The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-06
MANY SAFEGUARDS
HAVE BEEN PLANNED
FOR OCEAN TRAVEL

provided for by every agency of the
federal government. Notwithstand-
ing the perils of sea travel, despite
the unforeseen horrors of the Titanic
disaster. the stream of travel from
America across the Atlantic and from
the farther shores to the United
States has not noticeably diminished.
People these days will come and 60.
tragedies by land or sea to the con-
trary. American shores make a mag
net no calamity can negative. They
will keep coming hither from alien
lands, just as they have done from
the halcyOn days of Columbian dis
covery. And they will keep going
hence. the descendants OF these
earlier and earliest settlers, curious
to look upon the land of their an
cestOrs The multiplication OF ships,
the improvement in every way of ia
cilities for ocean travel, added COM
forts, even luxuries, speed Of the
craft more closely linking socially
and in business wise the old world
and the new-all these things have
very greatly augmented the import
ance Of ocean movement both of pas
sengers and commercial trade.
An absorbing question is whether
the government to which they are
bound by allegiance of oath, birth or
citizenship, is inclined to care for
them or not in the risks they take al
sea.
It is worthy of note there has been
no dereliction upon the part OF the
United States government in the OBJ
.ous duties that have dcvOlvcd upon
us since the catastrophe which sunk
more of the world in grief and hor-
rOr than anything of the kind that
has visited humanity in modern
times
What machinery Of this govern.
l,cnt is available to promote the
safety of lives and property in transit
across the seas has been used cncr-
eotically, intclligcntly and without
stint.
Supervising Inspector General
| George t'hlcr of he steamboat in
spcrting service has devoted himself
INCREASINGLY and most earnestly to all
the problems involved in the share
II, this COY arnmcnt in responsibility
Ter the safety of ocean travellers. lie
said today, talking on this subject.
As soon as The Titanic disaster
occurred cvcrythins was done to pro-
>iue litc-sa,ing equipment for every
| l,ody ON board ship. iteluding pas
semgcrs and crew Although the
American rules previous To this pro-
vidcd for the care OF more than
twice as many people as We're pro-
vitled for by the rules OF the British
Board of Trade. still We did not r.
lax efforts to improve the situation.
The basis of both American and Brit
ish rules, however, is the tonnage OF
the ships rather than the number OF
passengers, the same basis being ac-
knowlcdgcd by all the maritime ma.
tons OF the world, with the possible
exception of Norway, which coun-
try. since 1909. had provided for full
toatagc on transatlantic ships. Will,
the event of the appalling Titanic ca
lamity. all nations have interested
themselves actively and profitably for
the safety Of lives and property
crossing the seas. and none more ef
fectually than our own government
Indeed, nothing has been left I'M
done. conceived by ingenuity and
lainstaking thought. to insure safety
tor ocean travel Any sincerely
| urged project to that end that ap
| pearcd upon its face to be feasible
and practical has been instantly
tested. The steamship companies,
realizing TO the full their RESPONSE
bilities. have not been rcmiss in at
tention and activity in the emcr
sency. know of one company that.
even before our rules went into eff
feet. had already placed orders for
$50 lifebOats, all of which are being
built as fast as they can be turned
out by working day and night and
sundays
The very earnestness with which
our country has engaged in forward
ing a solution of the greatest possi-
bic promotion of safety for life and
property in transit over the sea has
tended unquestionably to keep con-
fdenee alive. and all reports indicate
there has been no material diminu-
tion in such travel and business.
! The American people will travel. If