The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-13

on Western rivers are mainly due to the need
less hazard that II created By the law itself.
The rnle Tor steamboats, meeting one another
The nscen ding steamboat whistles first. II
side that the ascendfns boat has chosen n she 90
indicates by repeat Ing her signal. II. however.
ehe prefers tho other side she whistles for that
eide and the ascending boat is com De led to re-
peat her signal aud to pass on the side which
the descending boat has selected.
~ concsely stated the case Is az follows:
The descending boat has the choice OF chan
The ascending boat must choose first.
IL seems 10 me hat no knowledge 81 nRviRA-
don IL necessary to show that y Inv that gives
the anal choice to one 81 two parties. and yet
torbids that party 70 exercise that choice until
the other party has made q RuasE at y choice
that will suit. IL In great need ~ amendment.
The practical working Of the Inv II ~ follows
The ascending boat chOoras her aide whistles
for III and shapes her course accordingly. n
the descending boat accepts the choice, we'll
and good. II. however. she orders ms she has u
right to do) thnt the descending boat shall pass
on tho other side. the latter must change her
course TO ths OPPOSITE side from that for which
OF the descending DO. 4, and exposing both boats
to the danger. If n collision.
II you add that this chaseezlng takes place
while tho two boats are approaching one an
other Mt Rn average rate OF from twenty TO
twenty-five mi 90 per hour. and that afgnnls are
often misunderstood owing 10 wind aud other
causes 1t may be n source OF wonder that more
accidents do not happen,
Tho remedy. no fnr IA the law Is concerned. is
simple. LIT the descending boat. which hhs
and ought to have tho choice OF channel whis-
tie arst This would end the matter. and the
ascending boat need not whale at nll. except to
Indicate that she understood the signal.
have talked with numhars of pilots and cap
tains on this subj ~. mud have yet 70 tlnd one
who did not agree with mo that the law ought
The only objection that Ia urged u the iear
that any change would cause niaunderstand-
nt.A Attah nft Tan la Hn.
roERtory 10 the profession of plotting by i'm
putipg W. pilots degree q Etnpidlty thnt
q Al ae From very rae
acuuaintance win Western river pilots cap
unhesitattngly affirm that there will be no
trouble whatever on this account 1t Ia only
necessary 10 hive The change ordered to begin
Mt u specified hour on q day sufficiently far
ahead to enable knowledge Of the change to
be generally circulated throughout the river
In conclusion. l beg that all pilots. captains
and steamboat owners. who are In favor Of the
proposed change in the steamboat law. win
promptly express their views In the public
press. 80 as to counteraot the effort that is
which unfortunately Ia not harmless. but is full
81 ever-present danger to oil that travel on
WIN. ID. MERRILL. Mai Eux and Bvt. Col.
Especial to the Democrat
CAIRo. Feb. 12.-The John W. CARROTS bRrges
ars leading here and ~ 4, Wolfe stand fer New
sm ,, The Future G,ty arrived I'M h VII soon
Choice took the Future City''s empty bargas to
~. Louis. The Norto md barxes passed W:
corn " Oommorce. There was y heavy fog this
n Ill non,s Fsb ,a-Tbe water 81 the gauge Il
eet inches and staianarS There il ta sifsh
rtse above. Boats are grounding below.. II
thereis no rise the hoats and barges will load
rived ut IL laat night The Durfee loft for the
'Ouachita loaded TO the guards. The Shreve.
s for New ss Ms WITH bs, ves and Al
leave Saturday. the Baker 70. morrow night
the d. II. Rucker I flows. Big grain shipments
CINCINNATI. Feb l2.-.The river Is rising. 1t
has been raining hard here rinee yesterday.
The Houston arrived and he Springer left for
New Orleans with fifty cabin passengers and a
streams OF The Ohio are rising. Ms well as the
Alleaheny and Monongahea. special to the
inquirer from Jacksonville. Fla. reports the
safe arrival Of the steamer Florida NJ that point
Ehe encountered heavy gales Off the Florida
Keys. and was compelled to anchor forty hours
near Jupiter Light. proving herself entirely
IBy Telegraph.
CINCINNATI. Feb. l2;-The river y 10 feet 3
Houston from New Orleans. Departed: 4. Il.
ana YER caa, ryeT inches
LouIsvILLE. Feb. 1.-THE river is feet
inches 10 the canal and rising: Weather warm |
and drizElnR rain. Departed: John A. Wood
. 6aIno. Fet. la-The river is 10 fee, inches
NaTton and af Faur To Gy
from New Orleans. Departed: Grand Tower
and Future City for St; Louis.
st. LOUIS Feb. 12.-The river Is feet 1 Inches
Arrived: Mollle Moore and Halliday from New
Orleans. Departed: Belle of Shreveport for
New Orleans. Maude for Vicksburg.
KvANsy1LLE. Feb. l2-The river is II feet and
rising Ra!ned during the afternoon; turning
colder tonight.
MEMPHIS, Feb, -. Noon. 1.-The river "a falling,
Depa ted: Thomas Sherlock for Cincinnati H.
g. Y9eRer and Centennial for New Orleans.
Weather cloudy.
Evenin0.-The river has fallen inches Ar
rived: Cons MillRr from Cincinnati, John Gill
more and bargeR from New Orleans. The Gil
more sunk her fuel barge yesterday, containing
5000 bushels Of coal. fifty miles below here.
Raining h avy.
vICKsDURG Feb. l2--Weather cloudy and
warm: Thermometer Is. The river has fallen 10
Inches Up Gold Dust at II a. m. Down: VIII
Kyle Mt 8 a. m.
GREENvILLE Feb l2-Weather warm and
raining. The river fell inches. Down: City
OF Greenville for Vicksburg at p. m. No other
bonts to- day.
SHREVEPORT Feb. l2.-There have been no
arrival. Departed Danube for New Orleans.
The river fell inch.
BATON RoUuE. Feb. ITO Capt T. T. Leath-
ers. care OF John Janney, New Orleans Steamer
Natchez Will arrive at 2. NJ. with 3o4b bales
cotton and $500 sacks seed.
b. s. LEATHERS. Master.