Evening journal., 1912-05-10
COMMEND
WILSON LINE
FOR SAFETY

The navigation committee Of City
Council last night made it's report to
City Council on the steamboat inspoc-
ton made by the members Of the COM
mittee. The Wilson Line WAS highly
commended by the committee.
The report follows
~Tho commiltc on navigation begs
10 make the following report in the
mattcr referred 10 IL. concerning the
conipmcnt for the saving of lifc, m
case of accident. carried by passcn-
ser steamboats, on the Delaware river,
cntcrinc aud leaving the city of VIII
minrton. AS also life saving equip
mont on gasoline launches and motor
boats plying on the Christana ana
pelaware river 10 and from Tho city
of Wilmington.
"This committee took up the matter
at considerable length with the OH
cials Of the Wilson Line. which, as is
we'll known. carries the very large
proportion of passengers going TO and
fro on the Christiana and Delaware
rivers. The Wilson Line is the own
er of four steamboats,, namely. the
City of Wilmington. the BrandYwine,
the City of Chester, and the City OF
Philadelphia; tho company is also the
owner of the Ulrica. plying between
Wilmington and Pennsgrove We feel
that the Wilson Line complies, IN
every particular with the require
ments of the United States govern
ment in the number OF life boats
carried, and in the number Of life
preservers carried for the maximum
number OF passengers allowed by the
Federal government on boats of the
respective sizes owned by the Ncom-
pany. As a matter of fact. the boats
carry an excess of thirty TO fifty life
preservers for each boat beyond the
requirements of the Federal statute.
The officials of the company seem
cd anxious and willing to extend TO
us every courtesy in the way of fur
nishing us such information as we
might desire and expressed their en-
tire willingness not only TO comply
with the law TO the fullest particular.
but to provide every appliance which
might be necessary for tho preserva-
tion OF life in case Of accident. which.
under such conditions. as would
prevail in tho Christiana and Della
ware rivers.
we find also that in addition to
the annual inspection by the govern
ment, that the steamers are subject
20 a quarterly inspection by the gov
eminent. at which time each part of
1.-THE equipment is gone over and as a
matter OF fact. frequent inspections
arc made between tho quarterly in
spections.
THE Wilson Line people also stated
70 us that boat drills are frequently
made so that in case of accident the
crews shall be as efficient as possible
in the saving of human lives. with
reference to the small gasoline and
motor launches plying in and out OF
1.-THE Christiana and Bradywine rivers
10 and fro on the waters of the Della.
ware river, 1t is, Of course. much
moro difficult to obtain data and IN
formation. but we ascertained that
each and every one of them is sub
loct to Federal laws and statutes
that an inspector appointed by TN
United States government, has oaol
and every one OF them under frequen
personal inspection. and as the regu
lations of the United States govern
ment are always strictly enforced
and with no laxity, We believe tha
such business as is done by them \
carried on with proper regard fol
human safety"