SUGGESTIONS FOR REDUCING THE LOSS BV FIRE ON VESSELS. 199 



all steamers carrying cargo should, as already mentioned, have steam extin- 

 guishers in tlae hold and sprinklers between decks. Passenger steamers 

 should all be thoroughly sprinkled, those having sleeping accommodations 

 having a sprinkler in every stateroom. Thermostats or some type of auto- 

 matic fire alarm should be fitted. On passenger steamers over 300 feet 

 long, fire walls should be built every 150 to 200 feet, extending from the 

 main deck to the dome. These walls should be constructed of wood at 

 least 1 1 inches thick (two thicknesses of |-inch tongued and grooved wood 

 laid diagonally) , covered on each side with at least |-inch asbestos having 

 sheet iron over it. The openings in these walls should be as few as possible, 

 and should be fitted with regular fire-doors which can be closed instantly. 



GASOWNE BOATS. 



Gasoline is, of course, the great hazard on these boats. The vibration 

 caused by the motor in time loosens the joints in the piping and gasoline 

 leaks into the bilge; a certain amount also leaks out at the carbureter. 

 As there is always more or less bilge water in the bottom, unless water- 

 tight bulkheads are fitted there is a film of gasoline floating on the bilge 

 the entire length of the boat, and this, if ignited, will spread fire all over 

 instantly. 



Some years ago a firm constructed launches having the tank in the bow 

 with a water-tight bulkhead back of it; holes were bored in the planking 

 on each side of the tank just below the water-line, allowing free circulation 

 of water around the tank, the feed-pipes came out of the bottom and ran 

 along the keel to the engine, which was at the aft end. Forward of the 

 engine was a water-tight bulkhead extending above the water-line, and the 

 entire engine compartment was lined with brass. If there was a cabin on 

 the launch it ended forward of the engine, which was left in the open so 

 that no vapor got inside of the boat at all. This was the safest possible 

 construction. 



The tank and the engine should both be in water-tight compartments 

 even though the bulkheads, at each end of the engine, only come up to the 

 floor boards — and the feed-pipe should be run outside the hull. This will 

 prevent leaking gasoline and oils from flowing the entire length of the boat. 

 All cabin-boats should have ventilators to carry off the vapor. Many motor 

 boats are owned by business men who use them only on week ends, so 

 they remain locked up tight from Sunday or Monday until the following 

 Saturday. | If any gasoline is escaping the entire cabin becomes filled with 

 a highly explosive vapor which may blow the boat to pieces. Many persons 

 have been killed from this cause, to say nothing of the loss of the boats. 



