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~ 58 ropean powers and other heavy de- mands upon great financial establish- ments are given by some economists as the cause of curtailments of cred- its which have reduced the volume of business. It is manifestly impossible, however, to put one's finger upon the -immediate cause of industrial or com- mercial depression. There are econ- omists who believe that coming re- vivals or trade can be discerned at sea quicker than they can on land. Whatever point there may be in that contention, it was certainly true in 1911 when an incredible activity ex- isted in over-sea exchange of com- modities while everything on land was apparently persuing a_ leisurely pace. 'The passenger trade, however, con- -ENGINE ROOM LJUSNE JERNVERK tinues good and tonnage under con- struction, exclusive of warships, at the present time exceeds all previous rec- ords. These orders, however, were placed before there was an apprecia- ble decline in freights, and most of the important builders find themselves with sufficient work on hand to oc- cupy them during the whole of 1914. Orders for present construction are being taken at 10 per cent less than a year ago, while the value of new steamers now in commission has sensibly declined. There are a great many second-hand steamers for sale. The unusual situation exists in Great Britain of the shipyards being busy while the vessels constructed by them are idle, but of course the reason is clear. The United fruit. ©oW has- just 'is- sued a calendar containing a map of the Panama canal zone, together with a profile of the canal and some of the scenes in Jamaica reached by its ships. THE MARINE REVIEW Annual Report of Steamboat Inspection The annual report of the supervis- ing inspector general of the steam- boat inspection service to the secre- tary of commerce for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1913, shows that dur- ing. the year 7,965 vessels of all classes having a gross tonnage of 9,071,992 were inspected, an increase of 129 vessels and 316,712 tons gross. Of the vessels inspected, 450 were foreign passenger steamers of gross tonnage amounting to 3,427,314. There were 26,482 officers of all grades licensed. Of the 7,670 appli- cants for original or renewal of li-_ censes who were examined for visual defects, 84 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 foundering. During the fiscal year 303,263,033 passengers were carried on steam vessels that are re- quired by law to report the number, Taking the of passengers carried. total number of lives lost as 436, it is seen that 695,557 passengers were carried for each life lost, whether of passengers or ctew, and from all causes. Overloading of Steamers Particular attention was paid to the prevention of the overloading of steamers carrying passengers, and this practice has been materially re- duced) One factor which has sub- stantially controlled the allowance. of Passengers is the rules. in force in regard to lifeboat equipment, for where steamers are boated according to the number of passengers carried they cannot carry a larger number of pas- sengers than justified by their life- boat capacity. The actual counting of passengers carried by steam vessels has heen done by the inspectors of the steam- 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 this serv- ice, which would require additional inspectors, the present 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 Tegard are respected and are fre- February, 1914 quently referred to by various au- thorities in this and other countries. During the fiscal year 3,208 boiler plates. were inspected, of which 3,000 were accepted and 208 rejected for various reasons. 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 of navigation, and, while these reinspec- tions require increased expenditure, the added expense is more than justi- fied by the results obtained. Power Vessels There are said to be 250,000 power boats in the United States, and over these no direct 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 passengers cannot be limited except by fixing the lifeboat equipment. Over motor vessels smaller than 15 tons, powers are limited to seeing them provided with the necessary life-saving equip- ment, lights, life preservers and means of extinguishing gasoline fires. Of the 26,482 officers licensed, 9,410 were operators of motor boats for whom no exXamination was required. To ob- tain such license one need not be a citizen of the United States, 21 years of age, or able to read and write, and no questions can be asked re- garding accuracy of vision or knowl- edge and understanding of pilot rules. Recommendation is made that applicants for licenses as operators of motor boats be required to pass an examination as to their color sense and visual acuity 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 con- trol is confined to steamers carrying passengers, and does not extend to Itereht vessels. Because of unsafe conditions, which may arise in the transportation of articles not cov- ered by the law and because of perils incident to the transportation of dangerous articles on freight vessels, the report recommends that the law be amended to give the service con- trol over the entire situation with authority to make regulations cov- ering the water transportation of dan- gerous articles.