The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-09-24
PATHS OF THE OCEAN
ORIGIN OF THE LANES TRAVERSeD D
BY ATLANTIC LINERS.

the DANCER Of Collisions.
In reports of the arrival Of an ocean
liner the statement sometimes appears
that she came by the southern route"
TO avoid ice or that she made her hrst
trip Of the season by the northern
lane" To the ordinary reader the idea
Of lanes or pathways on what we nave
been taught to think Of as the track
less sea" seems somewhat paradoxical'
but if you consult the charts in the Of
fice of a steamship manager or IN the
United States photographic office instead
Of the ordinary map you will find that
there are four we'll defined highways
across the north Atlantic as clearly
marked to the navigator's perceptlon
as is a time worn turnpike on lano 10
the eyes of the pedestrian.
It Is over these great ocean thorough
fares that the Atlantic fliers, with their
tens of thousands Of passengers ana
their hundreds Of thousands Of tons of
freight, pass on their voyages between
America and Europe. They are closely
adhered to by all fast steam vessels
and lust as carefully avoided by sail
Ing ships and by the fishermen who ply
their trade off the Grand banks. Inc
situation Of small craft on the liners
route would be comparable to that OF
a man driving light runabout along
railway track cleared for the fast hm-
tied. for these main Travelled lines nave
been set aside by custom and agree
ment for the Atlantic's lightning ex-
presses. Nobody is delayed at sid1ngs
or confined to special tracks, however
for the rest of the ocean is left to the
ordinary mariner.
It is only a few years since the tracks
upon which the great liners shall run
have been so clearly defined. Ever since
the commerce Of the north Atlantic as
sumed important proportions sailing
masters have followed In q general
way the great circle that curves north
ward from the west coast Of England
and Ireland until it reaches about ~
degrees north latitude in midocean,
then bears southwestward past the
cosst of Newfoundland and Cape Race.
Early experience proved that this was
the shortest and so, Of course tne
ouickest route between Europe and
such ports as Boston, Flew York ana
Philadelphia.
While steam navigators kept fairly
near this course 1t was naturai
enough that they should vary from II
somewhat according to the theories OF
Individual captains. With the multipl'
cation Of steamships and the rapid IN
crease in speed the very fact that all
the larger and swifter vessels kept TO
one particular part Of the ocean greatiy
the danger Of collision De-
tween them. When forty or fifty swift
steamers were crossing the Atlantic al
the same time in one direction or the
other. all keeping to the same genera
course irrespective of the direction IN
which they were travelling, it was OBJ.
yious that the possibility of two OF
them coming together In thick weather
was too great to be contemplated pleas
antly.
So Lieutenant Maury Of the United
States navy made the suggestion that
all fast steamships should traverse GER
tain fixed routes, which he indicated
paths following the great circle pretty
closely, for it was natural that tne
steamship companies would not agree
to the adoption Of any route that In
yolved q loss Of time In making the
ocean passage.
The most important provision sug
gested by Lieutenant Maury was thai
vessels going in opposite directions
should observe the rules Of the road Dy
passing one another on the port side
To carry out this plan he proposed thai
west bound vessels should keep abou,
one degree to the northward OF those
east bound. Thus the greatest danger
from the following Of indiscriminate
routes-that of collision between fas'
ships-would be avoided. While 1t If
desirable in point Of time for ships &c
steer their course far to the north, the
presence Of ice and fog in the high lat
itudes makes it impracticable for them
to do so during fully half the year. Ac
cordingly, Lieutenant Maury provided
for two great highways, one for sum
mer, the other for winter, one aoou'
three degrees to the northward OF TN
other and each with west bound ant
east bound tracks.
The rivalry between the dineren
lines was so great at that time tha
each hesitated to give unconditional
adherence to the plan, fearing tina
some other would gain an advantage
Two prominent steamship managers
however, quickly appreciated the ad
yantages of Lieutenant Maury's piar
and independently Of their competitor
gave instructions to their captains t.
follow the lines laid down by him
These two men were Clement A. Girls
com, then the head of the American
line, and Thomas n. Ismay, director o.
the White Star line. As these two hne'
then owned the fastest and most per
feet ships on the Atlantic, the influence
Of their example was very powerful.
There is no doubt that the adopt1oI
Of these lanes has been Of the utmos
importance in increasing the safety o.
ocean travel and possesses distinct ad
yantages aside from eliminating tn
possibility Of head on collisions be
tween the liners. Extra precaution!
are taken to keep the great highway
clear of derelicts and other floating
dangers or to give warning OF theil
presence.
Since the masters of sailing vessels
know the steamer routes. they consui
their own safety by avoiding them ant
by keeping a sharp lookout wheneve
It is necessary to cross them In eithe
direction. 49, New York Mail and Elk
press.