The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-11

poralon OF passengers, and they present curious
and striking facts The number OF passengers transported
by steamers the year, ending June 30th, 1884,
80 20i 69l They were carried follows: On the coast
waters ferry boats 29, ,516 other steamers OF
all kinds, the waters, 4O27270 On the waters
OF the interior, in ferry boats, l02 ,53l OF
all oher kinds, 2 2739,34-maklng total aggregate OF
80 20i,l9l passengers transported.
II may be interesting to the Senate also to know
year 10 year; and we have probably estimate
Tor the year In question: In the year the vessels
OF all kinds wrecked including vessels under sail well
steamers. 40 OF these, lis belonged TO the in
terror, 10 10 the western rivers, and AZ 10 the lakes.
The 10 were ali steamers, and part though the exact
cannot be asceraned OF the vessels wrecked
destroyed together with these us vessels in the interior,
is estimated al S5S5, 400. The estimated losa from the
in the same Territory, 1Si3 which have
been able 10 Obtain 81 56s. .l00alling little short OF
the estimate tor the year 1851. On the Atlantic aud
Pacific coasts the number oil vessels oil all kinds lost
during the year ending June 80, 1851, 1873; 20 Of
these were steamers but have DO estimate OF the value
oil the property destroyed ON the coast
The next point 10 which wish TO invite The attention
OF the Senate Is the loss OF life for the year, ending
June 80, 1851. The whole number ascertained is 0l3
II is distributed as follows and the distribution presents
very striking considerations. Out OF these ,03,
on the waters OF the interior 695; OF this number
62s lives were lost on the versall belonging to steam
ers. The total loss the lakes 81, part in steam
els On the sea and coast the whole number lost
during the year was 3l6, III 30S vessels under sais In
addition TO This, 20 steamers the coast give loss OF
30 persons From these data il appears that nearly 700
out OF 1000 persons who have perished in the whole
mercantile marine during the year in question lost their
lives on board misunderstanding from 10 10 as an
average 10 each steamer which lost while the
whole loss the cols averaged about TO vessel
IL the proportion OF loss upon the coast bad been great
as that upon the interior waters, the amount would have
been swelled up TO 3,42i.
these facts to show the Senate the actual con-
dton of things. And ought to add here that it stated,
upon the authority OF those who gathered these statistics,
and have doubt very wel Funded that the year
that favorable than the average of years
regards the loss OF le They mention, to illustrate this,
mencemen Of the year selected namely: The steamer
Troy, OF Buffalo, exploded her boilers, killing nine per-
sons; the g. r. Griffith was burned, destroying $50 per.
sons the Anthony Wayne was burned, destroying 65
persons 32l lives lost within very short pc,
rlod antecedent 10 the OF the year
The estimate OF the property which have already stated
bears out the hypothesis that this falls below the average
oil years.
In ls49 the loss upon the western rivers only is stated
81 5S5 400, while the loss upon all the rivers
the year ending June 30, 1851, is 81 sos JOG being
less, although We know there was large aggregate in
IN the number OF steamers and the value OF prop
ery OF that description Favorable this year is il
were assumed average of the destruction OF life
and property, and applied the past, would present
US with an appalling picture OF the caames incident 10
steamers.
may add here for the Information of the Senate that
have obtaDed from time 10 llme through means OF in
formation open TO all gentlemen during The year
lhe losses which have happened which must, as all
the Of series of disasters here which shall
stop 10 read 10 the Senate, showing loss since The
first OF January last by explosions OF steamers and the
destruction OF steamers by re oil 3S persons-to which
you may add the number recently destroyed at New Or
leans, the information OF which reached this morning
A large number, some so, were destroyed there, and
among Them gentleman OF great worth, for whom
have the very highest respect-a judge OF the courts OF
Louisiana.
Without, dwelling upon these facts. which speak Ian
suage too ineligible 10 be misunderstood is maniiesty
tpf4 md
say sacrifice OF human beings-l will say nothing OF the
terrible waste OF property. for that is mol disaster with
put remedy-but il remedial, i seems 10 me Congress
ought 10 interfere and check II not able entirely 10 sup
press, the nhumanity which prevails
wish now TO ask the attention OF The Senate for few
moments TO the causes OF disaster The first cause OF
which shall speak IS hre.
Fires often occur and have in many instances been IA
al almost beyond example | will cite two three in
stances to illustrate the necessity OF greater precauton
against such disasters. In 1851, the IT, r. Griffith took
ife when within short distance OF the shore OF Lake
Ere and two hundred and fifty persons pershed. Some
year two previous steamer took IRE IN sight o the
shore o Lake Michigan, when nearly as many lives were
sacrificed for the want OF means 10 be carried 10 the
shore. At earlier day, the Lexington took fire while
the shore OF Long Island and nearly all the passen
gers and perished OF hundred and thirty 81
vessels destroyed the western rivers ptevous TO ISig
one hundred and four burnt aud during that year
no less Than iortysix burnt II would from
these acs that has proved itself Of the ia
tai enemies OF steamers III manifest that the exposure
10 destruction from this great, especially
sells propelled by high pressure engines rhe occurrence
o hfe much less frequent IN owpressure boats but
they by means exempt from such a catastrophe
The new ocean steamer Amazon, one OF The English
West India line, and vessel OF the hrs class. costing
about half million OF dollars, recently fell sacrifice 10
e when few hours out OF port on her hrst voyage, and
a large nun Der OF persons perisbed.
Believing that the state OF things which exists de-
correction, the committee have directed their at
leniion 10 the subject with view, hrs 10 prevent the
occurrence OF fires through carsessness or negligence
adopting suitable measures OF prevention The inspect
required 10 satisfy themselves that efecual pro
lection is given TO wood and other eoabustble matters
when exposed TO ignition by heat IRON any cause The
owners OF vessels carrying passengers Tor hidden TO
suspend cotton curtains curtains alike combus,ibe 10
carry freight gunpowder, spis oil turpenne or any
substance which gnes BY friction and in case any such
article IL carried stores II must be contained IN me-
ac vessel az vessels and certificate is 10 be granted
to a vessel which does not comply with these provis
ions There have been some suggestions oi amendment
this head and those amendments may be deemed ne
eessary by the Senate, but shall not stop 10 comment
upon the The provisions made matter OF pre-
ventonto prevent fires arising from careless and neg
lgen conduct the part OF those who manage vessels
But hres nevertheless, whatever the precauton may
be. will arise they will happen and then the next step
-, II they do occur, 10 provide suitable means Tor their
exngulshment In FIRE does occur, Notwithstanding
these precautonshe bill then proceeds 10 require SUIT
able means Tor its extinguishment-a vessels carrying
more than hy passengers TO be supplied with three
forcing pumps OF sx-inch cabre-one at least TO be
prepared 10 work by power, and each TO be sup
piled with hose always ready for use Each vessel is
also TO have certain number OF hrebuckets and axes
in proportion TO ils tonnage.
Bat we suppose that will happen in which the
may be impossible Ii then becomes
10 go step further and provide for the escape
OF those on board OF vessels thus fire. Our attention
A.. "A ha- al H. tt.l