The San Francisco call., 1909-12-06
Bay and River SteambOatmen'S S
Union Makes Appeal to
State Officials
Men Forced to Live in MOI
some Holes Without VentiIa-
ton and Reeking With Filth
Inspection Proves Charges True
and Attempt Will Be Made
to Bring About Change

= OFFENDING that the forecastles
Y on the majority of the bay and
river steamers plying on San
Francisco bay and its tributaries are
foul holes, insanitary. subiecting men
TO disease, are without ventilation and
wholly inadequate TO accommodate the
number of men who must sleep in
Them. the bay and river steamboat
mems union, which is affiliated with
the seamen's union of the Pacific, has
appealed to the state board of health
10 take action TO ameliorate conditions
on the vessels
Conditions Termed UnbearabIe
The assertion of the union is that at
ali times of the year the conditions OIL
the boats are unbearable. In sum-
mer the terrible heat on the rivers and
sloughs. combined with the heat of the
boilers. which are located just abaft
The forecastle. makes sleeping impos-
sible: and in winter the water from
storms permeate into the quarters and
the men must sleep in their oiiskins
TO keep their bodies dry. Nearly 700
men are employed on the boats plying
on the bay.
Dr. Martin Regensburger. president
Of the state board Of health. to whom
the union has applied for relief. said
yesterday that the conditions on the
crafts We're inhuman ard should imme-
diateIy be bettered. He said that the
board Of health had undertaken to see
If it has jurisdiction over the boats.
VIII AmeIiorate Conditions
IF we have the power said Doctor
Regensburger. I'VE surely shall make
every effort TO ameliorate the condi-
lions or the boats I am glad that The
call has taken up the matter, for the
condition on the crafts is inhuman.
Dr. A. P. Kaelber. inspector for the
state board Of health. who in the per
formance of his duty has inspected ali
the boats. supported the declaration OF
his chief in every respect. He contend
ed that the conditions on nearly all the
boats is insanitary, that the sleeping
quarters are infested with vermin. that
9here is improper ventilation and that
the quarters are dangerously located
Quarters Are Dangerous
II. Huntsman. secretary of the bay
and river steamboatmen's union, and
George Comstock, patrolman of the
union. whose duty it is to inspect the
vessels in the interest Of the sailors
and deckhands. agreed that the fore
castles on nearly all the boats were
dangerously located. that the men
sleeping there were continually men
aced by accident and that the quarters
were insanitary, dirty and dangerous
TO health and arranged without any
regard for the good Of the men en-
ployed on the vessels. It is held that
the sleeping quarters Of the men should
be moved abovedecks.
while it is agreed that one line is
little better than another. three of the
vessels OF the largest line, the Cali
fornia transportation company, plying
between Jackson and Washington
streets wharfs. this city and Sacra-
mento river points. were inspected yes.
terday afternoon by members of the
union and representative Of The Call
The crafts visited were the Fort Bragg
the Aurora and the Captain Weber. Or
the Fort Bragg and the Aurora. par
10 be noisome. On the Captain Weber
the forecastle was dry. but congested
with hunks and i'll ventilated. Wher
the forecastle Of the Fort Bragg was
seen. from three to five inches of water
was swashing on the floor of the mar.
row quarters. a deckhand who bunk,
in the unspeakable place said cheerfuIly
that the water was not usually there
but there seems little chance that the
dampness could be eradicated, for the
only sunlight that entered the place
was through the two foot hatch in the
peak Of the boat Five or six men sIeeI
in this hole
Noisome Sleeping Place
The hunks are arranged on each side
Of the nose of the Fort Bragg. The
ladder brings the sailor down with 3
perpendicular drop into deep pool Of
water. in which aoated yesterday old
boxes and heavy beam ends TO reach
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