The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-30
The Man llms COM ERENCE.
Benefit, to Navigation Proposed by the
Late Commodore Naury.
For the Tines

You state in a short editorial in your able
paper Of October 18th. " that tine lnierna-
iional Maritime conference. which meets in
Washington. j., about tO consider the impOr-
iaut questions OF ocean lanes with "A
, view 10 fixing certain different roads or lines
for the east bound and west bound steam
cr-." And YOU say further that lit il "a
! wonder that This has not been done before.
as the risks of collisions would thereby Dee
almost eliminated"
I'm 1851 Lieutenant NJ. +. Maury. son Of
virginia. then superintendent Of the Nj
fioull (NuidD Observatory at Washington.
published chart with two line, laid down.
each twenty-five miles broad, for the Use Of
steamers In going and returning across the
Atlantic. by following which they would
avoid tine danger of the frequent collision,
which were then taking place with other
steamers. sailing vessels. and iceber-s. III
steamers said Naury. would agree 10
follow two such routes. | could lay them of
50 as o. have them quite separate. except at
Che two ends. when in sight Of land. with
Oaf materially lengthenng the passage
either way. and they would be- some two
hundred and fifty miles apart for most
Of the way across" Circulars were
sent ont by Maury with view 10
gain the object contemplated, from one Of
which quote: u have, with the help of
ihe most willing. Jealous. and able corps OF
assistants that "a man ever had, and such
us can Doc formed only Of naval officers. eN-
lmined and discussed abstract lOg. con-
tanning observations for no less than 5000
days. ON the winds, weather. the sea, ana
fla currents. ON the parts Of the ocean
through which these lines must pass. The
fD-ult az that discussion submit herewith
flrNour information, on the accompanying
chart of cngrO,,ed squares
The advantages 10 navigation from the
universal adoption of such marine roads
would Dee very great. All steamers going
cast entirely avoid danger of collision with
steamers coming west. their paths across
tine trachless water, lying more than TWO
hundred miles apart throughout the voyage.
SAILING vessels would. in the process Of
time. make il "a rule 90 edge of from the
Lanes. especially at night and in thick
weather, and II a master of sailing ship
iIfAf shape his course along the lane, he
yiii. a~ uight come. on. or as the weather
crows thick. begin 10 think Of collisions.
aud feel much more comfortable by leaving
tiie stream lane clear.
\ steamer sinking down i'm either lane
would be SIRE of being speedily O,ertaken
and ,uccortd by other steamers. while many
.l.liug ships in distress could run in sight
odd either lane. confident they could there
obtain assistance. The safety Of ship |
would Doe increased by keeping in the lane |
as much as that of traveller crossing the
great sahara ''>ca Of sand would be- ig- |
creased Dy his keeping in the regular cara
van route. But the James" should not BE- |
viewed as channel WAYS from which no de- |
parturo. even Ia stress Of weather. can De-
made. and the navigator should never neg |
iert his three Is lead, lo-, and lookout.
10 may bee urged that the lanes cannot J
always be- followed on account OF the ice. |
etc. This may compel my lanes. in May |
and June. 90 swing south OF The limits laid
down Ia the accompanying chart, which |
can easily Dee allowed Tor.
ise lane from sandy Hook 10 Liverpool il |
ioj miles loiger than the returning lane. |
jGi the former lies part Of the distance in |
IRE Gulf stream, whose steady and swift |
current TO the westward Will nearly make |
mp for the difference.
/ would also remind Your reader, that |
Atlantic cyclones generally make flr the |
'i.if stream and travel along with |
These storms then become westerly gales. |
lri so favor the speed OF the vessel which |
= travelling in thu same direction in the |
Gulf Stream lane going east.
The tunad steamers Immediately took 10 |
1.-THE lanes and follow them IL this day, |
and % do many other European steamers.
though il has become the fashion and |
proof OF loyalty now 10 ignore their projec-
TOR.
Iaury afterwards laid OF other routes |
ior different season, Of the year. and for
ports and other oceans besides the Atlantic.
see biography of Mauly recently pub
ii.hcd.