New-York tribune., 1889-10-13
THE MARINE CONFERENC CE
SOME OF IT'S AIMS AND OBJECTS.
DELEGATES FROM MANY FOREIGN PowERs-IN,
TERNATIoNAL RULES TO BE DRAWN UP.

DELEGATES FROM MANY FOREIGN PowERs-IM
Washington. Oct l2-on wednesday next there viii
convene in Washington a body OF delegates repre-
senting nearly every maritime nation OF the woridI
whose deliberations Will have interest directly or
indirectly almost every individual the face Of
tho globe. There has probably been no congress os
representatives of various nations whose work has
been Of more general importance than that which VIII
come before the International Marine Conference, which
has for ifs aim legislation 10 lessen pers OF ocean
travel, No prevent disastrous collisions at sea, 10
devise regulations regarding speed, lights and fog
signals for both steam and sail vessescoastwsc and
transatlantic
1t Is generally known by those who go down ia
the sea In the great vessels with great engine powers
making great speed, and also by those who go tha
smaller craft-boh sail and steam-that they carry
at night green Light on the starboan or right sida
ana red light on the port left side, and that tbs
steam vessels carry a white light IN addition to the
colored lights, at the foremast-head that they may
be distinguished from the sailing vessels II IS also
known that in foggy weather steam vessels must blow
their whistles at intervals Of two minutes at least.
and sailing vessels and all vessels at anchor must
ring bell or sound fog horn at corresponding in.
tervals No light, oil electric, yet been devised
which IS capable Of penetrating dense fogs henca
the only guide for the navigator Of an approaching
vessel is the sound Of the fog-whistleI
the fog bell fog-hom. It must be apparent "a
every one that with steamships approae hing each
other at rate OF twenty miles an hour and realizing
that a steamwhlstle be heard with distncness
more than mile distant the danger OF collision CAM
not be avoided with the certainty that Is desirable
by mariners who have entrusted to their care tbouI
sands Of lives. II Is more than apparent TO CON.
manders OF vessels that there IS no system OF fog
signals that can indicate in which direction vessel
Is steering Then, too the high speed OF the modern
ocean steamship dminishes the within which the
lights OF approaching vessels are visible. Henea
the necessity for perfection OF the system of fog;
signals and lights
The inadequacy OF the present system OF lights, By
which IL Is attempted 10 indicate 10 one vessel al
night the course that another vessel is steering has
long been recognized by all maritime powers Ths
first movement In the direction Of improving upon
the present system of ships lights by the gnboaa
yorktown In recent experiments at Newport shs
fitted through with electric lights and carried
with her the extra lamps and shades necessary
for the test Of two systems. one Of the plans has ths
great merit OF eliminating that large class OF accl
dents that have been attributed TO color blindness
since It involves the OF only white lights thres
of these being placed in such way that their rcativs
positions indicate almost exactly the course steercd
The other system has this simplicity but calis
for two red and two green lights, instead Of ono Of
each, as In the present system. Experiments havs
also been made with new system of
fos-signals. 1t consists simply Of long and
short blasts Of the steam whistle on
what might be nkened to the Morse telegraph aphabe
each point Of the compass being indicated by thd
number and length of the blasts BY this means
the courses of approaching vessels may be readily
distinguished as far the whistle may be heard.
There Will be other important questions presented
for discussion, and, as the conference will continue
with daily sessions until January /, there will no
doubt be wellouned plan for policing the sea and
improving navigation that will bring greater safety
to IL.
No one nation can adopt rules that be applica}
BILE to another nation and for that inter4
national conference invited by the State Departs
ment upon the authority OF Congress The invitation
has been responded to by twenty three GovemmentsI
but the action OF the delegates will be merely advsoryI
and whatever they do will require the approval Of
the Governments represented 10 be carried into effect
There was doubt for time that Great Britain would
give official recognition to the conference but this
doubt removed and her delegates arrived
here the steamship Teutonic last Wednesday. Ths
countries that have responded are Great Britain,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, Russia, Austro
Hungary, China Japan, Hawaii, Brazil, Chn
Venezuela, Uruguay Guatemala, Costa Rca
Nicaragua and Mexico. The representatives OF the
United States are Rear Admiral :. II. Franklin. Com
mander W. p Sampson. and Lieutenant V. l.. Cott
man secretary, of the Navy; s. l. Kimball, SUPER
intendent of the Life Saving Service; James W. Nor
cross, Of the Boston Pilot Commission; c. L. Girls
CON- president OF the International Navigation Com
pany; Captain John W. shackforl, superintendent Of
the Red Star Steamship Line; and William W. Good
rich, Of Brooklyn.
The subjects 10 be considered according to the do
tailed programme framed by the American delegates
in accordance with the instructions of the state Do
partent are divided into thirteen distinct divisions.
as follows:
General Division I-NIarine signals or Other means
Of plainly indicating the direction in which vessels
moving in fog, MIST falling snow, and thick
weather, and at night. Rules for, the prevention
OF collisions and rules Of the road l. Visibility,
number and position OF lights to be carried by vessels
3 Sound signals; their character number range
and position OF Instruments D. steering ana SAIL
ing rules.
General Division 3.-Draft TO which vessels should
be restricted when loaded.
General Division 4-Cniform regulations regarding
the designating and marking Of vessels.
General Division 0.-saving life and property from
shipwreck 1. saving OF life and properly from ship
wreck at .. Saving OF life and property from
shpwreck by operations from shore 3. Official
inquiries into and circumstances OF shipwrecks
and Other casualties ~
officers and seamen, including tests for sight and
color blindness.
General Division 7.-Lanes for steamers on
General Division s-Night signals for communicating
information at sea.
General Division 9.-warnngs OF approaching
General Division Io-Reporiing marking and
removing dangerous wrecks or distractions to navi
General Division l1.-Notice of dangers to navi-
CATION. Notice Of changes In lights, huoys, and other
day and night marks.
General Division ia uniform system Of buoys
"'c General Division 12-The establishment Of q pers
mancnt international Maritime Commission.