The Alaska sourdough. [volume] (Douglas, Alaska) 1911-1911, 1911-11-07
overheard they pull themselves up on

q perfect dTSuHoHJ against LUZ HSI pIO-
lection. But he had never been washed
overheard and faced death in heavy
sea against the Shiny side of scow.
Outside New York harbor, where forty
scows are dumped every day of the
year, the inspecting government tugs
lave long been in the habit of stand
ing by while the scowmen make their
perilous runs along the, twelve inch
planks, and they have saved SO many
that they have lost all count.
Here again there is no certain way
of finding out how many men lose
their, lives. The scows do not clear
from the custom house, nor are the own
ers responsible to the adjoining states.
There is no possibility Of an investiga-
ton, no call for coroner's jury, no re-
port Of men lost frequently the men
are employed with the utmost infor-
mality-picked up in hurry on the
wharf at night, told how to knock
cIen the trap doors, and promised =
dollar and half if they get back.
Some scowmen become accomplished
gymnasts. But what about the poor
wop who goes out on a nasty sea on
his first trips
A storm is regarded as rather a
boon-to the owners. The solid seas
wash good deal Of the load overheard
and, the plea Of saving life and prop
erty TIL traps are ordered opened long
before the dumping ground is reached.
At such times the sea is at it's mean
est hut tier is not even govern
mant tug standing by.
The new law applies Gully to scows.
The men on sea going barges are liable
to mach greater dangers, hut they are
t",y partly protected; ana those on the
harges for inland wa-e1s which put out
mt, dangerous ocean passageways,
such as that around Point Judith, at
the entrance of Narragansett bay, are
not protected at all In consequence,
numbers Of men are lost every year on
the Atlantic coast in barge accidents.
Passengers fare very well these days.
On account Of the rigid inspection Of
steamers, the loss on the North Allan
tic coast last year was only an average
Of one in twenty-one millions. But the
barges, which carry the bulk Of the
freight, are, under the law, only half
inspected. All the equipment required
is boat, a life preserver for each per
son, and an anchor and chain. Gov
eminent officers examine the hulls
once year, but they have no right TO
inspect the two lines and bits-the most
important things. These may be in
dangerous condition, but no one has
authority to stop their use.
For this reason seventeen lives were
lost from Philadelphia & Reading
barges one night last January off Cape
Cod. The exact cause of the barges'
breaking away could not be determin-
ed, for they went down; but it was
plain that, if more careful inspection
had been permitted, the loss could have
been avoided. Government officers con-
stantly exceed their authority in or
dering repairs made, yet coal barges
rarely live to be considered unsea-
worthy You seldom see them rotting
in the bone yards They are kept run
ming until they founder.
These sea matters are out Of our ken.
But much worse conditions exist right
under our noses. Our eyes, however,
are dazzled by the brilliance Of the &C
complishment in which they are invol
we'd. We see the smooth running rail-
read, the tcAering building, all thu pol
Isl ed ete.tnr Of clv .,:latl n; wc can
rot see Tint they arc "h.tek ni:h
blood
There is Tho terminal being bnrlt FIR
the New T5rk Central in New York
a. o4 -, r. = M.