New-York tribune., 1901-02-25
ONE LESSON OF 4 TRAGEDY.

The disaster at the Golden Gate reads more
than one lesson. 1t marks he need Of building
all ships with waterright compartments of more
efficient lifeboat drill and service. and of the
utmost vigilance and judgment on the part OF
pilots 1t emphasizes. too another lesson. fun
damental and paramount. TO wit, the need OF
freeing all harbors and other navigabe waters
as far as possible from rocks and shoals and
other dangerous obstacles. For it was after
all. the rock that did the mischief. No fog. nor
faulty construction nor lack of boat drill would
have destroyed the ship hal not the fatal rock
been there. We are not blaming any one for
not having the rock removed of the practl-
cahilty Of such an achievement we are not now
prepared 10 judge. But the lesson of that need
comes home 10 other waters than those of the
Golden Gate. even to our own harbor of New
York
One Of the important thoroughfares Of this
chief port of the western world. known But
termilk Channel, is now dangerously shallow.
The ocean liners which frequent il are com
PEELED TO wait for high tide. and thus often for
untimely and inconvenent hours of sailing.
before they venture 10 traverse il. Even then
il is not an uncommon thing for one to grazc
the bottom. and there is always the diSquetinG
knowledge that there at best only few
inches of water beneath the keel. and that Il
deviation Of a few score feet 10 one side or the
other might send the ship against a serious
obstruction. II is not. of course TO be pretended
that there is danger of actual shipwreck in But
termilk Channel. such as that Of last week at
the Golden Gate. But if a vessel grazes bottom
ever so lightly there is 40 telling but that a
seam has been opened. plate loosened or some
rivets broken, with danger of the development
.l,I
There is no one who would not feel degree of
anxiety after such incident until the vessel
was again in port and safely docked. II is dis
creditable. 10 say the least. that costly ocean
steamships, loaded with passengers and valua-
BILE cargoes. should be subjected TO such ineon-
venience and actual peril every time they enter
or leave the harbor of New-York
Whatever may be the fate of the pending
River and Harbor bill. therefore, 1t will he
matter for profound regret if an adequate provi-
sion is not made for the immediate improve
ment of this waterway Under the judicious
and commendable leadership of Mr.. Burton the
chairman of the committee in charge of the
matter, the House of Representatives authorized
the expenditure of 81 100000 for the purpose of
which 100000 should be Immediately available.
The Senate committee has unfortunately, re-
duced the latter amount to S112,500 a sum
which seems 10 be entirely inadequate. II is
sincerely 10 be hoped that mere judicious coun-
sells will prevail. and that at least the sum
designated by the House will be appropriated.
This is 10 be urged with the better grace partly
because National appropriations for the i'm
provement Of New-YOrk Harbor have always
been pitifully meagre, in contrast with those
made for other places and partly because the
improvement sought is not for the local good
of New-York any more than for the general
good of the trade and travel of the whole coun-
try The demand is that one Of the indis-
pensable channels of the Nations chief harbor
shall be made safely accessible 10 the mercan-
tile navies Of the world That is so eminently
reasonable that il should be above all danger of
opposition.