the purpose than any other on this shore. We should like to see a committee of engineers inquire into this very thing. Ludington would surely take the lead. Decline of our Merchant Marine ------------------------------ Mr. Henry Hall, who has given a great deal of attention to American shipping interests, and who published not long ago a valuable pamphlet on the decline of our ocean carrying trade, has an article on the same subject in the last Atlantic Month- ly, which presents some fresh and suggestive statistics, and shows that in the recent remarkable revival of our National in- dustries the shipping interest has no part. The vessels of al- most every commercial nation in the globe throng our ports to compete for the profitable business of carrying our products over seas, but our own shipping list shrinks from year to year, and many of our vessels still nominally in service lie idle at our wharves. It is almost incredible that this one interest, which was depressed, perhaps more than any other, during the period of hard times, should now receive no benefit from the return of National prosperity; and yet the figures show that our ships actually carry less transoceanic freight than they did three years ago, and less than at any time during the last thirty years, the period of our civil war alone excepted. The following tables are given in the Atlantic article as showing the number and nationality of vessels engaged in the whole for- eign carrying trade of the United States, except to Canada, on the 4th day of August, 1880. SAIL: TRANSOCEANIC British----------- 1,276 Hawaiian------------- 6 American---------- 884 Costa Rican---------- 4 Norwegian--------- 882 Bolivian------------- 2 Swedish----------- 143 Brazillian----------- 8 Italian----------- 598 Argentine------------ 5 German------------ 395 Mexican-------------- 1 Austrian---------- 165 Haytian-------------- 2 Dutch------------- 49 Nicaraguan----------- 2 Russian----------- 64 Honduras------------- 1 Danish------------ 29 Belgian-------------- 2 Portuguese-------- 26 Greek---------------- 1 Spanish----------- 85 ------ French------------ 57 TOTAL 4,682 SAIL: TO WEST INDIES AND SOUTH AMERICA British----------- 208 Dutch---------------- 2 American---------- 444 Portuguese----------- 1 Spanish----------- 15 French--------------- 5 Haytian----------- 13 Mexican-------------- 1 Norwegian--------- 8 Costa Rican---------- 2 Italian----------- 7 ------ Danish------------ 3 TOTAL 698 STEAM British----------- 447 Danish--------------- 5 American---------- 46 Dutch---------------- 6 German------------ 35 Brazilian------------ 1 Spanish----------- 21 Mexican-------------- 1 Belgiam----------- 13 Costa Rican---------- 1 French------------ 9 ------ Italian----------- 5 TOTAL 590 In the second classification nearly all the American vessels are small schooners, which might properly be ranked as coasters. Of the forty-six American steamers included in the third table, only fourteen are in the transoceanic trade; the others run to the West Indies or Mexico. Thus it appears that Belgium, a coun- try not much larger than one of our New York counties, has about as many ocean steamships in our trade as we have ourselves, while Germany and Spain have more. Some of the figures in the list of transoceanic sailing vessels are also very striking. We find that the little, sterile, rock-bound kingdom of Norway, with a popula- tion less than that of the State of Massachusetts, employes 882 vessels in our trade; that Italy, which not many years ago ap- peared to be sleeping the sleep of commercial as well as poli- tical death, employs 598; and Austria, which has but a single port and that far up the head of the Adriatic, has 165. Evid- ently our trade is profitable, or else the whole world would not be rushing here to secure a share in it. Collector Merritt, in a recent report, shows that the value of the exports of the port of New York for the year ending June 30, 1880, was two hundred eighty-three millions one hundred sixty-eight thousand and eight hundred and fifty-one dollars, of which sail vessels took out seventy-three millions twenty-nine thousand six hundred and seventy-seven dollars, and steamers two hundred ten millions one hundred thirty-nine thousand one hundred and seventy-four dollars. So profitable is the freightage of this immense amount of commodi- ties that even China is seeking to engage in the business, and is going to run a line of steamers to San Francisco. Dr. Walker, the statistician of New York Produce Exchange, estimates the total amount of freight money paid in 1879 on American commodities ex- ported at eighty-eight millions three hundred four thousand dollars. On return cargoes the ships engaged in this trade are estimated to have earned forty-five millions of dollars. Here is a total of over one hundred thirty-three millions of dollars earned in one year in the American ocean carrying trade. If American ships now enjoyed the place in the trade they used to have, Mr. Hall says they would have received about one hundred and ten millions of this total of freight money. As it is they got only twenty-three millions of dollars. The foreigners took all the rest. Mr. Hall does not attempt to suggest a remedy for this dis- couraging state of things. He only points out the magnitude of the evil, and wisely leaves the cure to be sought by those whose business it is to provide it -- the Congress of the United States. He recognizes the difficulties which beset the problem of regain- ing our old position upon the seas, difficulties arising from the low wages and low rates of interest prevailing in other countries, the large amount of surplus capital possessed by them, and the ab- sorption of our own capital in railroads in the newly occupied re- gions of our territory. Still he thinks a remedy can be found if public sentiment be aroused in this country, and there comes up the same demand from our people which at different times has com- pelled England, France, China and Japan to act. He might have added that one step toward the restoration of our commerce has, fortunately, been taken already. The Democratic party, which has shown an utter incapacity for dealing with this or any other important subject of National concern, has been put out of power in Congress, and the Republican party placed in control of the legislation of the country. ------------------------------------------------------- FROM WASHINGTON --------------- Michigan's Share The house commerce committee has reported a river and harbor bill in which the following appropriations are made: Detroit river, $50,000; Ludington, $10,000; Ontonagon, $20,000; Muskegon, $10,000; Manistee, $10,000; Sault Ste. Marie canal, $150,000; Grand Haven, $50,000; Saugatuck, $5,000; White river, $5,000; Black lake, $5,000; Saginaw river, raised from $4,000 to $10,000 by the persistence of Mr. Horr; Cheboygan, $6,000; Au Sable river, $4,000; for repairs of Monroe harbor, $2,500; Grand Marais, $20,000; Menominee, $10,000; Frankfort, $5,000; Charlevoix, $10,000; Portage Lake, $10,000; Pentwater, $6,000. The aggregate of the bill is $8,000,000. It will probably be in- creased in the senate. NEWS OF THE WEEK ---------------- Michigan Representative Newberry has introduced a resolution for a board of officers to determine at a report whether the St. Mary's river can be bridged without detriment to navigation, and whether any draw is necessary, except a draw over the canal. The steamer ST. ALBANS, bound from Milwaukee to Ludington, foundered when about twelve miles out of Milwaukee Sunday morning, on account of a leak caused by the ice. The crew of twenty and five passengers took to the boats and left the propeller Sunday afternoon. The boats kept together all night and arrived at the Milwaukee pier Monday morn- ing. All those on board were saved. A shower of rock from a blast in the canal cutting at Sault Ste. Marie killed Thomas Wilson and injured John Murray, Thomas Tate and Allen McDonald. The men had been warned to keep out of the derrick near the blast, as it was in a dangerous place, but long immunity made them care- less. This time the flying rocks went right through the board side of the derrick. Wilson was struck in the head and killed, Murry had both legs broken and one was amputated, Tate had a leg badly bruised, and McDonald was struck in the breast, hip and knee and was badly injured. The steamer CITY OF LUDINGTON has not been sighted or heard from since last Monday. She has drifted away with the floating fields of ice, but as she is well stocked with provisions there is but little anxiety felt at Grand Haven for the safety of the steamer and crew. It is now 12 days since the steamer City of Ludington left Milwaukee for Grand Haven. She was lying in the ice off this shore several days but drifted away with the ice. A force of men are sawing a channel through the ridge of ice obstructing the harbor. As soon as they can get through the Depere and Menominee will search for and relieve the Ludington. East Saginaw shipyards have on the stocks or in hand three large schooners, a steam barge and a tug; SAGINAW CITY a barge, and BAY CITY a passenger and freight propeller, two steam barges and a tow barge. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE LUDINGTON RECORD, Ludington, Michigan Thursday, February 17, 1881 VOL. XIV. OLD SERIES, NO. 24 VOL. I NEW SERIES, NO. 39 LOCAL MATTERS: -------------- F. H. Fancher, with a batch of ten caulkers, left Quebec two days ago for Ludington, to assist in caulking Lyon's barges. THE CITY OF LUDINGTON --------------------- From associate press dispatches, we learn the following particulars of the propeller CITY OF LUDINGTON: "The propeller CITY OF LUDINGTON of the G. L., which left this port (Milwaukee) at 2 P.M. on Friday the 11th inst. to repeat its attempt to reach Grand Haven, and for the safety of which, on account of the gale of Friday night, considerable fear was entertained, returned here at 10:30 A.M., the 13th, in good condition. Capt. Gillman, master of the boat, states that in his ex- perience on the lake, which includes a voyage in the terrible storm of last October, he never saw as fierce a gale as that of Friday night. The propeller, after leaving here on Friday, had kept well to the north- east in the face of the wind, so that in case a severe storm was en- countered she might be brought back to Milwaukee. About 5 o'clock on Friday evening, when about 25 miles out, the gale was encountered. The vessel was at once headed about for the purpose of returning here, but struck a field of moving ice off Port Washington, about two hours later. In this she was quite safe from the storm, but in danger of running aground on account of open spaces in the ice field. Soundings were taken constantly. The tempest reached its culminating point about 10 o'clock, and sea is described as terrible, even with the protection of the stanch ice. Land was first sighted at noon, Satur- day, and it was found that the vessel had drifted about 50 miles south with the floes, and was off Racine point. Toward evening the wind from the northwest broke up the ice-field and the vessel began to work her way out. She reached the company's dock here at the time stated, being the first time she has been in port in 18 days. Capt. Gillman has been congratulated on all sides this afternoon for his heroism as well as his good luck." NEWS OF THE WEEK: ----------------- MICHIGAN The missing steamer CITY OF LUDINGTON, has been seen of Port Washington, and is undoubtedly safe. The steamer CITY OF LUDINGTON has got within two miles of Milwaukee. The passengers went ashore on the ice and are now back where they started from after more than a fortnight in the lake. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE LUDINGTON RECORD, Ludington, Michigan Thursday, February 24, 1881 VOL. XIV. OLD SERIES, NO. 25 VOL. I NEW SERIES, NO. 40 LOCAL MATTERS: -------------- Eddie Foster has taken a one-half interest in the steamer MAGNET and will be on board during navigation the coming summer. Lyon's barges are progressing in fine style, eighty-three men being now employed in their construction, with a plentiful supply of material. William H. Anderson left Detroit for Glasgow, Scotland, two months ago, to engage experienced iron-ship-builders, and has just returned with 115 experienced workmen. There are now 750 men on the pay roll of the Detroit dry-dock company. The petition circulated by THE RECORD office, to secure a sufficient appropriation to be used in making a harbor of refuge here, has met with a very hearty reception by all who are in any way concerned. Not only have several hundreds of names been subscribed here, but a paper sent to Col. J. M. Loomis, of Chicago, has been returned, hav- ing grown to several feet in length and signed by nearly all the lead- ing lumber firms, representing millions of property. The several papers will be forwarded to Washington at the earliest date possible, and if any more signatures are necessary, the three great states interested, viz: Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois, will join heartily in sending them up. Such a place of refuge, as is contemplated, will be a blessing to thousands of sailors and their friends, as well as to property owners, whether vessels or merchandise. THE FLINT AND PERE MARQUETTE ---------------------------- A special dispatch to the Chicago Tribune from Milwaukee, under date of Thursday says: "The announcement was made here to-day by D. Edwards, general freight agent of the Flint and Pere Marquette railway, that this company has just contracted with the Detroit dry-dock company of Wyandotte, to have built three iron propellers. These vessels are to run between this city and Ludington, and will be 900 tons burden, and costing $120,000 each. Mr. Edwards is here settling up the ST. ALBANS loss. He reports the Pere Marquette line in a prosperous condition. It has entered into active competi- tion with the boom companies in transporting logs from the woods to the mills, and last year hauled 29,000 carloads. By its expeditious work the mills are enabled to clear up their logs annually. --------------------------- Hundreds stop every day to admire Carleton's fine oil paintings of the steamers in the ice. The perfection of detail, the clear per- spective and neat touches, proclaim care and skill. Mr. Carleton has for sale, at Hudon's, some very accurate photographs of these pictures. So if you cannot afford an original, you can have a very perfect representation, at a small figure. IMPROVEMENT OF MICHIGAN RIVER AND HARBOR ---------------------------------------- Senator Ferry has introduced and had referred to the committee on commerce two proposed amendments to the river and harbor bill; one to appropriate $8,000 for continuing the improvement of the Clinton river, Michigan, and the other appropriating $7,000 for removing the bar at the harbor of refuge at Belle river. ST. MARY'S CANAL ---------------- The bill to authorize the board of control to transfer the St. Mary's Falls ship canal, with the property belonging to the same, to the United States, has finally passed both houses, and it only remains to secure the Governor's approval. The terms of the bill require the general government to make navigation in the canal forever free and to keep it in constant repair for the passage of the largest vessels. Also to maintain a dry-dock for the use of disabled vessels. NEWS OF THE WEEK ---------------- MICHIGAN The house committee on commerce has reported favorably on the bill introduced by Mr. Newberry for a bell buoy on Graham shoals, in the straits. Eugene Allen has been appointed deputy collector of the port of Ludington instead of H. Newcombe who has held the place for eight years. =========================================================================