The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-18
TUE MARINE CONFERENCE,
What II Is and What it Is Expected to Ae.
GompliSh.

What II Is and What It Is Expected to Acc
eOmpliSh.
New lori Tribune, Oct, TO-
The Marine Conference opening in
Washington to-day is an international
council that will lead to important re-
suits without exciting iealOusIes or dis
sensions. Twenty.slx Powers are to be
represented in the sessions; but 80 prac.
tical is the work in which the delegates
will be engaged that harmonious action
may be confidently anticipated, The
Conference meets 10 frame q new code
OF rules for the sea, Its functions are
strictly advisory, since no delegation has
authority TO commit the Government
represented by It to any form Of MARI
time policyi but the changes in existing
rules OF navigation which so large and
influential body OF experts may be able
10 agree upon will undoubtedly be sane
tionld by all the maritime States,
The only limits imposed upon the use
fulness Of such q conference are the re-
striCtions upon the progress o. modern
science In certain directions. The chief
aim OF the delegates is 10 lessen the dan
gers OF ocean travel In foRgy weather,
The present system Of lights and signals
can be improved so as to impart positive
information respecting the direction and
courses OF vessels; but the most power
full lights yet invented can only illumi'
nate q narrow circle OF fOggy atmosphere,
and the best steam.whistles and tog-bells
can only be heard limited distance.
The advance made in increasing the
speed OF ocean steamships has not been
accompanied by corresponding progress
in the development OF precautions ior
insuTing safety AZ sea. The, present
system OF lights and signals is clearly IN,
adequate for the new conditions imposed
by steamers OF high speed; but while It's
usefulness may be greatly Increased,
modern science will still be heavily ~
default in providing apparatus by which
collisions may BIZ ayerted in thick wealth
or, That the Conference will make an
approach to the limit Of safety Ia nayt-
gallon is reasonably certain; but 1t can
not anticipate the progress OF invention,
aud must leave various problems Of
ocean navigation unsOlved. High speed,
bydiminishIng the interval during which
lights may b. seen or Signals heard, In
wolves the necessity for impArting com'
plete information NJ short notice. The
lights must DO multiplied and arranged
SO ~ 10 indicate at sight the direction Of
the ship. Tho steam.whistle, instead OF
being blown aimltssly at short intervals,
must have u Language OF Its own, which
can be understood iu the densest fog, in
order to indicate tho course that is
steering. Sailing vessels, as well as
steamships, must have some elective
method Of signaling their approach and
the direction in which they are heading
A perfect system OF preCautiOn is out VI
the question, but existing arrangements
can b. greatly simplitivd aud improved
by united action Of the Conference.
This IL only one Oithe thirteen topical
divisions o. the programme OF the con-
ference. Another, almost as important,
IL location OF ocean lanes for STEAMERS on
irtquented routes, The discussions will
have wide range, including the limit
Of road draught, regulations for ascer'
tanning the aeawOrthiness Of the vessels,
conditions Of saving life and property 10
shipwreCk and asCertaining responsible
ity for disasters, tests for sight and color
blindness, storm warnings, and the es-
Enlistment Of uniform system VI bouys
and bearons. With 30 large body Of
delegates, representing 80 many mari
time nations, diversities OF views will in
evitably arise during the discussions,
which are expected TO last until the end
Of the year; but as the best'inlOrmed ex.
perts are already in agreement upon
nearly all essential points II is reasonable
to expect harmonious and most useful
session.