The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25
no MORE footing AT WILL.
w0MENrS CRUSADE Against HAR-
BOR NOISE WINE

Net whistle tho barge Crews Awsks.
Mrs. Isaac L. Rice's crusade sgainss
wanton footing by harbor craft, particularly
In the neighborhood Of her home on River
aide Drive. has inspired Supervising In
spector Ira Harrissof tho United States
Steamboat Inspection Service 10 draw
up q set Of regulations and warnings for
pilots and masters Of steam vessels. He
Q o them yesterday to all the harbors OF
the American Association of Masters and
Pilots in this port and TO all the local boards
Of steamboat inspectors In tho second
district, which extends from Cape May to
the Canadian border.
Capt. Harris threatens with punishment
under section 44so Of the United States
Revised Statutes any pilot who violates
the new rules. The section empowers
the local boards Of inspectors TO investigate
all acts Of -inoohpetsncy or misconduct"
by q pilot and 20 suspend or revoke his
license II he u found guilty OF ~misbehavior,
negligence or unskilfuhess.'
The circular. which has been Endorsed
by the Superintendent Of steam vessels,
follows:
Owing to the INCREASED number Of vessels
and their concentration In certain localities.
especially In the haEbors Of New York, Phil
adelphia and Boston. safe n navigation demands
that useless whistlins In such waters cease.
The particular waters referred 70 are Ia
Boston harbor. west of Castle Island: Phil
adslphia harbor. between the uphermost
and lowermost lines OF ferries. and In New
York hsrbor. the East River. Harlem River,
North River. Spuyten Duyvil Creek and
Buttermilk Channel.
No steamers. except the city nreboats and
government vessels, are allowed to blow Q
siren whistle In the waters above mentioned.
Fireboats shoul use their sirens only a. q IRE
alarm and to notify other vessels to clear the
way whom they are going to a IRE. They
should not use them on returning to their
docks.
Inspectors must see that every vessel Ia
equipped with an ordinary whistle. II a
merchant steamer has u siren as we'll as a
regular whistle. the siren must not be used
In blowing signals to other steamers. or blow
at all when near passing vessels In the waters
above mentioned.
An ordinary whistle cannot be heard by q
pilot while he is blowing q siren. II q siren
whistle - blown In a cluster of vessels. not
only other signals will not be understood,
but some pilots become 30 unnerved and
startled as not to know. for the moment. what
they are doing.
Owners or pilots who wish to amuse them
90 W ENntbhAlk INOBlN Wy II EUTltk Oh ~
siren. or an exceedingly shriIl whistle. must
do 80 in some other place not so crowded with
vessels.
To illustrate: The supervising inspector
three times on October 20 heard the siren
whistle Of the New Yorker blown while that
steamer remained at her dock ut the Battery.
and in each case he supposed that the whistle
was blown by a passing tug. The steamer
Robert Fulton recently was noticed by the
supervising inspector blowing her siren
while rounding the Battery.
After proper publication OF this circular
any pilot who blows a siren whistle contrary
to the foregoing 10 liable for trial for dan
gerous misbeha vior under II. s. 445O.
1t might be well il the custom Of blowing
three whistles as a salute to stes mers Of the
same line WAS changed by su substituting the
three dips OF the ensign. This is merely
a suggestion. but on the waters above specl-
fed saluting passing vessels by three whistles
must cease.
The Arst appearance Of a new steamer
lie generally welcomed by indiscTiminate
whistling. In the waters above specified
pilots before commencing to whistle should
see that there are no vessels near by who
might be confu sed by the salute.
Except in an emergency. such as IRE,
private signal whistles must not be blown
in the above mentioned waters. When one
tug needs the assistance OF others of the
line it Is not forbidden TO use the private
whistle signal to call them. but tug captains
should use discretion, and cease calling until
vessels near by have passed.
Attention has been called TO the fact that
TO wing steamers coming In the night Co the
New York city dump at the foot Of East
Twenty ninth street keep blowing long and
blasts until they wake up the crews
Of the scows they wish to tow TO sea. These
drown those OF the Thirty-f foul nth
.N,a.s for-s.a Aaa ~ . 1...- - a. |
u any vessel passing or leaving the docks
near there.
This is reprehensible. and any pilot in the
above specified who blows whistles
10 attract the attention Of people on shore or |
on vessel anchored or moored in those waters
Is liable to suspension for mis- behavior under
his license. Even II compliance with this
order makes IL necessary TO employ watch !
to call the men on the docks to make
lines or get ready to receive freight or
still this order must be obeyed.
The Steamboat Inspection Service Is res pom
,ible for the safety OF vessels and persons
float, and this restriction Is a necessary
precaution.
1t is hoped that the licensed officers will
that they are sworRto assist the
'teamboat Inspector. and thu their own
iafety is involved in measures like this, de-
'Igned 70 lessen the danger OF navigation In
II is the duty Of pilots not only TO abstain
rom blowing improper whistles themselves,
but TO report those who disregard others'
'afety TO save themselves a little trouble and
Mrs. Rice's objection 90 the whistling
vas IN the ground that il was an injury 70
public health, inasmuch a. itdestroyed sleep
md affected the nerves, and was an outrage
IN the SICK DOR in the hospitals ON both
Of the East River. After twelve
Of agitation. Mrs. Rice said last
light, she was very happy 70 have helped
% achieve so fine a result. She had long
become aware that the steamboat in
service was unable TO do anything
% abate the nuisance on the ground Of
protection 70 the public health. Capt.
Harris told her his Jurisdiction was con-
med to the waters and the craft thereon.
But he finally found a way TO reduce the
oottng because it imperilled navigation.
The local board of inspectors, who re-
the circular yesterday, said they
know exactly how they were going
o compel the enforcement of the regula-
ions. They will have a consultation about
D Ia ka- NTH Cant uarria