Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== ANNUAL REPORT of the LAKE CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION 1913 ============== Page 22 WELFARE PLAN The large number of men who were employed on the vessels during the past season has shown a marked in- crease in the number of registrations. The total registration in 1912 was 18,194. During 1913 the enrollment was 19,553 classified as follows: Registrations in 1913 Masters........................ 437 Chief Engineers................ 490 Mates and Second Mates......... 937 ------------------------------------------------------- Page 23 Assistant Engineeers........... 622 Able Seamen.................... 7,633 Ordinary Seamen................ 9,434 ======= Total..........19,553 Enrollment by years: 1909....... 9,752 1910.......11,731 Gain over 1909......1,979 1911.......15,106 Gain over 1910......3,375 1912.......18,194 Gain over 1911......3,058 1912.......19,553 Gain over 1912......1,359 (*Transcriber note: last entry should be 1913. Transcribed as printed.) It is believed that the number for 1913 is perhaps the normal registration for a year in which all the vessels of the Association are in operation, and it is therefore to be expected that there will be little, if any, increase beyond this number in the future until the number of vessels is materially increased. The work of enrollment has been free from incident, the men appearing more ready to accept its advantages and to take the initiative in applying for registration and renewal. The co-operation of the officers of the vessels in promoting the registrations has been general. It will always be necessary for the success of the movement and the availment of its advantages to the fullest extent on the part of the men, that the owners and officers con- tinue to give the movement their moral and active sup- port and to see that the men in their service understand the benefits that accrue to enrollment. The club room privileges have been as extensively ac- cepted as in previous years, and marked improvement has been made in the advantages offered by these rooms. New and larger rooms have been provided at Ashtabula and a shower bath has been installed, which was impossible in the rooms formerly occupied at this port. The sea- men's rooms at Detroit have been enlarged; improve- ments, including a shower bath, have been installed at South Chicago and more commodious quarters are being sought in other ports. In the officers' club rooms pianos have been installed, and the Victrola records have been added to materially, the selections being for the most part music of classical character and by artists of recognized merit. ---------------------------------------------------------- Page 23 In all rooms the subscriptions to the current maga- zines and periodicals have been liberal and the men have availed themselves to a greater extent in the reading of them. A pool tournament was arranged last season between teams of the Engineers Assembly Rooms and the Ship- masters Lodge in Cleveland. Much enthusiasm and good feeling resulted and plans have been made for a more extended tournament during the present winter, to be participated in by representatives of all the Officers Assembly Rooms maintained under the Welfare Plan. If the Welfare Plan needed any vindication, its pur- poses were amply justified by the service it rendered in accounting for the men whose lives were lost in the great storm of November 9th, and in responding promptly with reliable information to the hundreds of inquiries concerning men employed on vessels of the Association, other than those wrecked. In the calamity which visited the great lakes on that date six vessels of our member- ship were lost with their entire crews. By our system of registration the name and address of practically every member of the crew of each vessel was on file in our office, together with the name and address of a near rela- tive or friend of each man. With this information at hand almost every body that was recovered from the wrecks was identified and delivered into the hands of relatives or friends who were thus enabled to perform the last service that can be rendered for any person. In addition to this the death benefits provided by the Lake Carriers' Association furnished funds so necessary at such times and when, in most cases, money was not otherwise available. Sad and horrifying as the loss of life was on this occasion, the death benefits which were paid as promptly as possible were of much practical help in time of need and saved so much of distress that com- ment is unnecessary. ===========================================================================