New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-31
SAFETY AT SEA.
ESTABLISHED ROUTES FOR STEAMERS

THE OCEAN. =
The increasing number of collisions at sea
mas brought forth plans for avertng such dsaS
ters and for securing the safety of the $4,000 persons
who cross the Atlantic every year. correspondence
has recently taken place between the owners OF the
White star Line OF steamships and the London Board Oh
Trade, about the propriey and advantage OF having
fixed or "lane route for steam vessels between 'he
United States and Europe II said that no less thah
$500 tu-powered steamers ply between Great Britain
ana the United annuay and that at The present
time these vessels with the exception OF limited num-
ber which follow certain track, are guided mus
criminatey, and according 10 the discretion OF tner
respectiye commanders. 1t Is eontended that If an
international Congress could establish some system
which would conne steam vessels to one speeai track
on the outward voyage aud another for the homeward
voyage, the chances OF collision would be lesseheu
materially The object in calling the attention OF the
London Board Of Trade TO the subject was tha' ~
might make some recommendations which would bring
about an International Commission, 10 DO composed Vi
delegates from the maritime associations OF EurOpo
md America which. it hoped would adopt system OF
lane passages for the of transatlantic steamers
Among steamship and sailing vessel captains there
seems TO be general approval Of the proposed system
which it Is believed would lessen the risks of collision
partcuarly with sailing vessels 1t is believed a'o'
that while sailing vessels must take advantage OF the
preyaiiug winds, there an established lane route
they would avoid it great extent There would also
be greater probability that disabled vessels would DC
European lines had lane route Of their own Tor ther
steamshps but allowed their captains TO follow 1t or
not as they chose that others always took an mus
cTminate course.
The White star Line follows practically the track laid
down by Lieutenant Maury. of the United states Navy
In s55, known a - Lane Route" GA the voyage
westward from February July 81, in order to avoid
the dangers incident FOG and ice their steamers come
by the middle passage as TO strike the southern edge
the Grand Bank but this route Is some%hat oEee
ia hapa nj
stream Tho rest OF the year these steamers take the
northern route great circle, and are only snort
time i'm the stream on the return voyage they follow
Naurys line at all times of the year. The Inmaa steam
SeneTsIlv left TO the discretion Of The captains Had
there been established route for all lines is sag
that the White Star steamship Britannlc coming nls
ay would have spoken the City OF Chester on her last
outward rip when her T0oSe[ TSS Tbe HSmbnr
American Line have entirely Oluerent route from lhe
From February 10 july thcy do not 60 north OF
435 until they have passed the 800 meridian OF ongi
$50 until they approach the European coast
The National Line steamers, on the westward
P Passias the 500 meridian Of longitude and those
bound es Ss SO met Eo thus vessels gong in
opposite directions are at least sixty miles apart.
suggested to Them by the superintendent OF the line and
then the captain allowed to use his own discretion II
The temperature OF the water Is found 10 grow COLDER
foretes the approach OF ce6erg and then me captains
GO farther south The French Line steamers take nearly
The same course as the National Line.
There seemed TO be among nearly all OF the captains
~
bity of established route and the one mapped OUT
by Lieutenant Maury was preferred Ihis route is one
tIeneh $50 sleseg II makes the shortest pGssi
Med Instance from sandy Hook to Liverpool 5000
miles, and the average distance accomplished 5000
miles The recommendation in favor OF this route to
the west is lies along the northern edge OF the
Gulf Gtreau, where eddy setting TO the westward,
along aud makes distance shorter to time
A. MOI always possible TO follow this line, on &C
count Of ice, middle route is laid down to be used be-
tween February and July. Owing 10 the ndiscrminate
tracks at present fishermen lying on the Grand Banks
ere liable t. be run down 10y steamers; but II the lane
route used 1t Is thought That the liability to run
down fishermen would be attached only TO steamers
bound west aud then fishermen would have the advan-
tage OF knowing pretty nearly where the steamers pass
The Grand Banks also afford a very good landmark,
n is said which be used in the thickest weather
Generally the thermometer Is found TO fall as the
Banks are approached The eastern edge runs north
aud south and therefore affords pretty Trustworthy
well Defined aud then the naygatorcan decide whether
lie Of the lane; and out on which side The
lane crosses Banks their greatest width, 275
miles II the breadth OF the Banks is less than 275
when crossed and the soundngs are not less than
forty fahoms it VIII be evident then that the vessel
has crossed the Banks north of the ane but If she finds
herself thirty iatOms then she has crossed south OF
st. II the steamer finds herself III water which suddenly
shoals to less than twenty fathOms, and as suddenly
again. then she is near the Virgin Rocks or the
rocks, and the nine-fathOm bank east OF them
10 impress captains that they not channel ways
However in when steamers must be kept or lost Gales
of wind, ce other circumstances would and then
force the steamer aside In such cases she would be In
great danger yet wGmd t De less ,h danger lSSG
approaches Newfoundland II turns TO the south, III
such manner 10 render It impossible for vessel TO
miss her way and get ashore. An exaggerated
suggested. steamship being hundred miles out OF
foundand side 10y steering parallel with the lane, If
bound TO NewYork, would clear Cape Race; il bound
for Halifax, by steering west too she might
upon the land But since the and Halifax of
Insand strikes soundngs on the Grand Banks, would
take the vessel clear OF danger Indeed by taxing the
proper precautions and by free use OF the lead II Is
thought that would he almost Impossible to run Ves-
Sci into danger -, -, .
Europe is 200 miles south OF the lane westward, and II
Is claimed that as rule TINS lane can DO followed at
all tunes and in any season. II runs east l5o south
from SANDY Hook 10 the meridian OF 100. whence 1t
the arc of great circle. south of the Grand Banks.
While the distance by this lane from sandy Hook TO
Vet On account OF the current Of the Gulf stream. is,
in ne the shortest distance steam vessel can take
Particularly 10 this said TO be the ease from the CapeS OF
Delaware
speed were start from Halifax, TO see which should
Tom M and if ore We're to seer 70 the
eastward it, aud the other were 70 follow the
would tine point OF destination as soon as the other
the drift OF the Gui stream no dne greater
f hon n is less imam hundred miles out OF their
way as they now 20. and probably 1t would prOlong
their passage eastward only two or three hours
Tor the would SGT them forward In the lane,
on an average forty OF fifty miles =,
The by the lane route TO Europe is as fol-
lows: ,,,r.
ca Ga q Delaware to Cape S5S
SANDY Hook TO Cape Clear
The distance from Europe TO America is;
Lane Route. Great Circle.
fame 1paar "a Halifax ..................2lgZ 2l7O
Sesppe Siear ~ Canes of Delaware......27s9 2765
60 SieaT 10 Ssi,oy HOOK 1898
IL appears one route shOrens the distance from
Cane lear sandy Hook and the Capes OF Delaware,
nv tblrty niles while the prolongs the distance 10
Europe by seventy-ave miles Tins extra distance,
when measured not 10y safety. but in time alouc, is
eonpensated for by the advantage Of the Gulf Stream,
by better weather, and by fewer f"gs. -
nm Il, m. hin