The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-10-17
A Few Hints to Ship owners.

A Few HiIks to Ship owners.
We have recently been afflicted by an
unusual number Of marine disasters, amount
ing, all told, TO nineteen. -sr
The Sheridan and Andrew johnson went
ashore on the coast OF North Carolina, the
only inhospitabe spot about that gallant
G.ate, fortu latey without loss of life. But
CT. the opsn soa the destruction of property
WAS aggravated by the unhappy fate of many
seamen aud passengers. The Evening Star
alone foundered. it is said, with three hun
6red souls on board. On comparing the dis
NAL account Of this and other disasters, we are
struck With the following facts, which are not
by any u'eans areditahls TO our merchant
marine.
1st.--Jhs mastes u 1Ds vessel escapes with
few Of his crew, while ship and passengers
60 down.
2nd.--ahat Tie easy art Of navigation does
Lot seem to lie upi7ccs.ly practiced, and the
con Non precaution Of making good ofing
is so aswhat OUT Of fashion. ss
srd.--That the provision for escape from
fo.nderiog ship docs not seem at ell ade-
oua'e 70 tbs requirements of al emergency;
and
4tA.-As deduction from tire above that
tbs companies owning orr merchant marine
might De improved in thsir mode of admins
tration; and the officers Of that service be
brought up 70 9 higher standard of excel
lspce
We trust that the great shipping interest
OF the country will at once take steps to ira-
prove our merchant marine in the particulars
we nave indicated. ~
When 1t Ia known that these requisites for
safety OF freights and passengers have
been net, then, the ship owners will
and, that apart from any considerations of
humanity, they have consulted their own in
sereat. And they cannot fail to admit that
zae management OF the Cunard line il u re.
pToAca to their own, nor can they 30 isno-
ront OF the fact, that if the coast~wise traffic
was open to competition, they would find
their passengers and fraights leaving them
On tbs ground Of finding greater safety In
English bottoms t
The most important reform ia in the ofd-
Gers. We by no means charge uni, ersal in
competency but the numberless disasters
Of late justify the belief that some more
thorough system OF examination should be
adopted to entitle men to promotion. -..~
s.~T >osp ~ RI oh hA
invested with authority to appoint members
Of the examining boards now operating IN
tier the various Chambers of Commerce Or
they might be recognized in many other
ways, and the means of fair end candle on
curry into the professional qualities of the
candidates for promotion, be more fully pro-
yiied for.
In the moan time the ship owners Of New
York would do we'll to remember that there
are numerous officers now in the country who
belonged to the Navy Of the late Confederate
States, possessed of all the necessary qualities
required in prudent and able commanders.
Aud, while the opinions Of these gentlemen
may be obnoxious to objections. they are as
sk.!.ul ard es energetic as any seamen
now saoat aud Notwithstanding their course
in the late war, grs as able to =" take Luna, =
CT club haul" ship as if they had never
resigned their commissions. OF followed the
fortunes Of tbs ill-starred Conf ederacy And
as it is question of seamanship, and not OF
former political opinions, this valuable class
OF citizens might be made available to meet
what is obviously great demand 10 our uer-
chant marine.