THE MARINE RECORD: ghe^tarineMecord, ■ Enlernd according to Mm lawaot tho Untied Sla|o» •I tho Post Office ntilivclawl »" second-clam matter, Pibllshul \uo«l> at No 2 Soutli Wnler atrtsot, Clivolaml, Oh(o 11. POMEROY, Editor and Proprietor, TERMS OF SUHSCRII'TION! 12.00 . 1.00 Ono year, postage paid......... * • Six monthi, postage paid ........... Inrarlably in adraoM. , ThoMAUIMv RECORDcan bo found foraalonttho following plicoi. * No 2 Soulli Water street, Oreland. JoMph Gray, No 284 Soutli Water alrcct, Chicago. C. Ilohmor, Mlchlgun slroot, Uuffiilo, Now York D McMaBtors * Co , Sarnla, Ontario • Win 0'o.llojr, Escanaba, Michigan J. E Somervllle, Mnqliteo, Michigan Articlis, letters and qucrlci on all subject! aro solici¬ ted. eWTho Ldltor aiiuuiM no reiponslblllty for the opinions of correspondent!. To Insureaotlce, contributors must give name and address, and wrlto on one aide of the. paper only. BRANCH OFFICE, 243 SOUTH WATEIl STREET, CHICAGO. ADVERTISING RATES. Ten cent! ptr lino, nonpareil measurement, or $1.20 par Inch, each insertion, lour woolVsj 00, with a llborjil discount on orders amounting to 9-10 00 or over A i"Hol"osino\ is tiniler consitlerntlon in the engineer's office nt Washington to blast out Whale's" Buck lock in Green Bay. Tut lighthouse bmuil has finally decided to etect a permanent light of the flisj. order on tin' west end of ilie Chicago breakwater. As expi'ilmeiit Tor using a compound of whRm and alcohol us fuel on the ting Mattio Surge tut nt Boston, Friday, resulting In a cohtliiguilnu, dnin-iging the boat $15,000, which the experimenters must pay. Evi m henutor and Representative In Con greBR has tecelved n top) ol the protest of the lion and steel manufacturers and oie produccis against the Morrison tnrin*bill. The piotest Is signed by representative firms of tweiitv-otie states. 'I'm Grech relief expedition, which will sail in April orJaJiJ, will coi sist of three vessels undei the general comuiiind of Cap¬ tain Schley, and will be full) manned pro¬ visioned, mid equipped 101 a voyage ofnt least two \oiii.-. In the Canadian parliament on the 2!Uh of February the Finance Minister announced that, among othei changes In the tarifl bill, sheets, plates, angles and knees for iron or compeslto ships or vessels will be placed on the trie list. Tuiiotaii the courtesy of Secretary James II. Han la, wt have received a copy of the proceedings of the ninth annual con veiulon of the Xatlonul Marino Engineers Bencllcial Association. It Is a comprehensive work and reflects much ctedlt on the worthy secretary. '1 UK unval bill, which passed the Senate on l'cbruiirv 21), uuthoil/cs the Picslilcnt to coustiuct seven steel vessels foi [he navy, consisting "I ono cruiser of 1,500 tons dis¬ placement, one cruiser ol 11,00(1 tons, one disputed vessel ol l,.°iO0 tons two heavily nimeii gunboats of 1,500 tons each, one light gunboat of 750 tons, and one gun boat of 000 tons. It fiuthei authorized the construction of one steel lain, one nois¬ ing torpedo, and two linrhni torpedoes ' Mb. R. A. Procter, who 1h somewhat oi 1 a genius, thlnkB the keen sense ol science may bo put on guard ovui oiti safelt when our natural senses fall to warn us ol danger In view- of the lucent collision of steamships with Icebeigs In crossing the Atlantic, he suggests the use of the sensitive heat measures of Edl6on or Langley foi giving notice of the proximity of lee at night or in fogs. It 1b said that one ot these Instru¬ ments in the bow of a vessel-would indicate n change ot temperiituie with thoicebeiga quarter of a mile or more away, and could be arranged so as to attract attention to the Invisible dungei by sounding a fog horn. OllEAP WHEAT. "It Is an III wind that blows nobody good In an uplioiism that works both ways. While the cheapness of wheat may be Cause for congratulation among the poor consumers, there are others quite as directly concerned who may be dlflerontly affected by It. The farmers, thosa who raise wheat, the specu¬ lators, those who buy to sell again, und the shippers, ll'iara who handle It In any way, are nil, by the raising or lowering ot its pt ice, compelled to do business on a dlflcr- cnt basis. It is w I tit tho latter class that we me concerned In discussing the probability of lower prices mid cheoper freights. The fact that wheat ratos to a large extent gov¬ ern all others makes It still „more necessary, that nil navigators should take a careful view of the surroundings. The commercial win Id Is beginning to teallre that the supplies from, India are likely to have a visible effect upon the chances ot our overplus finding n mar. ket In England, The exports from .India in 1870 were 2,105,000 cwt.; In 1880,7,400,000, and In 1831,15,500,000. This Is, an enormous Increase. For the Mist nine months of last year the exports, moreover, were twice as large as In the corresponding periods of the two proceeding years, notwithstanding the enormous llgnres cited. Although official figures aie wanted for the last three months, it is believed In Chicago that India bus sent during jhe past six months 60,000,000 bush¬ els of wheat to the'continent, and Australia has piled in a surplus of 30,000,000 morei Meantime the fall of prices has had the effect of checking the Importations from this country. From tho Pacific coast they have continued large but from those puns of the United States which ship from Atlantic ports, the quantity sent ubroad has been much smaller than usual sotlm't our "visible supply" is large. Heretofore we have beaten all competitors in Emopean markets and It is quite reasonable to assume that the constant and seemingly never end. ing tlow pf wheat has produced an encour¬ aging state of the hike currying tnide. The sudden Increase of exportation from India is due to the opening of milways in that country connecting the wheat growing tils tricts with the seabouid, and the lesson finally learned by tie ocean carriers that [he ccical makes a good freight through tho Suez, citnid to England. India being a dependen¬ cy of Great Britain, that country will, of course, do all she can fS favor hei and de¬ velop her lcsotirces. Adding this fact to others, that India has plenty of cheap labor anda gientet amount of wheat land than this country, makes It seem weak lolly to suppose that hei (.xpoite will not continue to Increase in yeais to come as thoy have in 3ears past. Chicago Is getting considerably worked up over the matter. She hue been giaduiilly assuming the character of dictator ol the wot Id In setting prices in the wheat market. IJer market was controlled almost •exclusively by powerful rings ow nlng Im¬ mense amounts ol capital and giving out prices with the authority of emperors. One dollar has been regarded as the pivotal price of wheat upon which tho wheels of com merce luivo rotated in endless circles. It has been the safety mark, the guide for specula¬ tors and slilppeis to steer by. It Is now re¬ pot ted that some of the oldest speculators begin to think thin Mils order of things Is pietty soon lobi th.iuged, some going so far as to ex pros the opinion that the pivotal prlii.' must tonto down to 75 cents, and that London will have to be lelegiaphcd hereaf¬ ter beiore tho price ol wheat can be fixed -We in emit jet picpaiedto accept tho ex. Hemes ol these Chicago views. At tho same time, even with seventy live cents some ills, tunce in the lutuie, It Is well enough to weigh the proceeding theoties pretlv thor. oughly In their possible ellocts upon the tntes of transportation. THE TARIFF QUESTION. Wo took occasion some time ago to express oui Intention ol lioldlugopen views with re- gaul to the tin 111 measures now ponding, and their effect upon tho Inteicsts with which the Marin K Rkcoud Is idetitilled. Wo do not be¬ lieve in t}ing our opinions to a stake. We live In a fast age, n'nil one which Is continu¬ ally glowing fastei. If men change with the time It Is probable they are doing so now inoie rapidly than ever, and the wise are those who try to see both sides of u ques. tiou and remain open to convfctlon. We be¬ lieve In protection vvhep protection Is a ben¬ efit tothecupltnl employed In running our Industries and to the men who perlorm the labor; but when It Is not thus beneficial and frco traco or n low tariff Is demonstrated reasonably to be a benellt, wc shall feci In duty bound to state such reasons Tho ques¬ tion conld'liavo but little effect directly, but Indirectly, as-fiee-trade ore might Ino'iease or diminish consumption, and as free trade might Inorenso or retard? ocean truffle the OR«e would be different. We have said here¬ tofore that protection was Inconsistent with the highest attainment In ocean canylng. It may be that It is also Inconsistent with the Increase of shipbuilding that would nat¬ urally result from Jow priced Iron and steel. So far as the_questlon pertains to ocean oar- rylng, It is obviously (lie better part of pru¬ dence to put as many ships us possible Into speedy competition witli other nations. Wc want a foreign market for our surplus grain and cheap mid numerous ships will do much toward finding one. 7 HE MOlUil&OX BILL. The eyes of the lion men mo fixed with close attention upon the Morrison bill for the revision of the tiirif*'. It is proposed by that measure to either lower the tariff on ore materially, or place It on the free list at once. If either should be done the effect wpuld bo disastrous to both producers und carriers of ore, us 't would prostrate busi¬ ness for a considerable length of time. Tho chances for the passage of the bill are.^here- fore, watched with interest. It is said that Mr Morrison hits some reason to feel un¬ easy, not for luck of support among the members of Congress, but because of the at tlludeiof Mi. Randall, who, as chairman of the appropriations committee, has It in his power .to delay the tariff bill, and shows a disposition to use his influence in doing so. Af'er three months of the session have passed none ol the appropriation bills have been disposed of except a niinoi West Point bill. All tho n-ore" Important ones ute to come and they are In a stage ot perplex. Ing embryo. Mr. Randall can therefore VPiy reasonably take the time ot the House loi the next three mouths In considering them, under the plea that they should be sent to the Somite in time to give that body a chance to send them back. The three months thus taken Will bring the session down to the first of June, in tho midst ol the hot days, to the time ol congressional conventions, when members will think more ol being at home pulling wire* lot re election than remaining In Washington discussing hoilzontal tarltl reduction. With ihe luck of a quorum, of course nothing can be done. Air. Moiiisou 1b doing what he can to forestall this plan, thus showing thut he is at least conscious ot its existence, but it is stated thut his efforts have been discouragingly unsuccessful. OUTER BF.ACO}} LIGHT. I. P. Bumpiit, U. S. Englneei, is at Char- lotto inperliiteiidlng the construction of another beacon light to bo plated on the ex¬ treme end of the new extension of tlie west pier. The lantern or top of the old uppei lighthouse will be used on the new structure. The new beacon will be about twenty-six feel In height skeleton Irame and bolted to the cilbblng. Commenting, on the above, the iiochester Advertiser says that since the dls- contlnuanco of the upper light, which also answeio)! tlio ptupuse ot a toast light, navi¬ gators have had much difficult) In making the liarbor on dink nights oi in thick, foggy weather, us there weie no lights which could bo ranged by which to stcei on enteiiitgthe liuiboi. This new beucon will sup| ly the necessary range light, but It will not begin to till the place of the old tipper light which stood on the high hill above the river, and wns visible netirly twonty miles on the lake, and which was considered by navigators one of the most important coast lights on tho luke. Any one whojvill took at a map of Lake Outiulo will readily see that the Genesee hiubor Is situated In a long deep Indentuio or hay, with Braddook's Point on the exticme west, and Nino Mile, or "Lyons," Point on tho east. On ai count of the low position of the beacon lights, both tho old anil tho ono now being built, and their nearness to the water, thoy aro visible but a short distance at sea, and not at all below Nine Mile Point, nor above Braddook's Point. Vessels coming down tho lake could formerly see the big upper llgnt and locate the harbor before Braddook's Point was passed, npd could lay their course accord. Ingly; now, however, vessels hnvc no guide, and fearing to keep too close to^lnnd^aio ofton so lar out that they run by the portror are so far to leeward that they cannot make tho harbor. At tile harbor* of Erlq, Pa., a similar change was mndc aiiti.it large steam¬ boat went nslioro and was lost there during a storm last fall, and It was charged that It was solely on account of the abandoning of the upper light there' that the disaster occmred. The citizens of Eric, veaselmcn," und others along the lakes petitioned tho lighthouse board to replace the light, but the political solons. who knew the needs of commerce better than the navigators them- x selves, refused to do en. Finally, the Legis¬ lature of the Slate of Pennsylvania took up the matter and .pasted a resolution whldi has been sent to Congress requesting tho restoration of the upper light at Erie. Ves¬ sels and sleamboatmeu trailing at this port have been .unanimous, emphatic, and many of them profane, i egurdlng the policy tliat dictated tho abandoning of the upper light here. And in one case lust fall, during one of the heavy, easterly gales, it came very near being the cuuie of the loss of one of ou'i ' finest lake schooners and nine lives. On account of being unable to pick up the beacon light until she was too far to lee¬ ward, she was compelled to run to Sacketls harbor, nearly the whole length of the hike In u terrible sea; and mic ot her officers stated that If she had had twenty miles further to go she would have foundered. There should be uojiolltlcuj question in this muttei and it ja One tliltt demands the atten¬ tion of the authorities. No reason or argu¬ ment was brought against maintaining the upper light saving economy, and the very fact of the officials 1107 constructing another beacon lor a range light, Is ample evidence that the) weie wiong in discontinuing tlio , old light which couldjio nfalntalned with one beacon at pogi eater cost than that ot two beacons both on the pier and which ate of not bucIi benefit to commeice. , LITERARY NOTICES. The Miiuh An At<Titrcontlniies.I)r. Mitch¬ ell's stoij, "In Win Time," and Mr. Craw- foid's story "A Roman Singer." These, though vei) unlike, ale two of the best and most Inteiei-ting stories that have appeared Ironi Ami'!Iran wrlteis toi a long time. Heim A. Clapp conn Unites 1111 inlmii ublv intelligent and disci linliiutlng 111 tide on Henry Irving, the famous English nctoi. Mrs. E. D. B. Blanclaidl,an American laJ) who has lived In Ital) for many vears, ile- Borlbes "A Pisan Winter," which Includes a stoiy. Heuiy M. Lyman hasau Interesting paper on "'1 lie Discovery of Peruvian Bark," which, under the name of quinine, Is so much used in medical practice. "The Jour n.il'of a Hessian Baroness" culls from the letteisund journal of Butoness Von Reldesel mnnv cm Ions tacts relating to Bhrgoyne's lampnlgii ilutlng the Revolution. "Drifting Dow 11 Lost Cnjek" Is 11 story of East Ten¬ nessee life, by Charles Egbert Craddock, w ho knowb that peculiar llle so intimately uuil describes It so well and so dramutlcally This story will be llulshed in the April num¬ ber. Othei liuerer-tlng articles are "Don John ol Austiia," by Alexander Young, "The Sources ol Early Isniellliili Hlstoiy," an excellent example of w hut is npwkuown as the "hlghei ciiilclsm" of th(f Bible, by Rev. Philip A Wlcksleeil, a learfied English clergj man; "The Fate ol Miuvfelleld Hum¬ ph lejs," 11 continuation ol Ml. It. G. Whili'i articles on "Ml. Washington Adams," "Texts mid Tiiinslationsof IIullz," by Prof E.-P Evans; two pOems, reviows of hooks, and a bright Coiitilbiitou'Club. Houghton, Mlfllln & Co., Boston. Si. Nicholas rott Maiicii.—Louisa M. Al- cott'8thlrd"!jplnnlng-wheelStoij,"enlltlal "Eli's Education," Is a Jcuillnp feature In the Maich number of St. Nicholas, und paints a true picture of the struggles of a country lad to obtain uu education in the em ly years of the present centuiy. Mis. A. D. T. Whit- uoy contilbutes a bilghtly vviltten stoiv, called "Glil-Nohlese," which Is not without "boy Interest," howevei, und which, while possessing Its full sliuie of incident and ud- vontuie, Is a clovei study of chaiuctei as well. "Among the Mustangs," Is the title of mi entortuiiilng pnper on the wild ponies of tho plains', by Noah Biooks, authoi «f "The Boy Emigrants," who gives much in¬ formation in regard to tho origin, life, habit uhd fiito of the mustang. "Blown Out to Sou," by C. F. Holder, is a collection ot 1111- eedstes recounting, some of the curious rest¬ ing places made use of by weary blrds,whlcli