National Republican., 1883-01-16
INSPECTION OF STEAM VESSELS.
Important Subjects TO he Considered at
Their Annual Meeting To-NIorroNy,


Their Annual Meeting To-NIorrow.
The board of supervising inspectors of steam
vessels will hold their annual meeting in
rooms 81 and 30, Corcoran building, on
Wednesday, the seventeenth instant, ut II
o'clock noon. The session will be devoted to
reviewing the reports of local inspections,
and the preparation of the report to be sub
mittcd to Supervising Inspector General Du-
mont. Among the principal features of the
session will be the consideration of protest
from Pittsburg pilots against the continuation
of rule adopted two years ago providing that
on the Ohio river and its tributaries the de-
scending boats should give the first signal
whistle and ,electing which side of the chan
mel il will take instead of permitting the up
river boat to give the first whistle, express
ing its preference for particular side of the
channel, which could afterwards be overruled
| by tho signal of tho down river steamer
From conversations with Gen. Dumont and
such of the supervising INSPECTORS as have ar
rived here it may be inferred that the board
will insist upon maintaining the present rule
which has been found to be much more sim
pie and effective than the old one, and under
which fewer accidents have occurred.
Another important matter to be considered
will be the subject of lights for sailing vessels
along this coast, &c. Under section 1924, Re-
vised Statutes, sailing vessels are required,
when approaching steamers at night, 10 dis.
play torch OF flash light. The experience
of the masters of steamers shows that when
sailing vessels aro met at night by steamers
they seldom comply with this salute by dis.
playing the torch or flash light, while the
majority of them arc supplied with colored
lights of inferior quality, most Of them hav-
ing nothing more than the ordinary lantern
with colorcd globe. 1t is also reported
as a frequent occurrence to meet sailing ves-
sells without any lights, while Others make u
practice of only displaying their lights when
close to u steamer. Under the present system
steamship owners have little OF no redress.
Statute 423l provides u penalty, but ut night
the masters of steamers cannot ascertain tho
names OF sailing vessels violating the law,
hence arc unable TO file the necessary charges
against such vessels.
There are positions at night when a steamer
Is approaching u sailing vessel when il is inn
possible to discern the colored lights; there
arc also positions in which the sails completely
screen the lights. Some vessels carry them
in the forergging and Others on the extreme.
The object and intent of the flash light
or torch is to show an approaching steamer
the exact position of sailing craft, though with
colored lights of inferior quality OF hid by the
sails this torch is of little help in designating
the course of tho vessel showing the same.
Many sailing vessels are not even supplied
with the torch, and frequently use an or
binary white lantern in its stead, which Is
more likely to deceive than assist the captain
Of Il steamer, on dark night, when il is
almost impossible 10 judge of distances. The
enforcement of the statute in regard 20
flash and other lights on sailing vessels
is entrusted collectors and other customs
officers, and il is suggested by the many COM
muncations received by the board that in
order to establish and maintain proper and
safe system of lights and signals applicable
to sailing vessels, and with n view to the efli-
cient enforcement OF such regulations as may
be adapted in manner similar TO that now
governing our steam marine, that in this
respect all sailing vessels shall be placed
subject to tho control Of the board of super
visng inspectors of steam vessels; that us u
matter of justice to steamship owners sailing
vessels shall be compelled to use lights of
power equal TO those of steamer of equal ton
mage, and that such rules shall be established
in regard to the location of lights as that un.
der all circumstances they may be seen by
approaching vessels. Several instances are
cited whore, under the present system of
lights, collisions have occurred aud loss of life
and property has cnsued.
1t is expected that the board will take some
definite action upon these recommendations.