The morning news., 1889-03-03
TO PROTECT THE COTTON.
The Dangers from Fire at the Princi
pal Southern Ports.

pal Southern Ports
The committee appointed by the marine
underwriters on cotton TO consider the
methods of handling and caring for cotton
at southern ports, has furnished its report
to the National Association. The report
covers Norfolk, Newport News and West
Point, Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah,
Brunswick, Mobile, New Orleans and Gal
weston.
In regard to Savannah the report
suggests that it would be a decided improve
ment If b .tter facilities were provided for
the prompt extinguishment Of incipient
fires; at the present time there is a
scarcity of fire plugs along the river
frost. At the east end of the city, the
Savannah COMPRESS Association has built
wharves and erected three double COM
presses, this system of wharves, iaciuding
Harmon's wharf, which is understood to be
leased by the associa lion, extends some 800
feet along the river; here large quantity
of traus-A Atlantic tonnage IS laden with
cotton. In the event of fires on board ship
the city fire department ana tug boats with
fire pumps are all that can be depended
on, ani they p. obably could not get on the
ground and ia service in less than fifteen to
twenty minutes A few hydrants are in
the press yards, and IN the event of fire
they would be required to protect the
remedy this evil, a letter or petition was ad-
dressed to the mayor ana alder
men Endorsed by the chief of tae
fire department, president Of the cotton
exchange, and others setting fOrtl the
necessity for improved facilities for the
prompt extinguis lment Of cotton fires, and
proposed additional Rater-plDiug aud by
drants be laid out along the wharves ald
river front. Messrs. II. Bolts q Co., un-
de writers agents at Savannah, stated,
now that the matter had been so thoroughly
ventilated, tha. they would not let it rest
until the work was commenced. At Cen
trail railroad yards large foreign and coast
wise cotton shipments are made Eighteen
private policemen or wa.cninen are elm
ployed by the company to protect It's prop
erty There are many hydrans on the
premises: nevertheless some 4, 200 to 5000
bales OF cotton standing on platforms
without the protection of tarpaulins or
sheds With regard to the loading Of yes
sells, city ordinances prohibiting smoking
under penalty of 500, are to be seen cons pic
uously posted, but furt er than this no regu-
latiOns were prescribed"
The re Jort concludes with the folio wing
suggestions for the better prot lction of cot
ton by Capt Lauder who visited the ports
aud furnished tine data upon which the re-
port IS based
l. Adoption of a bale of uniform size, say
26x56 TO 2@x5s
2 The complete covering Of the bale. lea wing
no cotton Whatever exposed, and having a
standard Of density; all bales to have not less
than seven bands; short bales to have seven
bands and longer ones to have extra bands in
proportion to their length
8. Suitable bagginR, which will be close
enough in texture TO cover up the cotton and of
strength sufficient to enable the bales being
handled without breaking the covering to any
extent; also suitable cotton ties Of standard
weight and siren 9Th.
d Adoption Of rules as to quantity Of cotton
to be placed on docks for ships, say not more
than can be slowed in one day, all this to be
properly protected by tarpauhns etc At ports
where proper facilities BE- had on wharves
for protection from fire, large quantity might
be allowed in proportion to the safety.
s. Making masters and officers of vessels CO.
operate and bo practically insurance agents. lt
is noteworthy that fires are of rare occurrence
on regular lines; therefore, would suggest LEat
other steamers carrying cotton should ii prac-
tcaole, have steam pipes introduced into eacn
hold, and sIlp5 officers should walk the poop
and deck and exercise watchful care over
ships, cargo and stevedores, a duty which must
be more or less neglected during the time the
officers are on the dock receiving and account
ing for cargo, where they are generally to be
found while the vessel is loading,
q. A reasonable set Of regulations for loading
cotton vessels, and that chambers Of com
merce, cotton exchanges, etc, be requested,
when local laws and ordinances are insufficient
TO bring the matter before city councils. ETC.
and have proper enactments, emood wing
lneSe rules, passed Tor tne government OF the
ports
T. An efficient system of inspection, under
the control Of underwriters, to cover every class
OF vessels, both foreign and coastwise (see y. $.
steamb 2at laws. A repeated violation of rules
by stevcdore master, officers, eto, to he fol-
lowed by declining to insure cargo by that yes
sci or to load under such pa ties
& A full publication in prominent newspapers
OF what IS wanted, with a statement of the very
slight effect the proposed changes will have on
present methods, ana the urgent necessity for
reform. Pamphlets might also be distributed
by chambers OF commerce, cotton eXchan ges
and cotton factors amongst the planters of their
respective districts
9, That cotton deck loads be prohibited Re.
Gently observed a deck load being stowet
while loading was going on in the hold. Should
fire occur on deck under such circumstances
the matches being off, it would doubtless com
municate to the holds. If deck loads ara al
the matches are battened down.
To these recommendations were added
the tollowing general remarks:
No cotton g. remain in exposed places unless
facilities at hand to apply buc6ets of water
In ten seconds or by hose in three minutes.
No vessel should load at loading berth unless
facilities are such that several streams could
be introduced into her holds in three to five
minutes.
would also recommend that every vessel
loading cotton should have a small fire eXtu-
gulsher hung up in the hold, which would be
more convenient than bucket of water.
A SCHOOL JANITRESS.