The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-15

other respects uniniured. 1t is the first in
stance within our recollection in which the
comparatively new system or compartments
has been OF any practical utility. and proves
concusvely that when properly constructed
they may render The sinking Of vessels, either
by collisions with other vessels or with Ice
berga, matter OF lmpossiblity. Generally
the bulk heads have been built too low, and
hence we have constantly had accounts Of the
destruction Of vessels that were thought to
be safe. The Arizona has eight separate
compartments, two or three Of which can
be TILED with water without sinking her,
anu hence, SO far as any danger from
collision is concerned Is n perfectly safe ship
1t seems marvellous, however that with tae
sharp lookout that Is generally maintained
On ocean steamers the proximity of the Ice
berg Into which the Arizona ron was not de-
tected, for the atmosphere md water are both
very sensibly affected by the presence of such
enormous masses Of Ice for great distances,
and even q close watch of the thermometer
would have warned the officers Of the danger.
In this connection II seems rather strange
that one of EIsons most wonderful inven-
tions has not been utilized go az to render
such an accident almost matter OF mposs-
blltty. We refer, Of course. to the mIerotas-
meter, which Is used for the measurement uf
infinitesimal differences of heat and which Is
so delicate as to be influenced by the heat Of
the most distant stars AT the time Of It's In
venton we remember 1t was proposed to utll-
ize 1T FOR the protection OF ships from ieebergs,
and we observe thai Prof. Proctor IN recent
| Ir,.sf,t IL
marks, said
| One Of these Instruments placed In the fore
part OF ehtp might he made to raspout to the
slightest change nf Temperature, aud IT might
| be 50 arranged that the ludex Of tn. tasimeter
| could move In such way as TO break or make
| m electric current by means Of which bells
cqnll be r1tng In tho eantain's room. In the
wheel house nr on the deck, and a. lila same
| time an electric light driven by the very mn
rhtnety which pto,ellad the ship might BE-
caused to throw It's beams on the pathway III
the vessel 50 that every officer In all parts of the
steamer could SEQ toward what dangers they
| were approaching.
When we reflect upon the enormous
strides made by science OF late years, and
then consider the Indifference which has been
manifested by ship-owners In providing their
vessels with such improvements rs will lessen
the danger Of navigating the seas, 1t seems
not only marvellous. but almost criminal.
| fVetV year the amount pl ocean tonnage ls
| increasing and the seas are being whitannd
with the sails or commerce.. II ship
builders and owners Will not take the
necessary steps toward Insurng safety
of life, then the adoption Of improved
methods should be made compulsory by legal
enactments. There seems to be very little
moro safety, go lar as collisions and ieebergs
are concerned, than there was centuries ago
and yet II is evident that the use of the micro
tasimeter and of the electric light would al
most entirely eliminate the danger from both
sources. Electric lights may be RS yet too
costly for general use but other lights could
be used. and even the present system oil
lights, II carefully carried out by yigilant of
fcers should render collisions quite impos-
| oil