The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1905-09-20
Steamboat Owners Claim They
Endanger Life and Trade.
They Are Not Subject to Govern
ment Laws and Many Are
without licenses.
PETITION SENT TO WASHINGTON

A vigorous and determined kick
started few weeks ago against
gasoline and naphtha boats plying
in the Ohio river trade. promises to
uncover some interesting conditions
that are alleged to exist regarding
these river crafts. The protest has
been made and is being pushed by
owners and operators OF steamboats,
that come under the restriction of
the marine law. and the cause of
the objection is the alleged cutting
into the trade by the unlicensed
boats, the motive power OF which is
gasoline and naphtha. Complaint has
been made to District Attorney HIS
Office and NJ. II. Thatcher. the as
sistant district attorney. is making
an investigation at Louisville.
Owners of steamboats,. whose bus
mess has been interfered with by
the smaller boats, began an investi-
cation of the situation more than a
month ago, and as a result there was
meeting in Louisville on August
2S. which was largely attended. all
the steamboat lines on the Ohio be-
ing represented. The question of I'M
licensed boats plying in the trade
was thoroughly discussed. and the
meeting vas unanimous in its de-
Of he los hot
stipulate that all crafts measuring
under fifteen tons burden. are not
subject to restrictions of the marine
laws and not governable thereby.
The main topic of discussion. how
ever. was the general charge that
measurements of boats plying in the
Louisville and lower river trade, are
erroneous; that nearly all the boats
that cut into the trade are really
over fifteen tons burden and. there
fore, are by rights operating in vio-
lation of the marine law, since they
are operated by men unlicensed to
handle river crafts.
The meeting of river men held in
Louisville, August 2s, was presided
over by w. w. Hite. of Louisville.
and Mr. Hite does not hesitate to
say that n number of the gasoline
and naphtha boats that ply in the
Ohio river trade are of far greater
tonnage than their measurements
show.
They are evading the rules of the
government. and putting in jeopardy
the lives of travellers on the larger
boats. because they are not manned
by men who hold licenses showing
that they are capable.
These boats, or some of them"
said Mr.. Hite, carry passengers.
when they have no license to do so.
There will be a deplorable accident
sometime that will result from these
unlicensed boats, and then there will.
be an awakening.
THE steamboats, are compelled to /
Vp"ip Ahchoci'VS' iOI lHt SAFETY Di /
passengers and freight. while these
smaller boats. under the measure |
ments they have in some manner Sc
cured. can do business without fear
of prosecution. Notwithstanding the
fact they do not carry llfe-preserv-
ing and life-saving equipment, whil~
their motive power Is a dangerous
explosive and one that the govern
ment will not even allow our boats
to carry in any shape. -
THE insurance companies refuse
absolutely 10 insure their cargoes.
No insurance will take such risk,
yet they are able TO do business that /
cuts into the trade OF the legitimate
boats that are compelled TO comply /
strictly with every law. We do not |
feel that # Is justice 10 allow this. |
and we are going to make vigorous
fight"
At the meeting the rivermen for /
mulated a petition. which was sent /
TO Washington last Thursday, bear
ing the names of all the owners and |
masters of boats plying in the trade
affected.
There are six or eight of these
small boats that cause the steam
boats in this part of the Ohio con-
siderable annoyance but there is only
one of them that runs regularly. The
others seem to be Migrants and
pick up whatever they can. There is
about as much complaint OF the gas
nlinn hnaf down hnra hnwnuar 90