The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-18
Shipping Grain i'm Bulk.
baltimore American. 12th inst.


baltimore American, 18th inst
The English Parliament yesterday passed
the bill introduced by Sir Charles Adderley as
substitute for the more radical measures
proposed by Mr.. Plimsoll for the protection
OF British seamen. It provides for the ap-
pointme emit of surveyors at the several ports,
and invests them with authority to detain ves-
sells suspected of being unseawortby. Wher-
ever one-fourth of the crew of vessel are of
the opinion that she is not fit to go to sea,
they can demand a survey without giving
security for costs. The London Times saws
"these provisions are sufficiently simple, but
their simplicity smacks rather of the jurisdic-
ton of q Turkish Cadi than of English law !"
The new race of surveyors will hold the ship
owners in their power
1t is likely that the agitation of this sub
ject, occasioned by the introduction of Mr..
Plimsolps bill, may lead to some commercial
regulations which may at first be regarded as
arbitrary and oppressive by ship owners and
transportation lines. although justified by the
additional security which they give to sea-
men. In the course of the debate, Mr.. Reed
said that all deck cargoes should be prohib-
tied during the winter months, and no grain
should be carried in bulk. Should this last
suggestion be carried into effect, British YES
sells would be put to great disadvantages in
the principal shipping ports of the United
States. Under existing regulations the vessels
are moored to the piers on which our great
elevators stand. and the flexible discharge
spouts being turned into the hatchipgs, the
grain is poured into the hold until they have
as much as they can carry. We are not aware
that there is any law either in this country or
in Great Britain prohibiting the carrying of
Q shipload of grain in bulk, but the insurance
companies have made q regulation which
compels shippers to put one-third of the
cargo in sacks. They will not take risk on
q cargo or vessel unless this is done. Re-
Gently the insurance companies have also in
sisted on the dividing Of the hold of a vessel
carrying grain into compartments by shifting
partitions, which can be taken down if not |
needed.
The object of these temporary bins is to |
prevent the cargo from shifting aud thereby |
endangering the safety of the vessel One
third of the grain is put in bags. which can |
be carried about from place and used to trim |
the ship. When desperate emergency |
arises, like that which overlook Paul on his |
celebrated voyage in one of the grain carry
ing vessels Of Alexandria, as in that case it
becomes necessary to tighten the ship, the
sailors can easily toss the sacks overheard.
For these reasons the underwriters will take
no risks on vessels carrying grain across the
ocean unless one-tnird the cargo is put in
sacks. The regulation is not enforced in our
coastwise commerce. The grain is poured
down into the hold and distributed about so
as to make the ship balance properly in
smooth water, and for the rest she is allowed
to take the risk
A law requiring all grain shipped in English
vessels to be put in sacks will modify the
present system of loading in some respects,
and will detain vessels day or two longer at
the piers. 1t will also give q great impulse to
the manufacture OF bags on this side of the
ocean. The bags now used in transporting
grain to Europe are hired for each voyage,
just as the vessel is about to take on her cargo.
The transportation lines find it cheaper to
hire bags than to buy, although three-bushel
sack only costs about fifteen cents, and the
hire for single voyage is five cents
If vessel carried grain all the time she
might keep stock of bags on hand, but she
may take cargo of wheat, the next may be
cotton, the next petroleum. and SO on for six
months, during which there would be no use
Ior bags When the market happens to be
favorable she takes cargo of wheat and hires
he begs. The hire is paid in advance, and {
he owner Of the bags is given receipt, or
ather bill of lading, which specifies that
hey are to be delivered to the owners agent
It Liverpool, or whatever port the cargo is to r
discharged. in good condition. r
As soon as the ship is unloaded the bags
re packed in bales and sent back by the first
teamer, the owner paving the return freight. n
Under a law of the United States these bags &
Ass through the Custom-House free Of
luty.
Should Mr.. Reeds proposition be carried
ut and the Shipping bill now pending in
ARMAMENT be so amended as to require ell
rain shipped on British vessels to be put in
ags. as Q matter Of course the number now
= use will be trebled, and for q time, at
asst there will be considerable activity in
be trade.