The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
CREWS ON RIVER
BOATS BENEFITED
Good Effects of the Agitation for
Better Accommodations for
the Deck Hands
Ventilation and Cleanliness Will
Be Given Special Attention
in Remodeling Quarters
Continued from Page 3

of the encroaching damp Yesterday
the canvas shields were themselves wet
and dripping. The oakum in the floor
of the deck above the forecastle was
loosened in places and there was con-
tinual drip to the floors of the quarters
There are 19 men lodged in the fore
castle, although they do not all sleep
at one time. The place is triangle in
shape, % feet at the base and about "a
feet long and feet high
But what has been the most scan
dalous condition on the Onisbo was the
proximity of the mess table to the rude
lavatory of the vessel The two are
less than 15 feet apart and in summer
the condition is said to have been fear
full with disease carrying flies circulat-
ing freely about the boat
In general the condition on the
Onisbo is said to have been greatly i'm.
proved through the efforts of Doctor
Kaelber, who has vigorously insisted
on cleanliness about the vessel
CONDITIONS ON OTHER BOATS
third boat of the California trans
portation company which was inspected
yesterday was the Reform which is
truer to its name than the Pride of the
River is to it's. The forecastle of the
Reform was dry and fairly clean and
was equipped with a rear door. There
was no other ventilation But in MANY
respects the Reform was pattern
which the company might follow in
other vessels. The hunks are warm
The steamer Zinfandel of the Napa
transportation company, of which
Captain Young is manager, has a fore
castle as dark as the bottomless pit
but which is said to be lighted by an
electric bulb, the location of which is
accessible to the initiated. There are
seven men bunking in the place. but
at that, it is crowded The place was
damp. yesterday and musty.
Captain Young looked with favor
on his boat, and deprecated the class
of men hired as deck hands s.The
criticisms in The Call" said Young
are in many respects well founded
but it is almost impossible to keen
the places clean with the class of men
with whom we have to deal"
WILL CARRY OUT REFORMS
According to Captain Fox of the
Petaluma and Santa Rosa transport
alton company, The Call is justified in
It's support of the fight which the
steamboatmens unionH is making be-
fore the board of health to have inn
proved conditions on the boats. 1--WE
have insisted on clea nliness on our
Doats, said Fox, and we are now
considering placing iron bedsteds and
wire mattresses on them"
Captain Fox showed the forecastIe
of the Napa City, which is a small
place below decks, but which has re-
Gently been whitewashed, equipped with
a second door leading into the engine
room. secondary hatch opening upon
the main deck and a ventila tor, which
insured fresh air to men below. The
forecastle of the Gold, the other boat
of the company, is built just forward
of the wheel. 1t is well ventilated
but is equipped with wooden hunks
which until recently were badly in
tested.
DR.. Martin Regensburger. president
of the state board of health, was
greatly pleased yesterday over the
probable success of the fight the board
has made in behalf of the union to Sc
cure better quarters and accommoda-
tions for the men. He stated that the
stand The Call has taken in the matter
was highly to be commended.