Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-23
Annual Report OF
S. S. Inspection.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 22.-(Spe-
ciaD.-The annual report of the super
vising inspector general of the steam
boat inspection service to the secretary
of commerce, for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1913, has been published.
During the year 1865 vessels of all
classes having gross tonnage OF
9.071. .992 were inspected, an increase OF
129 vessels and 316.712 tons gross. OF
the vessels inspected. 45o were foreign
passenger steamers of gross tonnage
amounting TO 3,42,3l4.
There were 26,4S2 officers of all
grades licensed OF the 1870 applicants
for original or renewal of licenses who
were examined for visual defects, S4
were found color blind or with other
defects, and licenses refused.
Accidents resulting in loss of life
during the year numbered 66, with
total life loss of 1876. OF the lives lost
226 were from suicide, accidental
drowning. and other similar causes,
which leaves only 21o that can fairly
be chargeable to accident collision,
explosion, or laundering. During the
fiscal year 300, ,033 passengers were
carried on steam vessels that are re-
quired by law to report the number OF
messengers carried Taking the total
number of lives lost as 4S6, it is seen
that 695,557 passengers were carried
for each life lost, whether of passen-
gers or crew, and from all causes.
Particular attention was paid to the
prevention of the overloading of
steamers carrying passengers, ana TINS
practice has been materially reduced,
One factor which has substantially
controlled the allowance of passengers
is the rules in force in regard to lie
boat equipment, for where steamers
are boated according to the number
of passengers carried they can not
carry a larger number of passengers
than justified by their lifeboat capacl-
ty.
The actual counting of passengers
carried by steam vessels has been done
by the inspectors of the steamboat-ln=
spection service as far as they nave
been able and the balance by customs
officers. The belief is expressed that
This work should be entirely under the
control of this service, which would
REQUIRE additional inspectors, the pres
ent available force being too small.
Careful and studious attention has
been given to the matter of boiler
construction and inspection, and the
general rules and regulations in this
regard are respected and are frequent
w referred to by various authorities in
| this and other countries. Dur
1 ing the fiscal year 320S boiler plates
we're inspected. of which 5000 We're ae-
f cepted and POS rejected for various
4 reasons.
\ very rigid examination of vessels
/ is made at the annual inspection, but
steamers would not be kept in good
/ condition We're it not for the reinspec-
| tions required. Every excursion and
ferry steamer is reinspeeted at least
three times during the year for which
the certificate of inspection was issued
or during the season of navigation,
and, while these reinspections require
an increased expenditure, the added
! expense is more than justified by the
results obtained.
There are said to be 250000 motor
boats in the United States, and over
these no direct power can be welded
either as regards passengers or ma
! chinery The hull, tanks, and piping
can be inspected, but only when the
vessel is of is tons or more and when
it carries passengers and freight for
/ hire The number of passengers can
not be limited except by fixing the life
boat equipment. over motor vessels
smaller than Is tons, powers are limit
ed to seeing them provided with the
necessary life saving equipment, lights,
life preserVers, and means of extin-
gushing gasoline fires. OF the 26,4S2
officers licensed, 9410 were operators of
motor boats for whom no examination
was required To obtain such license
one need not be citizen of the United
States Il years of age, or able to read
and write, and no questions can be
asked regarding accuracy of vision or
knowledge and understanding of pilot
rules. Recommendation is made that
applicants for licenses as operators of
motor boats be required to pass an
examination 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 passen-
gers and does not extend to freight
vessels. Because of unsafe conditions
which may arise in the transportation
of articles not covered by the law and
lhecaHse Of ps;44s Incident to the trans.