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. =========================================================================== Coast Seamen's Journal Volume 23, 1909 -8- ON THE GREAT LAKES (Contributed by the Lake Seamen's Union) RULES FOR SOO RIVER ------------------- On and after May 6, all traffic afloat will be forbidden to the eastward of the axis of the Sailor's Encampment (Canadian) range at Sailor's Encampment cut, St. Mary's River, Mich., from just below the Encamp- ment crib light to the axis of the Point of Woods range lights. On and after that date the front light of the Canadian range and the Encampment crib light, fixed red, will be extinquished until further notice, and the navigable channel will be buoyed and lighted as follows: TO MARK THE EASTERLY LIMITS OF THE CHANNEL 1. A red gas buoy showing a fixed red light will be established on the axis of the Canadian range directly opposite Rains Is- land float light at the lower entrance of the channel. 2. A red spar buoy will be established on the axis of the range opposite the position heretofore occupied by the Middle Ground buoy, red and black horizontal stripe. 3. A float showing a fixed red light will be established about 1,000 feet from the lower entrance at a point about midway from there to the turn on to the Point of Woods range opposite Johnson's Point. 4. A float showing a red fixed light will be established directly opposite Johnson's Point. 5. Rains dock gas buoy No. 20, showing a fixed red light, ten seconds, eclipse ten seconds, will be moved due west, and moored on the axis of the Canadian range. TO MARK THE WESTERLY SIDE OF THE CHANNEL 1. Rains Island float, showing a fixed white light will mark the westerly limits of the lower entrance as heretofore. 2. Slocum's dock buoy, No. 15, will re- main in place. 3. A float, showing a fixed white light will be established about midway between the lower entrance and Johnson's Point, and opposite the float showing a fixed red light on the easterly side. 4. Johnson's Point float, showing a fixed white light will continue to mark the west- erly limits on the channel at the turn opposite Johnson's Point. Colonel Townsend has advised President Livingstone of the Lake Carriers that the westerly channel will have a width of 150 feet at the narrowest section. It will be carefully swept before opening so that it will be free from any obstruction. Vessels will be entirely safe in loading to full eighteen feet, which is the greatest depth that can be carried through the Poe lock. A tug will be stationed at the Encampment at opening of the west side channel May 6, and will remain for the first ten days after the opening for the purpose of piloting any vessels through that their masters may desire. ------------------------------------- The steamer MINNEHAHA, which went on the rocks off the Scilly Islands en route to the English Channel recently, was a sister-ship to the MINNETONKA and MINNETOSKA, both of which were built at Cleveland, and were taken to the Atlantic Coast in sections about eight years ago. --------------------------------------- TO MAKE GREAT HARBOR Washington, May 4 -- The United States Steel Corporation is trying to get the aid of the Gov- ernment for the establishment at Gary, Ind., of one of the greatest fresh water harbors of the world. What the company wants the Government to do is to permit it to fill in the Lake along the Gary plant - about a mile or more out to where the water is of a permanent depth of twenty-five feet. Representative Crumpacker has introduced a joint resolution giving the consent of Congress to such plans and hopes to get it passed. It would mean that the company would be permitted to "make" land with slag and the like about half a mile into the Lake or in all, about 300 or 400 acres. Under the Indiana State law, the concern already claims the right to fill in the Lake out to the navigation line, or a depth of twenty-two feet, but says it wants to go out to the twenty-five foot depth so that it may build slips for the big ore boats without dredging. But it is believed that the real reason for the resolution is to enable it to get around asking permission of the War Depart- ment to do the filling, some statesmen holding such permission is neccessary, not withstanding the Indiana law that permits the reclamation of submerged lands. Yes, the United States Government will probably donate to the "steal" corporation all of the people's property it requires, build breakwaters around the Gary Harbor with the people's money, taxing the workers the greater proportion, and then allow the Steel Company to fence in the piers and breakwaters, and keep the "common people" off. This was done at Conneaut. The people pay the bills, but get none of the goods. W. H. Jenkins Conneaut, O. ------------------------------------------ THE PRESIDENT AND HIS "CARD" Recently there has been some newspaper talk about President Taft attending a Naps- St. Louis baseball game at St. Louis. The Naps, a Cleveland club, are under the ban of organized labor, because the owners em- ployed scab labor in building their ball park at Cleveland. President Taft was made an honorary member of the Steam Shovelers' Union at the time he started the machine to dig the first shovelful of dirt at the Panama Canal, and according to the current news- papers, Mr. Taft will be fined for attending the ball game. What rot! Why, oh why, will organized labor lay itself open to such ridicule? Think of it, William H. Taft, the original injunction judge, given an honorary membership in a labor union! Any observant man would have recoginized the probability of just such a situation as has arisen in connection with the scab baseball grounds. W. H. Jenkins Conneaut, O. ------------------------------------------ At high court justice sitting at Fort Ar- thur on April 19 before Justice Latchford, Hugh Harmon of Cleveland was found guilty of manslaughter for killing Albert Walner on board the steamer ANDREW CARNEGIE in Port Arthur harbor last August. Harmon, who was second-engineer on the CARNEGIE, was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary. ------------------------------------------- Captain W. L. Wright of Erie, Pa., com- anding the steamer MUNCY, of the Anchor line, suddenly died on April 18 aboard the ship while on the way to Houghton from Duluth. This was the captain's first trip on the MUNCY. --------------------------------------------- SOME RESULTS OF "WELFARE" Duluth, May 3 -- The steamer PRENTICE and barge HALSTEAD were damaged, near midnight last night, in an accident while entering the Government canal, and Capt. John Lundberg of the Halstead had his leg broken. Laden with lumber for the Barnett & Record Co., the boats were impeded in making the canal by the strong wind which was blowing from the west. Under its pressure the tow veered sharply, striking the south pier. The HALSTEAD was considerably damaged and began to leak. The steamer ranged alongside to tow the damaged vessel into the harbor, but so rapidly did the HALSTEAD fill she listed toward the PRENTICE, un- shipping her deckload. The mass of lumber slid onto the latter, the captain of the HALSTEAD going with it. He was considerably bruised, aside from having his leg broken. --------------------------------------- With the aid of the tug FAVORITE, the steamer St. Paul of the Mutual Transit Company's fleet was speedily released from the shore of the St. Clair River, below Port Huron. The St. Paul was not damaged. ------------------------------------------ The barge HALSTEAD, which struck the pier at Duluth Sunday night, is on the bottom in Duluth Harbor. Her cargo of timber is being lightered. ------------------------------------------- Milwaukee, May 1 -- That the hull of the steamer IOWA, which was stranded near Ra- cine during the storm on April 20 was badly strained is shown by the survey made of the boat after it was placed in drydock at the south yard on Saturday. It will be nec- cessary to remove the entire sheeting in order to recalk all of the seams of the boat. A number of bottom planks were broken and these will be replaced while the recalking is going on. It is figured that it will take ten days to make the repairs. The Goodrich line is not inconvenienced by the accident to the boat. The regular schedule was resumed the day following the accident by placing the steamer GEORGIA on the run. -------------------------------------------- Sault Ste. Marie, May 1 -- The steamer SARONIC, Northern Navigation Company, left here this morning after being detained since yesterday making repairs to her steerage gear and wheel. One blade was broken off and rudder injured while coming down lake. It was at first thought it would be necces- sary to tranship passengers here and have the boat towed to Sarnia, Ont., but the en- tire list remained on board. She will be met at Detour by a tug from Port Huron to assist her to her destination. ----------------------------------------------- The steamer MARTIN MULLEN, upbound with coal, parted her wheel chains and stranded on Stribbings Point, St. Mary's River, last night. She was released and proceeded apparently uninjured. While making entrance to the Canadian Canal, the barge HAROLD took a sheer and struck bank. One blade of the rudder stock was broken off. It ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -9- will be neccessary to make repairs before she can proceed. ------------------------------------------------ Sault Ste. Marie, May 4. - As the barge TYRONE lay alongside the steamer SCHUCK, waiting locking turn, the wind caughter her and drove her against the steamer. A hole 10x12 inches was punctured in the TYRONE'S port bow just below the water line. Her No. 1 tank and forepeak are full of water. Repairs will be made here, and it is expected she will get away Friday. ------------------------------------------------- Detroit, April 28 -- The steamer GLENMOUNT aground at St. Clair flats was released last night after lightering a portion of her cargo of oats and she passed down this morning. She is not believed to be injured. ------------------------------------------------- The steamer CHAMPLAIN, built at the Ecorse yard for the Northern Lakes Steamship Company, is on her maiden trip, having gone to Escanaba for a load of ore. -------------------------------------------------- TO FIX HARBOR LINE Colonel John Millis, engineer in charge of the Cleveland district, on April 28, held two hearings at Lorain. The first was the application of the B. & O. railroad for per- mission to fill in 500 square feet along the west pier in order to carry out its plan of dock improvements. The land to be made is to be used as storage ground. The question of the city's riparian rights and the angles to be observed was discussed and Colonel Millis finally suggested that a permanent harbor line be agreed upon beyond which no private interests might encroach. This would leave the riparian owners to fight out their lines among themselves and through the courts. He will make several plans show- ing this permanent harbor plan before conduct- ing another hearing. The second hearing was upon the request of the Board of Commerce that the Government establish the dock lines in the river pro- viding for a 400-foot channel. Colonel Millis said there would be nothing in the way of such a recommendation, providing the city come to a settlement with the B. & O. Railroad with reference to the removal of a bend in the river just south of the Erie road viaduct. -------------------------------------------- CONTRACT FOR DREDGING The Inland Improvement Company, in- corporated recently, has been awarded the contract for dredging the upper river, ex- tending navigation to the site for the new plant of the Great Lakes Engineering Works at Ashtabula. The bid was $281,000, being $8,000 less than that of the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company. Edgar C. Bowen, who has supervised the Lake extensions, and Donald McLennan, now in charge of the dredging in the west Neebish Channel, are principal factors in the Inland Waterways Improvement Company and will personally direct the work. President Pessano and other officials of the Great Lakes Engineering Works will very soon begin construction of the new plant. -------------------------------------------- Conneaut and Ashtabula offices of the Lake Seamen's Union opened on April 15th. The Ashtabula Hall is now located at the corner of High and Market streets, instead of 87 Bridge street, as formerly. --------------------------------------------- STRIKE ON THE GREAT LAKES ------------------ COMRADES: The strike of Sailors, Firemen and Cooks on the Great Lakes is still on. We appeal to all seafaring men to assist us in persuad- ing seamen to stay away from the Lakes during this strike. Any reports that the strike has been settled are false. The Seamen of the Great Lakes are sticking to- gether solidly, and will keep up the battle for freedom and decent conditions until the fight is won. "God Almighty hates a quitter." (So do we.) Lend a hand, comrades, by inducing seamen to stay away from the Lakes while the strike is on. Yours fraternally, LAKE DISTRICT, International Seamen's Union of America -------------------------------------------------- STRIKE ON THE GREAT LAKES KEEP AWAY!! -------------------------------------------------- ENGINEERS LICENSES SUSPENDED Marine Inspectors William A. Collins and Frank W. Van Patton, of Milwaukee, have revoked the chief engineer's license of Ed- ward Cramp, Philadelphia, and suspended William Oakley, Sturgeon Bay, for ninety days. Cramp was chief engineer on the steamer GEORGE C. HOWE last season. While off Sheboygan on Thanksgiving Day the port boiler of the steamer was "burned up," and an investigation resulted. The second engineer of the boat sailed on the Atlantic during the winter and some delay was en- countered in taking testimony. Oakley was chief engineer on the tug LORENE. In Feb- ruary the boiler of the tug came near being destroyed when a fire was started with but little water in it. -------------------------------------------------- STEAMER IOWA ASHORE The steamer IOWA of the Goodrich line went aground near Racine on April 23. The vessel is in no danger and it is expected she will be floated in a short time. No injuries have been reported. The boat is firmly em- bedded in the sand. The depth of water forward is five feet while the aft is about nine feet. Two hundred and fifty feet due east there is sand bar with only five feet of water and over this she must be moved before released. It will be necessary to dredge a channel over a five-foot sand bar and one of the sand suckers of Milwaukee will be used for this purpose. -------------------------------------------------- According to a dispatch from Detroit, the new steel steamer that is being built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Jones & Laughlin Company will be named the WILLIS L. KING, in honor of the vice-president of the Jones & Laughlin Company, one of the veterans of the iron industry in this country. -------------------------------------------------- The wreck of the schooner SPADEMAN, which was sunk in South Passage, Lake Erie, near South Bass light, has been removed, so there is now a clear depth of twenty-eight feet over the wreck. The buoy marking the wreck has been removed. -------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION WANTED Charles Burroughs, No. 2745, Lake Seamen's Union, is inquired for by his father. ---------- Matt Moertel, No. 3522, L.S.U. is inquired for by his sister, Mrs. H. L. Everett, 202 E. 51st street, Chicago, Ill. ---------- Joseph Ward, No. 21241, Lake Seamen's Union, is inquired for by his mother, Mrs. Julia Ward, 223 Devoe street, Brooklyn, N.Y. ---------- Comrade William Burke, of the Marine Firemen, Oilers and Water Tenders of the Great Lakes, is inquired for by his sister, Miss Ella Burke, Little Falls, New York. ---------- Marie Panoitz, 1195 W. 11th street N.W., Cleveland, O., inquires for her brother, John Ernest Meyna, last heard from nine years ago. Anyone knowing his whereabouts please notify above address at once. ---------- Miss Janet Crittenden, No. 40 Miller street, Mt. Clemens, Mich., is enquiring for her brother, John Crittenden, last heard from in 1907. Any one having information as to this comrade please notify the above address. ---------- Range lights to Lorain Harbor to cost $19,800 were provided in the Lighthouse bill which passed the House on May 2. Huron gets $3,800 for range lights. For a light vessel for service between Point Abino and Sturgeon Point, Lake Erie, $75,000 was appropriated. ---------- C. J. Magill of the Ferry Company thinks that from the description of the body found in Canada is that of Patrick Keith, an oiler. -------------------------------------------------- LAKE SEAMEN'S DIRECTORY ---------- HEADQUARTERS: LAKE SEAMEN'S UNION. (Lake District International Seamen's Union of America) *76 West Madison Street, Chicago, Ill. Telephone 1*21 Monroe. BRANCHES: MILWAUKEE, WIS.............133 Clinton Street Telephone 24* South BUFFALO, N.Y................65 Main Street Telephone 236 R. Seneca. ASHTABULA HARBOR, O.........21 High Street Telephone Bell 175 R CLEVELAND, O..............1244 Main Ave., N.W. Telephone Bell West 351 TOLEDO, O...................54 Main Street Phone Bell 1*90 NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y.......152 Main Street Telephone Bell 2762 AGENCIES: DETROIT, Mich................7 Woodbridge Street, East Telephone 3742 SUPERIOR, Wis..............213 Banks Avenue Telephone, New Phone, Broad 155 L. BAY CITY, Mich.............1** Fifth Avenue OGDENSBURG, N.Y.............70 Isabella Street KINGSTON, Ont., Canada......(Box 96) King Street ERIE, Pa...................326 German Street Telephone Bell 589 F. CONNEAUT HARBOR, O..........922 Day Street Telephone Bell **. SOUTH CHICAGO, Ill..........113 92nd Street Telephone 1853 South Chicago. SANDUSKY, O.................510 Meigs Street --------------- HOSPITAL AND RELIEF STATIONS. UNITED STATES MARINE HOSPITALS CHICAGO, ILL., DETROIT, MICH., CLEVELAND, O. RELIEF STATIONS Ashland, Wis. Manitowoc, Wis. Ashtabula Harbor, O. Marquette, Mich. Buffalo, N.Y. Milwaukee, Wis. Duluth, Minn. Saginaw, Mich. Escanaba, Mich. Sandusky, O. Grand Haven, Mich. Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Green Bay, Mich. Sheboygan, Mich. Houghton, Mich. Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Ludington, Mich. Superior, Wis. Manistee, Mich. Toledo, O. ===========================================================================