The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-20
A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT.

A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT.
The United States Board oS Supervising
inspectors at its last meeting amended the
rules for the government of liver pilots. This
action. as We are Informed was taken with
out consulting the pilots OF thosa who are
most largely Interested In steamboat traffic,
and the change we believe u he 4 very
serious mistake, which, unless our judg
ment be much ri fault, will result IN disaster
To property and life Under the present law.
which has worked satisfactorily for many
years, the ascending boat Is entitled 10
give The fret signal. while the descend
ing steamer is entitled to the right of
way or the channel. In other words. when
two boats are approaching each other. one
going up and the other coming down, the rs
cnndlng boat signals that she Ia on the right
or left aldo of the river, ma tho case may he
and that Information guides the steamer
coming down. which, In almost all caaaa,
slmply keeps In the channel and passes
aafcly. That the ascending steamer, work
Ing against tho swift current. and frequently
with heavy towa. should have tho right to
place herself. seems to ua almost too clear
for argument. There are many clrrum-
stances that would render II absolutely
dangerous for her to change from one eide Of
the river ID the other. Tho nature Of tho
channel. the direction and force of tho wind,
the character Of the tow, might all mako a
change of position hazardous or lmpractI-
cable while the descending steamer. having
the right If way. has only 90 keep IN tho mid
channel On avoid all trouble.
The now rule changes all this and gives to
the daannnding steamer the right VI making
the first signal. which carries with II tho right
Of debating to the ascending steamer what
her nnura" must b. regardless Of what the
peculiar tiles Of her situation or her necessities
may be-
u " difficult ~ understand whythia change
should have been made. except upon the Idoa
that rs the descending steamer has tho right
ot way she ought, therefore, % have the right
of making tho first signal. This. however
We take II, Is erroneous reasoning, for tho
right nf WAY never meant anything more
than tho right to tho channel to which do
sccnding boats are entitled for very obvious
rraantR. and we arn or the opinion that a
change, 40 seriously affecting many and
made hnrriedly. or until tho opinions of river
pilots had been very fully ascertalned
Charges If this character should never
% made unless tho advantages 10 hc
'er'ved arc very great aud thon
,nly aftrr full discussion and ample |
Tho new rule goes Into effect
III the first of July next unless 1t be possible
" have special meeting Of tho board to rn-
consider what we believe to be n mistake
hat will cauac more dIaasters upon aI,r
1vcrs III one year than have boon chroncled |
n ten.
II u MI old but wlae maxim to let we'll
'nongh alone. and az there were 10 com
'laints about the present rule. and as tho
,ilota were sati4Iied with IT, there was no rea-
'on. that W. can soc. to justify the change
The action of the steamboat owners and pI-
ots AZ Pittshurg IN moetng to protest
against the action of the H. s. Board Of
Inspectors In this matter, II fol-
owed ~ this and other cities. might result IN
having the new rule rescinded before the first
II July, and we deem the matter OF sut1i-
tent Importance to suggest that our stnam-
'oatmen here give voice to their disapproba-
49, ~ th'1htthS'- ~ Iethltl ~ ttnueEWTlt-
ra, II seems Ky Va should look closely Into
hia matter for. unless we are greatly i'm
rror. the insurance companies of this city
VII, very shortly after the new ruln goes into
fleet. be called upon to settle more LOSSES
han will he agreeable to their Stockholders
he subject calls for thorough but prompt
iscusslon, az there Is yet time to avert tho
pprchendad danger. The following extract
rom communication III the Cincinnati Eu-
'urer, of the fifteenth. written by an expert
need pilot. shows the danger that los In the
CIV rule
A heavy laden steamer coming down tho river
mpty barEes coming up. The descending
nat signals for right Of way. but, being
II such a distance, cannot tell lust the ,
'eatty the towhoat is Ia. The side the towboat
AZ been commanded 10 take does not suit her
u account Of the wind blowing on tho shore
80 then. II the current is y strong one and the
eRvy boat Ia not very good hacker there will
srtalnly bo some carpenter work to be done {
he old rule does away with this danger. Tho =.
ascending boat stops her engines and gives
~ scendinE towhoat nnd bargps time 10 rct /
'whont and harges a choice of the side of tho !
lanno 10 be- on. The towhoat signals either !
lcn Or twice. whichever her choice may ia. and
le descending boat answers "Al right and
,es on. |
In my opinion, If there Is an error. there Is ,
'rtainly one made IN making this change In
70 Eliot Rules. EUGENE HANDLAN
Pilot Steamer Golden City T.,
n0NHIp'S 0MnpucCInM pnrr