The Sentinel=record., 1913-12-25
LITTLE DANGER IN
 SEAFARING LIFE
ONLY ONE PERSON IN 6e5,557 LOST LIFE ON EAMBOATS
 DURING PAST YEAR.
Marine Inspection Service Has Grown to Be a Safety Valve in Passenger Business.

tion Service of the Secretary of Com merce. for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1913, has been published
 During the year 1865 vessels of all classes having a gross tonnage of g. .071,992 were inspected an increase of 129 vessels and 316712 tons gross. Of the vessels inspected, 45O were foreign passenger steamers of gross tonnage amounting to 9, 427,314.
 There were 26,4S2 officers of all grades licensed Of the 7670 appli- cants for original or renewal of li- censes who were examined for visual defects, S4 were found color-blind Or with other defects, and licenses re- fused.
 Accidents resulting in loss of life during the year numbered 66, with a total life loss of 436. Of the lives lost 226 were from suicide, accidental drowning, and other similar causes, which leaves only 210 that can fairly be chargeable to accident, collision, explosion, or laundering. During the fiscal year 303, ,263 ,033 passengers were carried on steam vessels that are required by law to report the number of passengers carried Taking the total number of lives lost as 436, it is seen that 695 ,557 passengers were carried for each life lost. whether of passengers or crew and from all caus- es.
 Particular attention was paid to the prevention of the overlooking of steamers carrying passengers, and this practice has been materially re- duced One factor which has substan- tially controlled the allowance of pas sengers in the rules in force in re- gard to lifeboat equipment for where steamers are boated according to the number of passengers carried they can not carry a larger number of pas sengers than justified by their life boat capacity.
 The actual counting of passengers carried by steam vessels has been  boat-Inspection Service as far as they have been able and the balance by customs officers The belief is eX- pressed that this work should be en- tirely under the control of the service. which should require additional in spectors, the present available force being to small.
 Careful and studious attention has been given to the matter of boiler con- struction and inspection, and the Gen. eral Rules and Regulations in this re- gard are respected and are frequently referred to by various authorities in this and other countries. During the fiscal year 3,2OS boiler plates were in- spected of which 5000 were accepted and POS were rejected for various re- sons.
 A very rigid examination of vessels is made at the annual inspection, but steamers would not be kept in good condition were it not for the rein spections required Every excursion and ferry steamer is reinspected at least three times during the year for which the certificate of inspection was issued or during the season cf navigation, and, while these reinspec- tion require an increased expenditure the added expense is more than justifi ed by the results obtained.
 There are said to be 250,000 motor boats in the United States, and over these no district power can be wield- ed either as regards passengers or machinery. The hull, tanks and pip ing can be inspected, but only when the vessel Is of 15 tons or more and when it carries passengers and freight for hire. The number of pas sengers can not be limited except by fixing the lifeboat equipment. Over motor vessels smaller than 15 tons powers are limited to seeing them pro yided with necessary life-saving equip ment, lights, life preservers, and means of extinguishing gasoline fires Of the 264S2 officers licensed, 9,410 were operators of motor boats for whom no examination was required To obtain such license one need not be citizen of the United States, 21 years of age, or able to read or write and no questions can be asked regard ing accuracy of vision or knowledge and understanding of pilot rules Re commendation is made that appli- cants for licenses as operators or motor boats be required to pass an examination as to their color sense and visual activity and also as to their knowledge of the pilot rules and laws.
 The Steamboat-Inspection Service is given by law a certain control and jurisdiction over the transportation of dangerous articles, but this control is confined to steamers carrying pas sengers and does not extend to freight vessels. Because of unsafe conditions, which may arise in the transportation of articles not cayered by the law and because of perils in. cident to the transportation of dan gerous articles on freight vessels. the Ysuf .g..