Year: 1874

lQ0 QueSClOQ now 10 OlmlnlRu Cn0 dangers
of ocean travel is just now receiving good
deal of attention in England. The necessity
of doing something 10 check the recklessness


of shipowners and sea captains seems at Last
to be fully recognized, but how it is to be
effected remains puzzle. Within the past
few months, in addition to the number Of
steamships lost in the Atlantic, number Of
British steamships engaged in the Indian and
China trade have come to grief AS the excuse
cannot be put forth that they we're commanded
by Frenchmen and therefore unseaworthy,
some other explanation had to be sought.
The discussion has brought to light some facts
not generally known to the public, which
show that reprehensible system Of racing
exists in the Indian and China trade, as well as
among the Atlantic steamers. Safety is sacri-
feed to speed, and to this circumstance may
be directly traced most of the disasters which
befall ocean steamships So grave has this
abuse become that the insurance companies are
arranging to adopt measures of mutual defence
by so regulating their tariffs that shipowners
and captains may find it their interest to place
safety above every other consideration. This
would, no doubt, exercise very healthy in
fuence, and we should very much desire to
see system of partial insurance substituted
for the present system. The increased re-
sponsibility thrown on shipowners would
probably have the very best effect in encour-
aging care and foresight in the sailing Of
ships. There are however, accidents Of the
sea which the question of insurance cannot
very much affect. Nor would the sacrifice Of
speed insure safety. Foggy weather and
badly understood signals will at intervals
cause marine disasters, and all that can be
done is to diminish the chances of collision as
much as possible. The adoption Of clearly
laid down ocean lanes is the simplest and
most effective way Of diminishing the danger
of collision, and, should accidents occur, fur
nishes the best security for speedy relief to
vessels in distress. All other plans to settle
this difficulty will be found to be practi-
cally imperative. It will always be
difficult to prove culpable recklessness
against the survivors of any disaster. Con-
flict of evidence will ever make the infic-
ton of punishment difficult and deprive it
of all moral effect, and therefore render it
useless. Besides, the punishment of reck.
less captain cannot restore life nor snatch
from the greedy waters valuable cargoes.
What is needed is safety, and that can best
be procured by regulating the lines of travel
to be followed by passenger steamers crossing
the Atlantic. The number of steamships
crossing, instead of being o danger, as at
present, would then be source of security,
as the ships would convoy each other, and,
instead of isolated steamships rushing blindly
and capriciously across the ocean, each one q
danger to the rest, every ship would become
part of great trading feet sailing almost
constantly within hail and in position to re-
ceive or extend succor should occasion arise.
That is the goal to which we are tending, and
it is as much the interest of the steamship
companies as Of the public that we should
reach it with the least possible delay.