The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-04
This is the Assurance
Given by Burton.
DEEP EN- THE CHANNEL
Money VIII be Forthcoming for this
Necessary Work Bel Whining
ton. Small Introduces a Bill
to Secure Safety for
Vessels.
Especial to News and observer.) }

Especial to News and observer.)
| Washington. d. c.. Feb. 3.-Letters
have recently been received by Represen
tative Small and other members of the
North Carolina delegation from the Will
mington Chamber of Commerce concern
ins the condition Of the Cape Fear river
below that city.
Ii seems that by reason of the failure
OF the River and Harbor Bill in 1901 tho
channel below Wilmington tilled In con
sideraby 1t was necessary therefore in
the 1902 bill to make an appropriation Of
$15O,0oO to deepen it. This has all been
expended except some $4,000, but it has
served only to restore the river to ITS
original depth. 1t is pointed out in the
letter from the Chamber OF Commerce
ttat if at this session some further ap-
IpICpriation is not made the channel will
again fiji in and the work have to be
done all over again.
! So anxious are the Wilmington people
on this point that they have invited
Chairman Burton and the other members
CT The River and Harbor Committee to
visit the city and make a personal in
spection OF their river and harbor.
This the committee cannot do iust now,
but Mr.. Burton says he will ask theschief
Of engineers TO get a special report Gil
the Care Fear and while there will be no
| River and Harbor Eli at this session the
committee will recommend lump sum
t. be expended at the discretion of the
chief of engineers on works most needed.
Nj. Burton says the Cape Fear will be in
IN, bn r1o na
most important port between Norfolk
and Charleston.
Representative Patterson, of the vii!
mirgton district, has been very active
in pushing this matter before the conf
mittee.
Representative Small today introduced
the following bill to amond the naviga
tion law and to secure the safety of vcT-
sels Section j, That the owners or
every American vessel proceeding to sea
from a port on the Atlantic or Pacific
coasts or about to undertake Yoyage
upon one OF the Great Lakes (except
vessels under 500 tons register, vessels
employed solely in fishing and pleasure
yachts shall within sixty days after the
enactment hereof mark upon each of the
SIDES OF said vessel, amdships, or as near
thereto as is practicable in white or vel
low on a dark ground or in 4 black on a
light ground, circular disc. twelve inches
in diameter, With horizontal line eight
cen inches in length drawn through it's
centre
Section q The center of this disc shall
b9 placed at such level as NAV be ap
proved by the local board Of inspectors
for the district and shall Indicate the
maximum load line to which it shall be
lawful to load the vessel.
Section g. If the vessel is 50 loaded
as to submerge the centre OF the disc
Indicating the load line, the vessel shalt
be deemed to be an unseaworthy vessel
and such submersion shall be reasonabio
and probable cause for the detention Of
the vessel.
| Section 4, Any owner or master OF a
vessel so required by this act 10 be-
marked who shall fail to cause his snip
to be so marked or to keep her so marked,
or allows the ship to be so loaded as to
submerge the centre Of the disc Indicating
the load line, or any person who shall
conceal. remove, alter, deface or obIiter-
ate, or suffer any person under his con
trol. remove, altar. deface, obliterate ary
Of the said marks, shall for each offensc
/ b. Liable to a fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars"
| This bill Is in the interest Of the safety
of life and the safe carriage Of cargoes
/ Many disasters to steamers and sail vcs-
sells, particularly the latter, are attribui-
/ able to overlooking The subject Is Of
sufficient Importance 70 justify the adeT'
| tion Of some uniform regulation designed
to prevent the overlooking Of vessels. Mr..
Small thinks the bill should be favored
by vessel owners and says it already nss
the Endorsement Of many marine insur-
aEcc companies.
FRED l., MERRITT.