The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-08-28
TRAVEL NOT AFFECTED
BY TITANIC DISASTER
Stream Of People Still Pour Across
the Atlantic Ocean; Steam
ships Are Safer

WASHINGTON Aug. 26.-The care
Iof transatlantic passengers of late
months has been sedulously provided
for by every agency. of the federal
government Notwithstanding the
perils of sea travel, despite the un-
forseen horrors of the Titanic dis
aster, the stream of travel from
the farther shores to the United
States has not noticeably diminished.
People these days will come and go,
tragedies by land or sea to the con-
trary. They will keep coming hither
from alien lands, just as they have
done from the halcyon days of
Columbian discovery. And they will
keep going hence, the descendants Of
these earlier and earliest settlers,
curious to, look upon the land of
their ancestors. The multiplication
of ships, the improvement in every
way of facilities for ocean travel,
added comforts. seven Injuries, speed
of the craft more closely linking So
cially and in business the old
world and the new-all these things
have very greatly augmented the i'm
portance of ocean movement both Of
passenger 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
at sea.
r. Government Is Watchful
Mt Is worthy of note there has been
no dereliction upon the part of the
United States government in the OBJ
vious duties that have devolved upon
us since the catastrophe which sunk
more of the world in grief and horror
than anything of the kind that has
visited humanity in modern times.
What machinery of this government
is available to promote the safety of
lives and property in transit across the
seas has been used energetically, in
diligently and without stint
Supervising Inspector 4 General
George UhlerJ of the steamboat in
specting service has devoted himself
increasingly and most earnestly to all
the problems involvedsin the share of
this government in responsibility for
the safety of ocean travellers He
said to-day, talking on this subject; ri
orps Nations Are Interested s.G
CAS- soon as the Titanic disaster oc-
eurred1 everything was done to pro-
vide life-saving equipment for every
body on board ship, including passen-
gers and crew. Although the Ameri-
can rules previous to this provided for
the care of more than twice as many
people as were provided for by the
rules of the British board of trade,
still we did not relax efforts to i'm
prove the situation. The basis of both
American and British rules, however,
Is the tonnage of the ships rather
than the number of passengers, the
same basis being acknowledged by all
the maritime nations of the world,
with the possible exception of Nor
way, which country since 1909, had
provided for full boatage on trans
Atlantic ships. With the event of the
appalling Titanic calamity, all ma
lions have interested themselves ac-
lively and profitably for the safety OF
lives and property crossing the seas,
and none more 'effectuaIly than our
own government. asa sJaJs 50 ,3-Sr
Indeed nothing has been left I'M
done, conceived by ? ingenuity and
painstaking thought to. insure safety
project to- that end that appeared up.
on its face to be feasible and prac-
tical has been instantly tested. The
steamship companies, realizing to the
full their responsibilities have not
been remiss in attention and activity
in the emergency. know of one
company that even before our rules
went into effect. 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.
Confidence Is Maintained
1.-The very earnestness with which
our country has engaged in forward
ing solution of the greatest possible
promotion of safety for life and prop
erty in transit over the sea has tend
ed unquestionably to keep confidence
alive, and all reports indicate there
has been no material diminution in
such travel and business The Ameri-
can people will travel, If they have
reasonable assurance of ordinary
care for their safety"