The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-07-19
ne inspector for the board.

The state officials secured the coopera-
ton OF the local steamboat inspectors.
and Interpreting the governors request
TO apply only to such boats as were apt
10 be crowded by large numbers of ex-
cursionists. The inspector did not Include
the regular passenger steamers plying be-
tween Providence. Newport and New
York. nor the ferry boats running at
Bristol Ferry, jamestown. Saunderstown,
Newport and WEXFORD, nor boats COM
ing from other places to Rhode Island.
The boats inspected were the City of
Newport. Warwick. Baltimore. What
Cheer, Favorite. Mount Hope and sauan-
tum. owned by the Providence. Fall River
and Newport Steamboat company; the
New shoreham, owned by the Block ISL
and Steamboat company; the Queen City
and Islander. owned by the seaconnet
Steamboat company; the Corsair. owned
by George b. Hull. all registered from
Providence. and the Pontiac from Paw
tucket, owned by ]. A Moncreif Of New
York city; also the Haverhill, owned by
the Providence, Newport and Block ISL
and Steamboat company.
Some OF the findings follow:
ION all the boats owned by the Provi-
dence, Fall River and Newport Steamboat
company extra precautions against fire Is
provided for by the installation OF con-
venient points OF portable fire extinguish-
ers OF large size and OF practical design.
although there is no provision In the
| government regulations calling for this
equipment.
"In the matter OF life preservers IL was
| found that the government requires that
a life preserver shall be made OF good
! sound cork blocks or other suitable mate
! rial and maintain or float weight or "A
| pounds OF iron In sea water. A test OF a
! compressed cork preserver was made and
| found TO meet the buoyancy required.
| I'm all cases preservers were easily ac-
| cessible those hung overhead being held
| IN place by thin strips OF wood. attached
with a brad nail and easily torn away.
The life boats all appeared TO be In
| good order and readily unshipped ana
| supplied with all the requirements OF the
| government Each boat was supplied with
| a screw metal cap or plug for closing
| the opening In the bottom OF the boat.
! The boat drill was. In some few cases
executed In clumsy manner but was ei-
! fectual
"In most cases. however. the drill was
prompt ana rapidly executed. In one in
stance six boats were swung out from the
| dnvits ready 10 let fall inside OF five min
utes. by the same crew. From one hair
| 10 three quarters OF a minute was the
| time usually required from the time the
crew arrived at the fall or davits.
Most OF the defects which were found
were promptly corrected before this re-
| port was completed. Such as remains
| will be reinspeoted and IL not corrected
will be duly reported.
| "As 10 your request for advice under
fAaI hat W.
may properly make the following recon-
mendations:
foatage is depnedent upon sawdust cork
| or gradular cork be substituted by either
compressed granular cork or solid CORK
"2 That all enclosed spaces occupied
by stoves used for cooking should be lined
with galvanized iron with air Spaees be-
tween wood and m9al
"3 That whenever practicable all
hose should be stretched out TO its full
! length and inhexible. as with canvas
hose. Il should be stored in layers OF
being rolled OF reeled.
~ That officers. stewards aud stew
hrdesses have periodical practice I'm the
manner OF applying life pce'ervers.
"5 That the placing " fire eNtinguish-
ers at convenient points 3 considered OF
great value. They can be put into action
| promptly without the conupotion or do
day of a call for FIRE drill. They can
! be quickly carried 90 ana into smbl
spaces between decks where time would
be required 20 carry n line OF hose.
IS That as the government does not re.
auire excursion and inland steamers 20
rate mates similar 90 the legal require
ments OF ocean going steamers we would
respectfully recommend that all passen-
ger stesmers OF Rhode Island register be
requested 20 rate an rst mate who shall
have passed the regular examination OF
the local inspectors. Inasmuch as the OK
animation requires n comprehensive
knowledge OF the English language and
an intelligence above the ordinary sea-
man. 10 r. obvious that such mate
il would be necessary In the presence or ac-
cident or panic and Will enforce govern
meat laws which are manifestly infni-
cient."
The result Of tho inspection has been
! auaited Nth n great deal OF interest by