Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-16
THE MARITIME CONFERENCE.
Outline of the Work to Be Done by the
Delegates.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-Delegates 10 the
international maritime conference, which
opens here on Wednesday the 10Th inst,
are beginning to arrive in the city. The
gathering will embrace about fifty mem
bers, representing twenty-three of the
more important maritime nations that
furnish, perhaps, 90 per cent of the ton
mage of the world. In fact no maritime
country of any Importance is without repre-
sentation except Portugal. The conference
expires by limitation on the 3lst of Janu-
airy, next, and even then it is doubtful if
the members will have finished the work
laid out for them. The meeting is
event second in interest only to the three
Americas congress.
The chief object of the conference is to
secure agreement upon an improved code
of marine signals with a view TO increased
safety of navigation. The subjects TO be
discussed fall under following heads:
Marine signals to indicate the
course of vessels in fog, mist,
snow, and at night, together with rules of
the road to prevent collisions: regulations
to determine seaworthiness of vessels; the
proper load line of vessels; the proper
marking line of vessels; the saving Il life
and property from shlpwreck; tests OF the
efficiency of officers and seamen: the lay
ing out of lanes for steamers IN frequented
information; warnings of approaching
storms; reporting and destroying aban-
doned vessels; notices of danger from rocks
and changes of lights, buoys, etc; the
devlsing OF a uniform system Of bpoys and
the establishment of marine commission.
The function would be TO gather aud dlffuse
Information of value to navigation.
Foremost among the subjects to be
brought forward IS the adoption of new
and more exact means to show in a fog in
what direction a vessel is moving.
A number of American naval officers
have conducted experiment on this sub
ject, and their reports viii be OF great
now used by sailing vessels
declared by naval experts TO be prac-
tically worthless for the prevention of
collisions New officers here take great
interest in the coming conference about
the Importance of which they say there
can be question. Herr Schvlng, noted
authority on maritime law. will be the
leading German delegate at the conference.
He has been instructed TO ask the congress
to extend its program beyond the
technical question and consider national
maritime laws of Importance to princl-
pies relating TO the settlement
Of Importance about the Behrlng sea
fisheries Owing TO the present limits
OF the program Herr SchyiAing viii pra-
pose subsequent special conference On
excluded questions.
The American delegates 70 the inter-
national marine conference met this morn
ing at the Office of Secretary Cottrlan in
the state department Their consultation
was entirely informal, relating TO
program OF subjects TO be discussed
The delegates to the conference
Will assemble at the diplomatic
reception room 10 the state department
Wednesday morning at IL O'Clock, and be
formally received by Secretary Blaine.
After that there will tie q reception at , p.
IL. By the president and Mrs. Harrison,
aud then the conference will probably or
Csnize. Organization may be postponed
TIL next DAY II i expected that Admiral
kankley will preside over tie ceiIDera-
lions OF the convention