New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07
CARGOES SAFE AND UNSAFE.
A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN THE RISKS
FROM DIFFERENT GOODS.
COTTON OH. AND coal. LEAD TO FIRE. GRAIN
TO CAPsrzING, PHOSPHATE AND AS
PHAIr1rM TO HEAVY SAILING.

~ CAPSIZINo, PHOSfhNiE H.'D
pHALruM TO HEAVY SAILING.
1t Is at this time OF the year when the or
binary dangers OF the are multiplied many
times by tho violence and frequency OF winter
storms that the nature OF n ships cargo becomes
OF greater importance than at any other season
1t Is well known that merchant vessels which
carry certain classes OF goods more liable 10
shipwreck than others differently laden. This mas
been so often and clearly demonstrated that the
marine insurance companies are extremely eau
tious in the risks they take. The varying krds OF
accidents which likely to happen TO all car
goes are first considered and then the last OF
casualties peculiar TO special lines OF merchandise
Fire is naturally OF the most dreaded dis
asters which overtake ship at sea. and ves-
sells laden with oil or cotton run greater hazards
than others In this respect. single spark per-
haps from the pipe OF sailor. may shoulder for
days I'm among the cotton bales finally TO burst
into flames with fury that cannot be checked
While every care Is usually taken to keep fire away
from such a cargo accidents sometimes happen.
and the difficulty OF undoing the mischief when
the ship has once started has given the cotton
cargo a rather fearsome reputation. one PROOF or
this Is the ann ouncement read In many OF the
steamship advertisements: NO cotton car
ried by passenger steamers" Aside from Its lia-
bity to fire. however. cotton is good cargo
being light buoyant and not difficult to secure In
It's place
Oil is quite as infammable as cotton and mas the
additional disadvantage Of sometimes ignitins
through spontaneous combustion. 1t Is commonly
carried now In what called tank steamers,
into which II Is pumped. When shipped IN BAR
res az II often is in rather decrepit. wooden yes
sells which arc no longer ut TO carry valuable car
goes It presents another OF danger II any
considerable quantity leaks out from the casks.
II finds its way about the hold soaking into the
ships tlmbers and looseEIng the iron bolts which
hold them together by eating away the rust on
them Thus the vessel fairly goes TO pieces or
at least springs apart at the seams, until the leaks
are entirely beyond the power OF the pumps 70 con-
troll Coal is another cargo which sometimes takes
IRE spontaneously. This usually happens AFTER a
long spell OF stormy weather, when the heavy seas
have made II necessary to keep all the hatcheS
battened down. The atmosphere below becomes 50
close from lack of fresh air that gases are gener-
ated which after a time result in combustion
Owing partly TO this disadvantage and partly to the
fact that It Is heavy and comparatively cheap
cargo coal is generally carried by an inferior class
OF vessels.
Grain when shipped loose or lin bulk as the
term goes Is always in some danger of shifting
and capsizing the vessel To prevent this shift
ing boards" are arranged In the hold to keep the
grain in place: but these sometimes give way and
the ship on her beam ends ANOTHER point to be
guarded against with this cargo is its becoming
damp II this occurs the grain will swell and
spring the seams until the vessel Is as full OF
holes n sieve.
Light lumber when II is in a form which can be
made fast. that viii not shift is safe cargo
can't go down with that aboard" said an old cap
tain the other day Yellow pine. however. Is an ex
cepton 10 the general rule being very much or
dead weight, with effect quite the reverse or
buoyant upon the ship. 49, Gel,
There are two substances ShlpPed run 2outii
American ports which have the reputation OF be-
ing bad cargoes, and which. consequently, are gen
orally carried upon a poor class OF vessels hese
are phosphate, used here as a FERTILIZER. ana as
phaltum the demand for which is constantly IN
creasing as streets are repaved Both are remark
ably solid and heavy and take all the IRE out OF
"A ships movements II rough weather Is encoun-
tered she pitches about at the mercy OF the seas,
unable TO rise to them on account OF heT unyield-
Ing burden. Salt and stone are also neaVy weights.
and are usually taken along as balas', when the
main cargo consists of cotton or some other heht
material 1t.
There Is no doubt that steamers are gradually
usurping all the trade which was formerly confined
to sailing vessels, and the number or IRON ana steer
ships IS constantly increasing to replace the old
ones OF wood But in spite of its disadvantages
there IL nevertheless good word 10 be SAID Tor
tho old fashioned wooden craft. II II springs a
leak its chances OF life better than those OF
the iron ship when one or two OF It's plates have
been ripped away and admitted the water; and IN
case OF grounding upon a shoai the wooden snip
Is much more silly 1oated off than her iron sister
The finest merchant vessels trading to-day are
the swift. steel steamers which ply between mere
and China and other distant ports. They carry the
most valuable cargoes such as tea and SILK ana
are in every respect the queens OF their class Win
such spendidy equipped vessels as these ladeh
with goods 10 which especial risk attaches,
the perfection OF the merchant marine service Is
reached and the captain who commands such a
ship has reason to be well content with his posi-