Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-01
THE FORsCaSTlE.
A Glance at an hbhorrant Spo; on Board .
Slip.

hen a new ScEoOlhouSc or any pllb-
lie building is planned, every attention
is given to sanitation. When a private
home is being built il is cXpCctcd to
be fitted with every modern con-
VenicnCc ana every Improvement con-
duciv" to good health. When Il new
passenger steamer is launched the
pIhliV seek for all comfort. where they
may abide during their short stay on
board, and if a cargo steamship is or
dercd every attention is devoted to
space for freight and cattle. But on
that very vessel. SO distinctly modern
in every other respect. there is seem
ingly hardly any thought given to i'm
proving the condition of the forecastle,
writes Stanton H. King, superintcn-
dent of the Charlcstown Sailors Ha-
ven. and author of Dog Watches at
Sea-"
| am clad to say that there are some
masters Of ocean steamers. who rec
ogniZe room for improvement. and who
are eNertinE themselves in the interest
of their men. Lately We have seen
large passenger steamers launched
which are provided with large mess
rooms for the sailors ana fircmen. and
We ildNt tllt anu an Ititlttt at lIltS
gradual Improvement. The laws OF
the United States and Great Britain
provide on board their ships 50 much
breathing space for each man. The
law governing United States vessels
reads thus: Every place appropriated
| to the crew of a sea going vessel Of
! the United States. except fishing
vessel. yacht, pilot boat and all other
vessels under two hundred tons regis
f! ter. shall have q space Of not less
| than seVcnty-tWO cubic feet, and not
less than twelve square feet measured
on the deck or floor of that place for
each seaman or apprentice lodged
| therein: Provided, That any such sea-
| going vessel built or rebuilt after June
30th. 1898. shall have space of not
| less than one hundred cubic feet and
not less than sixteen square feet meas
urcd on the deck or floor of that space
| for each :eaman or apprentice lodged
| therein. Such place shall be securely
constructed. heated and ventilated
| protected from Weatherand sea, and, as
far as practicable. properly shut off
and protected from the etfluvium of
! cargo or bilge water" l do not know
the exact space Great Britain grants
her sca1ncn but by observation
should say they have about the same
amount of space as our American sea-
! rlcn-that is to say. space hardly as
large as good-szcd grave. ] am
moi now cOndemning the ship owners
they give the men what they are al
lowed. Nor am I writing in the spiri;
Of the fault finder. but as one whose
hearts desire is to have the men CT the
sen so treated and housed on boarc
their shirs that they may believe they
gre men. that they be treated as such
and may DC appealed to to live theil
highest ard best lives. The safety o.
life and property at sea depends upoi
. TIE competency of the crew, and IL W.
are to have efficient men, and If W.
ouate merchant marine, and men o
Intelligence and skill, we must offe
, some Inducements to secure such mel
and not the riff raft OF the world.
How is this legally allotted space give
J 70 the sailor? In room il the forwar
} end of the ship sometimes in the miGdl'
tnown as the ''forecastle'-a room with
dozen or more men in it. where at III
most six men could miserablv EXIT
, room 60 few eXcentonS) poorly Esh'e
and inadcuuatey ventilated In such
rnom the seamen smoke. eat. sleep an
\ have their being. 1t is their home @
; sbinboard 1t IS too small! for mess t:
hle The food is brought in large pan
niaced on the floor, and each man con
ing from his work has to make an G
fort. climbing over the pan OF soup