The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1895-05-24

H. whoever mas vtStted one Of our trans
Atlantic steamers, popularity called
floating palaces, and has gone down in.-
10 the cavernous depths Of the hold. has
undoubtedly been edited by the reeitals
81 the absolute safety Of these vessels.
and the wonderful buoyancy Of ships
provided with the water-fight compart-
ments. In going over one of the ships
most favored by American tourists.
visitor recently asked about these safe.
tyappliances. The inquiry was prompt
ed by the statement by q stcernge pas
senger that during rush in travel
berths were put into one o. these COM
partments, and were occupied ali the
way over by steerage passengers It
would suggest cause for some very per-
cmptory questions were this known to
be even an occasional practice. There
is one item that shipbuilders. travellers
and those who are won't 70 philosophize
on this subject seem to lose sight Of.
This is that ship Is no stronger than
It's weakest part. Given weak spot
in It's construction, and this Is the
pivotal point in the argument for or
against the possibility OF safe conduct
over the seas, The compartment the
DRY, of course, is an important one, and
no doubt a ship constructed ON the
most scientific principles. WITH this
idea for basis, Is the most re-
liable sea-going craft that can be built.
But It needs no extended Observation
to determine that the syater-tight COM
partments must be So arranged as
to be permanently closed and able to
stand the tremendous pressure brought
to bear upon them in case vessel
breaks in two, and isexpected % float
by their means. Tt;isa sort Of tragic
burlesque, says an eastern contem-
porary, TO build ships on these lines,
and then, regardless OF storm. dark
ness or the buffeting Of the waves, to
send them out with open doors and
free egress to the mighty torrent that
pours in through their fractured ribs.
1t might be interesting to know how
many of these Compartments, II any,
were closed when the Elbe was struck.
Certain IT Is that travellers have on
many occasions noticed that these air
chambers were open while tie ship
was on its way across the ocean.
Whatever may the facts in this partic-
nlar instance, it Is evident that some
additional precautions are necessary.
Ocean travel, Of course, has more
dreadful possibilities than transporta-
tion by rail, but the latter is continual
" increasing in safety while the former
is piling up a terrible record Of death.
Within the present century oyertwelve
thousand persons have persisted from
disasters at sea many Of which have
been the result of collisions. 1t is
claimed by some experts that such a
thing as u collision at sea is absolutely
unnecessary. ithproperloolsout and
rateiof speed suited to the weather,
accidents Of this sort ought not TO oc.
cur; hut they do. and that, too, in
broad daylight and ON clear days
II Is the practice in many bhblic
schools to collect at the end II each
days session in writing or drawing the
leadpencils, penholders and pens that
have been used. The next day and the
day after they are again distributed in
discriminatory without any cleansing.
Physicians urge that these pencils and
pens be made the individual property
of the pupil as a precaution against the
spread of contagious diseases, and that
states and sponges be altogether done
away with. Parents who cover their
children's school books to keep them
clean are advised to use only stiff
glazed brown paper. which can ire
qnently be removed for fresh cover.
ing, instead of textile fabrics Of
cloth or muslin.
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