The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-20

the Past ear.
PORT Townsend April II. 1sss.
To the Editor. Since 50 much PUBLICITY
has been given TO matters apTe-tatnins 70
the local of-fce % The hoard Of steamboat
inspectors. your readers may De interest
ed with she following data OF the opera
tons Of the service. prepared by your
correspondent from the last annual report
OF the supervising Inspector general
James A. D1nonr The Stea rR10at lnsTec-
tion service. consisting OF one supervising
Inspector general ten supervising inspec-
tors. local inspectors and clerks, hummer
ing in all Isl. performed the following
services; Number % steamers inspected
{. 80, officers licensed. > 80; increase IN
number OF officers licensed over last year.
10. There was loss Of 3 steamers IN
spested below that Of the preceding year.
though some districts gained IN nunloer
Of stea mers.
The following ports in this district have
gained IN the number OF steamers n
spected. Seattle. IL steamers. san Fran
cisco. 5. Portland lost s. The xotal num-
her OF steamers inspected on the racine
coast was SIS OF this number - were
inspected by tae Seattle local ofncers. nj
by the San Francisco, and III os the
Portland local officers
OF the g. 50 officers licensed Throughout,
the United States $40 received licenses on
the Pacific coast OF this number ~ were
issued by the Seattle officers. viz; i've
hundred and thirty-two masters, lSf
mates. l4s pilots. 39T engineers. q pilots
and engineers. Seventeen hundred ana
sixty-one were issued IN San Francisco:
73s in Portland. The greatest NUMBER OF
licenses, 5.s4i, were issued by New YORK
officers. Next in number IS Boston. 2usz.
the smallest number issued. rs being oy
the Burlington. VI. Office, with Ut steam
ers inspected
The total number OF lives lost by acct
dents from various causes during the
year was as follows: Collisions &c. explo-
sions or accidental escape Of steam p
wrecks S. drowning 20, miscellaneous ~
total 30. an increase of = over last year
OF the above number OF lives lost 70 were
passengers and l5s officers or persons EN-
plOyed on the steamers. From the ABOVE
list the following disasters are repofted
from the Pacific coast district: Colnslon
!, explosions s, wrecks q accidentai
drownings 5, miscellaneous 3; total q. NO
lives were lost by fire Throughout the
whole year the first Instance pronaDiy
since the service was organized rms
fact Is very creditable 10 the steamooat
inspection service. as well as 10 the skill
and discipline OF officers and crews on
board steamers which have been burned,
as during the year fires occurred on ooara
81 steamers. It is believed by those VINO
have made a life study OF this vaiuanle
branch of the government service, anu
the benefits derived by strict adherence
10 the laws and rules laid down, that the
most valuable results are brought about
by strict inspection OF steam boilers. Ihls
is illustrated In the fact that or the near
~ 1000 boilers inspected accidents caus-
ing loss of life have occurred to but 10
of them. The increase OF n lives LOST
over the preceding year resulted from
one accident alone. the laundering of
Sandy Hook n Y. OF the steamer James
ID. Nicol when 81 passengers lost their
lives through the inexperience OF the
master, and the overlooking and crowd
ing OF 100 passengers when but half that
number were allowed upon her ceruncate
OF inspection The domestic expenditures
OF the steamboat inspection service for
the fiscal year 1894 are as follows:
Salaries NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 100 Il
Travelling and other expenses. 1872 e
Total expenditures. ,51s 30
The following Recommending Cons made
by General Supervising Inspector James
A Dmnont, regarding an equalization or
the salaries Of the officers of this service.
have become law, and hereafter the sec
rotary of the treasury has the power 10
regulate the salaries equitably each year
in proportion to work done: In districts
inspecting less than $50 steamers the sal
ary of inspectors shall be s.. 500 per an
mum: In districts inspecting $50 and less
than 300. a salary of $3.50 per annum;
IN districts inspecting 300 and less than
800. a salary of 5000; in districts in
specting 800 and less than 800. salary
of 81 80: in districts inspecting 500 and
upward, s. 500. These salaries Will take
effect July /, 1895 This law abolishes also
the Offices OF inspectors OF foreign steam
vessels and their duties are transferred
20 the local boards. thereby making an
annual saving OF about Sl2,So.
Il. BIONDI.