The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-19
MARINE INTELLIGENCE.
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS OF
SHIPS AND SHIPPING.

Maritime Laws Requiring Lights on
All Craft to he More RiEidly En-
forced Through Efforts of the
Being ImprOVed-Mntters of Inter
est to shippers and Mariners.
The coastwise lines entering Savan-
nah are interested in protecting their
craft against the dangerous violations
at sea by failures to expose lights on
all vessels. The Baltimore American
says:
The Merchants and Miners Trans
portation Company has been asked to
Co operate with the Old Dominion
Steamship Company in an effort to
remedy the dangerous evil of vessels
sailing on the coast without lights
burning.
For a period Of eighteen months the
masters of the Old Dominion Compa-
ny's steamers have been under instruc-.
ton to keep a record of all vessels they
have passed at night with lights out.
During that perioh twenty-four were
reported delinquent in this respect,
which Is certainly an alarming 'condi
a smart sailing vessel is. say twelve
knots. and that of an Old Dominion
Line steamer fifteen knots an hour
a dangerous speed when there are no
lights to tell which way a vessel with
out them is coming"
Mr.. J. w. Smith agent of the Mer-
chants and Miners Transportation
Company at Savannah stated that
while he had heard of no special reports
til 1.-1~ l, lie
pany will cooperate with all other
coastwise lines along the South Allan
tic in enforcing maritime laws on the
subject of displaying lights on craft.
For the safety of life and property Mr..
Smith said it is important to report
every violation noticed. so that the
proper authorities may use remedial
measures.
Atoms the river front many improve
ments have been made recently to the
coal docks. Savannah now has one
of the best systems of coal docks along
the coast, which afford ample facili-
tics for the handling of coal in large
quantities. The Herman Coal and
Wood Company has just finished the
addition of $50 feet to their docks, foot
of East Broad street, thereby giving
them river frontage of 343 feet. The
Empire Dredging Company nave been
at work there, and now the river is "a
feet at high water. and IS at low.
Peter Mertens, of the Belgian steam
ship Iris. was found drowned in the
river on Monday. The crew looked for
him all day. Mr.. Harris later found
the body floating some distance from
the steamer. The funeral took place
yesterday afternoon. The coffin was
covered with the national ensign All
the crew were present in uniform. The
interInent was in Laurel Grove Gene
terv.
The market for sail tonnage shows no
important variation. For long voyage
trades there is some inquiry for medi-
UNI size vessels, but as charterers do
not advance their limits the offerings
are yet of a very moderate character.
Barrel petroleum orders continue
scarce. South American freights are
quiet. To Santos a ship was closed
to-day to load coal at Baltimore at las
Sd. Lumber orders to West India are
offered. but suitable tonnage is scarce.
Coastwise lumber freights are dull with
rates easy. There is little doing in coal
TO Eastern points. Steamer freights
are extremely dull. Deal and timber
rates are unsettled. while shippers are
proceeding cautiously. Grain and gen
eral cargo orders are scarce journal
of Commerce.