Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-12-13
WASHIN(:TON.
Standard Silver Dollars.

DOtIdTSs
WAsHINGroN, December IL. Distribution
of standard silver dollars for fhe week
ending to-day aggregated S490,907. For
corresponding week in 1873. $3.50, 1884.
Population of Utah.
Complete population returns from Utah
are received. Total population is l43. .907.
OF this number 74,47l are males and 60 ,436
females. Native born, 99,91i; foreign birth,
43, ,9S3.
Georgia Electoral Vote Received.
The certificate of the electoral vote of
Georgia is received by the Vice President.
Report Of the Inspector General of
Steamboats,.
James A. Dumont, Experimenting In
spector General of Steamboats,, in his annual
report devotes considerable space to the SUBJ
ject of color blindness. Gen. Dumont says
Notwithstanding the public impression
exists that the past year has furnished an un-
usual number of fatal casualties to steam
vessels, it is gratifying to be able to state
that such an impression is not borne out by
the facts. During the year there have been
but 26 accidents involving loss of life, as
against 32 during the preceding year. There
were three less in the number by explosions,
two less by collisions and three less by sink
/
Der of accidents was two in excess of last
year and the total number of lives lost was
greater by eight" In referring to the Mar
ragansett disaster as being the most serious
casualty of the year, he says: "About 30
lives were lost by this accident, due it is be-
lieved to the demoraized condition of the
master of the Narragansett, who was among
the first to leave his vessel. The collision
was the result of gross carelessness on the
part of the captains of the respective vessels,
who failed to exchange proper fog signals as
required by the rules. Notwithstanding this
the accident might have been avoided had
not both officers in their excitement repeated
their bell signals to their engineers, after
stopping and backing which had the effect
of reversing their first signals and starting
their vessels ahead at full speed. Upwards
of so persons were saved from death by
means of the life saving appliances pro-
vided on the sinking steamers, under the re-
quirements of the L. s. steamboat laws,
without which nearly every person on board
the Narragansett would probably have lost
their lives. 1t having been intimated in va
rious public prints that the inspectors at New
London failed to properly inspect the said
steamer at her last annual inspection, in
quiries upon the subject satisfied us that when
the steamer left the hands of the inspectors
she was in every respect in full compliance
with the requirements of the law, and had
proper discipline existed it is more than
probable that not single life would have
been lost
The case of steamer Seawanhaka, burned
on the passage from New York to Glen Cove,
is mentioned. and in this conviction the re-
port saws: ''There was want of discipline in
this case. less from desertion of posts BY
officers than from lack Of previous assign
ment to specific posts of duty. The fault is
primarily chargeable to the board of super
vising inspectors. which had exempted river
steamers such as the Seawanhaka from the
requirements of rule 81. II will be asked to
remedy this at its next meeting. have no
doubt that at the time of exemption the rea-
sons therefor we're deemed good and sufficient
but the lesson taught by this disaster will
am sure cause the board to hasten to correct
its error. The rule referred to requires the
master of every inspected steamer carrying
passengers on ocean, lakes, gulfs or bays,
| when such steamers are under way, TO have
the crew drilled as often as once a week in
use of pumps and all other apparatus for
! safety of life on board the vessel in case Of
accident. and see that every appliance is in
| order for immediate use. Also TO make
records of such drill in log book. Failure
to perform these duties Is revocation of his
license" The report proceeds: 81 can see
no reason why this rule cannot be applied to
every steamer or boat carrying passengers.
He then dwells at some length on the
effect produced by various circulars
issued By the bureau during the
year and suggests that nominations Of in
spectors might properly be made by super
vising inspectors alone, "Who would then be
solely responsible if unsuitable appointment
should be made and who would be subject TO
discipline of department for all errors in that
respect" During the year the total number
of vessels inspected was 1886. Total ton
mage of vessels inspected, l,l2l ,s0s.25,
Total number of officers licensed 1861,
| showing IN increase over the preceding year
n follows Increase in number of vessels,
24s; tonnage, 29.453.sS; in number OF
licensed officers, l,449. Total number oi
lives lost by accidents from various causes
during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1880,
was: Explosions, %; fire, ~; collisions,
6s; snags. wrecks and sinking, IA; acciden-
tai drowning, 25 miscellaneous casualties,
6. Total lives lost, 1s5. Total number Of
accidents to steam vessels during the yeal
resulting in loss Of life: Explosions 10: fire