The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-15
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISING IN.
SPECrORS.
An Old River Mans Views ON The Rsco

An Old River Mans Views ON the Recent
Pilot Regulations.
Editors IntelliEencer.
It has often been said we are cursed
with too much legislation. ofthis the
action Of the Board Of Supervising In
spectors of Steam Vessels, willie in session
recently at the National Capitol, furnishes
perhaps the most striking instance. For
want Of employment for which It would
seem they are better adapted than to
legislate in the interests Of the inspection
service, succeededlin promulgating series
OF the most serious blunders two Of which
deserve special notice. The first is SO
changing rule.No. l, for the government Of
pilots on our western and southern rivers
as to require in case Of meeting the de-
sending steamer to signal first. This rule
is to be final, and when approved by
the Secretary OF the Treasury becomes
binding on and after the first day OF July
next, sufficient time 1t Is claimed to
familiarize those who may be 80 I'M
fortunate as to be entrusted with its execu.
ton. Herein is just where contusio and
probably disaster Is apprehended. To
illustrate, how many in their business
transactions It would be hard 10 tell, who
on the first day OF January, 1880, wrote
and continued to do so 1879, although &C
customed to observe the same for one
year only. How much more difficult to
abandon rule that has been observed q
life time. 1t should be borne in mind the
present custom Is almostlas old as steam.
boating itself, the bell being first used to
donate sides, and which was silenced
only by the introduction OF the steam
whistle. This then being the oldest and one
OF the most important features OF the
steamboat law, the proposed change has
very Justly produced widespread discon.
tent and alarm, meeting with almost uni.
versal opposition from pilots and practical
steamboatmen. 1t does, indeed, seem mo-
a little strange that it has been reserved
for the present Board oil Supervising In
spectors, presided over by former New
York Custom House official, and a ma
jority OF whom are entirely unknown te
western navigation, to make the discovery
in this year OF our Lord 1880, that to pro
mote the efficiency oil the service this mos
important rule must be reversed.
What considerations influenced thu
Board am not advised. The first anc
only defense OF the change, 80 far as my
observation extends, comes from the per
Of Colonel Merrell, OF Cincinnati, gentle
man who stands high in his profession
but who, it is fair to presume, knows JUS
as little OF the practical operations oil the
rule as the rule knows about him, claim
that by adopting the change no occasion
for misunderstanding or crossing oil sig
nails can exist, and to which, II he Is re
ported correctly, attributes 80 per cent O
all the collisions that have occurred on oul
western waters. The Colonel would leaC
one not familiar with the system Of navi
CATION 10 infer that collisions were fire.
quent, when in fact they but sell
dom occur, and originate mainly
from causes entirely different from
that ascribed. l affirm that un
der rule No. /, II all its provisions ART
complied with, collision 10 impossible
1t provides that the signals shall be made
answered and understood by the time thu
vessels have neared within the prescribed
distance Of 800 yards. Here there Is ampl,
provision for the signals to which thu
"Col." charges 80 much mischief. III an
correctly Informed, the necessity fo
changing signals rarely occurs. TIL,
pilot whcunderstands his business. know
that to the descending steamer belongs thu
channel. 1t never was intended to direc
his course, Ginpe with heavy cargoes Of
tows it would be impossible to do 80
Neither are the signals intended, nor ar,
they used for this purpose, but simply Il
denote sides. Since then it Is for the as
cending steamer to do the gerrymanderlnl
or shifting, it would seem hut reasonable
she should determine on which side she
could pass most adyantageously.
Having thus briefly presented wha
seems to me the right view OF the subject
will consider blunder No. 2, which fol
stupid stupidity and total disregard OF the
interests OF those Immediately concerned
is perhaps without parallel in the annals
Of rule making, requiring applicants be
fore receiving an original or renewal Of
pilots license, to undergo a rigid exam
nation as to whether they can determine
the colors used as signals on steamers. Tt
what extent this defect prevails among
pilots, am not informed. Certain 1t is
have yet to hear OF the first disaster re.
sulting from this cause.
Since the signal lights used on our steam
ers are universally recognized as indispen
sihle to sale navigation, 1t follows that the
ability OF pilot to readily discern and
distinguish them from other lights, i.
equally Indispensable. Under the opera
tons OF the rule thus for, hut one has los
his oeppation. One Of Pittsburgh, Wheel
ing and Cinoinnati's favorities, whose
services were always In demand Yet, Il
appears, II the test to which he was sub
Ijected Is correct, his success did mo-
depend on his ability to determine thu
color Of signal lights. Just how far ant
under what circpmstancestheir observance
| by pilots themselves Is necessary, l am MOI
Informed. Certain 1t Is, should the choice
have to be made as between their continu
ance and pilots unable to discern them,
the popular verdict would be, let the lat
ter slide. Objection is made, not so much
to this feature OF the case as the methods
adopted for It's accomplishment, Subject
ing applicants, a majority OF whom reside
hundreds OF miles, more or less remote
from hospital surgeon, to an expense
which In many cases will exceed the pre-,
sent exorbitant license fee, and further
subjecting packets thus deprived Of their
regular pilot while travelling over the
country examining the different shades oil
stocking yarn, II unable to secure the
services Of another, to either lay up or run
in violation OF law, this will be the newt
table result and suggests very forcibly
why not empower the local boards to make
the examination, using the signal lights
instead Of fabrics. 1t is suggested there
may DO a difference in being able to dis
tinguish between the color OF signals and
the various hues that may exist in a pro.
miscous pile OF yarn.
To the initiated this oil seems like
"bosh, and while / boast OF unimpaired
vision, andoan readily distinguish between
colors, do not think could see anything
in the surgeons hatch OF yarn bat "red
tape" Then hang up the signals and let
the test be made at night and the pilot