Sanitation and Safety of Passenger Vessels (1911)

Ocean travel on a first-class vessel is safer than land travel on a fast express. The Bureau of Navigation of the Department of Commerce and Labor at Washington will supply interested persons with copies of the "Navigation Laws of the United States" and the recent act adding thereto. We hardly need to discuss these laws and regulations here. However, some relate to sanitary matters such as the cubic capacity per passenger, etc.

There are well-defined east and west steamer "lanes" upon the oceans, and sailing vessels have other courses for them. This reduces the danger of a collision. The quadruple expansion engine and the turbine type of engine, as well as twin screws, made possible larger vessels, and it seems the larger they are, the safer they are. Practically all vessels are now constructed with compartment bulkheads operated by a pneumatic mechanism, and it takes a fearful destruction of the hull to sink a ship so provided and in which the crew maintains discipline.

The wireless telegraph has demonstrated its value aboard ships, particularly as a means of procuring help in times of disaster. Lighthouses, buoys, sirens, bells, and more particularly the submarine bell, indicate rocks and shoals. The sound from the latter reaches the ear of the man in the wheelhouse by telephones placed below the water line.

Fire and fog are still terrors of the sea, but both dangers are being overcome. The tube fire detector will indicate even the smoking of a cigar in the vessel's hold. The destruction of derelicts, lifesaving stations, rockets, other signaling devices, good lifeboats, life preservers, careful drill and discipline, and elaborate government inspection all tend toward safety aboard ships.

The Cosmopolitan for July 1909 contains an interesting article on this subject by John Robinson Binns.

It is hardly to the credit of America that most of our large passenger vessels are built abroad. I have a communication from The Harland & Wolff Shipbuilding Co. of Liverpool, who state, concerning the sanitary features of shipbuilding, as follows:

Regarding sanitary quarters, we rely.

• On cleanliness.
• An abundant supply of salt water for flushing purposes.
• Ample ventilation, natural or artificial; auction is preferred so that the ail is changed completely every two or three minutes. This causes a current of air to flow towards these parts of the vessel, and the fans or ventilators, being placed as high up as possible, discharge the foul air clear of passengers' and living rooms.
• Separate ventilation of soil pipes by pipes led through the ship's side.
  

Owing to the Oriental trade, the vessels plying upon the Pacific Ocean face a more significant sanitary problem. That ocean being more expansive than the Atlantic Ocean means that the voyages are longer, and the difficulties are increased thereby. Consequently, I have chosen a Pacific vessel to illustrate what I have to say about the sanitary conduct of an ocean liner.

Mr. A. L. Craig, general passenger agent of the Great Northern Steamship Company, has supplied me with photographs of the great steamship Minnesota. Mr. C. C. I.acey, marine superintendent of the line, has provided the following description of the sanitary features of the vessel:

General Toilet and Bathroom on the SS Minnesota. Photo by A. L. Craig. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f7de22a5

Stateroom Showing Forced Ventilation on the SS Minnesota. Photo by A. L. Craig. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f803d09d

View of Private Bathroom on the SS Minnesota. Photo by A. L. Craig. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f81516f3

The sanitary system is patterned after the best hotels and public buildings. Our lavatories and baths are all mechanically ventilated. They are fitted with the Watrous aqua meters, Lucania and Cairo bowls, and enameled iron bathtubs.

The piping system is the usual water trap system, and the flushing of the mains is under a pressure of forty pounds per square inch. Sea water is used for all flushing purposes. The lavatories and bathrooms are steel-lined, and the floors are laid with cement and vitrified tiling, ensuring moisture absorption from leaking pipes or decks. During the five years of service, we have had but few complaints of any obnoxious odors.

The Chinese crew's quarters are arranged with lavatory tanks, which are part of the continuous flushing system. The tanks are always free from overflow and have always worked satisfactorily.

For the medical and sanitary care of our passengers, we have had only two cases of malignant diseases. With ordinary cases of sickness, our passengers remain in their quarters. The staterooms are perfectly ventilated, both natural and mechanical.

If the sickness is of a contagious nature, we use the hospital in the after part of the ship and on the main deck. The majority of our sickness is among the Chinese passengers and crew.

We carry one surgeon who is supplied with the necessary drugs and tools for almost any kind of work in the medical field.

The vessel is 630 feet long, 731 feet in beam, and 56 feet deep from the keel to the saloon deck amidships. Add to this the various decks, and the height of the upper navigation bridge is 88 feet 4 inches.

The total deadweight capacity is 23,000 long tons, in addition to the weight of the stores and equipment, while the vessel has a cubical capacity of 28,000 tons of 40 cubic feet, available for the stowage of light cargo.

The vessel accommodates 318 cabin passengers, 1,500 troops or Asiatic steerage, and a crew 250.

The fittings include bilge keels, double bottoms, twenty-six watertight compartments, water and sulfur fumes, fire-extinguishing apparatus, all the usual safety appliances, suites de luxe (not illustrated), and finished in mahogany, and with elaborate fittings, elaborate staterooms with running water, telephone, electric heating and lighting, mechanical ventilation, and every luxury; the dining saloon, music room, library, smoking room, nursery, and other public quarters are finished with little regard to expense; food inspection, laundering, and the sanitary quarters are under expert care.

It stands to reason that the cabin accommodations of such a vessel would be sanitary, but what is equivalent to what is commonly called "steerage" is called "third cabin" on this vessel, and the third-class passengers have staterooms on the main deck forward.

These quarters are good, although three to five berths are in each stateroom, and they are separate from the Asiatic steerage. This latter does not depend upon hatches for ventilation, carries Japanese and Chinese cooks, and is obliged to supply an opium den.

The vessels of this line follow the Japan Current and require about fifteen days to sail from Seattle to Yokahoma and then proceed to Kobe, Nagasaki, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. A round trip to Hong Kong takes about seventy days, allowing about a month ashore at various ports of call.

Looking over the crack steamships coming into New York harbor, one cannot but be impressed with the sumptuous and sanitary quarters for first and second-cabin passengers. Still, some older vessels have wretched steerage accommodations, with open berth sections, and not nearly as reasonable as those upon the Minnesota, already described.

However, the destructive features of "steerage" quarters are in the process of elimination by business competition. It is easy to assail the so-called "trust." Still, it is the "International Mercantile Marine Co.," known as the "steamship trust," that improving "steerage" quarters.

They are the people who had the merry rate war with the Cunard Steamship Co. and control the White Star Line, International Navigation Co. (American and Red Star Lines), Leyland Line, Atlantic Transport Co., Dominion Line, and National Line. They also have traffic agreements with other lines.

Sanitation on the SS Lapland of the Red Star Line

I spent some time at their offices at 9 Broadway. I was shown many things of interest, but what impressed me most was that the sanitary problem is appreciated by trust (as I have found in other directions). Their latest 1909 vessel, the SS Lapland, has modern quarters for steerage passengers.

Two illustrations of this vessel are given, one of which is the galley and the other of which is the washroom construction for the steerage passengers. This vessel carries 400 first and second-cabin passengers and 1,800 third-cabin or steerage. It has 18,694 gross tonnage and is 620 feet long, 70 feet beam, and 50 feet deep. It is a model of sanitation.

View of One of the Washrooms on the SS Lapland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f84db34d

View of the SS Lapland Electrically Operated Laundry Facility. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f854a9f9

View of the Galley on the SS Lapland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f8608e5d

View of the Kitchen on the SS Lapland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f88f76bb

Sanitary and Other Facilities of the SS Gothland of the Red Star Line

But the most interesting thing of all is the "Gothland." This Red Star liner is the "Gothic" of the Australian and New Zealand service but rebuilt and renamed. She is a magnificent ship of 7,736 tons gross, 504 feet long, 53 3-10 beam, and 37 deep.

The vessel accommodates 2,100 passengers, all third class, and sails between New York and Antwerp at a rate of at least sixteen miles an hour. The accompanying photographs show how well the vessel is equipped.

Family Stateroom on the SS Gothland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f8a806e8

Third Class Dining Room on the SS Gothland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f8c8600c

Third Class Smoking Room on the SS Gothland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f95d41b2

View of Bathroom on the SS Gothland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21f95e9bba

View of Stairway and Partial View of Dining Room on SS Gothland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21fa24507d

Women's Toilet and Bathroom on the SS Gothland. Public Hygiene, 1911. GGA Image ID # 21fa4ef335

These "steerage" passengers have access to all the decks usually reserved for passengers and have perfectly sanitary and comfortable quarters. This is a step in the right direction, and it is to be hoped that other lines will be forced to follow the example. In this boat, married couples have complete privacy, while other staterooms are large enough for a family.

The chapter on "Army and Navy Hygiene" discusses many problems involved in ship sanitation, and it is suggested that the reader consult that chapter for further details.

A few words must be said about marine freights. In the days of leaky old wooden sailing vessels, there was much unsanitary freight. But nearly all long voyages are now made under steam. There is very little cause for complaint in temperate and northern waters. Still, in the tropics, some merchandise becomes most unsanitary. This is particularly true of hides and bones from Argentina. Some vessels so loaded become swarming with maggots, and the decks must be constantly washed free of them.

Our southern ports must constantly look out for unsanitary cargoes. Americans are charged with packing our goods poorly, which is not done aboard a ship. Doubtless, there are still many unsanitary cargoes and poor quarters for freighter crews. Still, conditions are improving as construction is advancing.

Many people tell of the awful conditions "before the mast," but they get their ideas from fiction. I have been aboard many freighters and "tramp steamers" and have seen some conditions far from ideal, but they are not half so bad as the novelists would have us believe.

Thos. S. Blair, M.D., “Sanitation and Safety of Passenger Vessels.” In Public Hygiene, Volume II, Boston: The Gorham Press, 1911, Pages 585-588

Review and Summary of "Sanitation and Safety of Passenger Vessels" (1911)

This 1911 article on ocean liner sanitation and safety provides an insightful look into how passenger ships evolved into safer and more sanitary environments, particularly for transatlantic and Pacific voyages. It highlights the significant advances in hygiene, disease prevention, fire safety, and ship design, showing how ocean travel became as safe—or safer—than rail travel during this period.

For teachers, students, genealogists, historians, and maritime enthusiasts, this article is an invaluable resource on the transformation of ocean travel from an often-dangerous experience to a highly regulated, sanitary, and technologically advanced mode of transportation.

 

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Relevance to Different Fields of Study

1. For Educators & Students: A Study in Maritime Public Health and Engineering

📌 Key Themes: Maritime Engineering, Public Health, Government Regulations, Passenger Class Divides

This article is an excellent resource for exploring how industrial progress, technological innovation, and government regulations shaped maritime travel in the early 20th century. It examines:

• The impact of ship sanitation laws, including cubic space requirements per passenger.
• How ventilation, clean water, and waste disposal systems were improved, particularly on newer ships like the SS Minnesota and SS Lapland.
• The role of government agencies, such as the Bureau of Navigation, in ensuring passenger safety and hygiene.

🔎 Classroom Discussion Ideas:

• How did maritime safety laws compare to land-based sanitation regulations in the early 20th century?
• In what ways did competition among steamship companies drive improvements in hygiene and safety?
• Compare first-class and steerage sanitation conditions—why did improvements come later for lower-class travelers?

 

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2. For Genealogists: Understanding Passenger Experiences on Steamships

📌 Key Themes: Steerage Conditions, Immigrant Travel, Shipboard Hygiene

For those researching ancestral ocean voyages, this article provides key insights into living conditions aboard early 20th-century passenger ships:

• Steerage passengers often faced overcrowding, poor ventilation, and limited bathing facilities, though improvements were beginning in newer ships.
• Some ships, like the SS Gothland, began offering improved "third-class" accommodations, with private rooms for families and better sanitation.
• Medical care varied by ship, but contagious diseases were still a major concern, leading to onboard hospital facilities.

📖 Genealogy Tip:

• If ancestors traveled in steerage before 1910, their experience likely included overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited medical care.
• Post-1910 ships like the SS Minnesota and SS Lapland had much-improved sanitary conditions for lower-class travelers.
• Ship manifests and passenger records often list medical quarantines and shipboard deaths, revealing how sanitation issues affected immigrants.

 

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3. For Historians: Evolution of Ship Safety & Sanitation

📌 Key Themes: Fire Prevention, Wireless Communication, Lifeboat Drills, Ventilation Advances

This article provides a detailed historical account of how safety and sanitation were revolutionized on early 20th-century passenger liners, including:

• Fire safety measures, such as tube fire detectors that could even detect cigarette smoke in the cargo hold.
• Wireless telegraphy as a life-saving tool, which was critical in maritime emergencies.
• Ventilation breakthroughs, including forced-air systems that refreshed the air in all parts of the ship every 2-3 minutes.

📖 Historical Research Tip:

• Compare the sanitation and safety standards of 1911 to those of the Titanic in 1912—did any shortcomings contribute to the Titanic disaster?
• Research government policies on ship safety—how did U.S. and European regulations shape maritime health standards?

 

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Most Interesting and Unique Content in the Article

1. The Role of Advanced Ventilation Systems in Shipboard Sanitation

🌬 Why It’s Interesting:

• Instead of relying on natural airflow from deck openings, newer steamships like the SS Minnesota and SS Lapland used mechanically forced ventilation that replaced air every few minutes.
• Steerage finally had access to cleaner air, thanks to separate ventilation for waste systems and living quarters.
• High-powered ventilation fans in bathrooms and lavatories eliminated odors and improved hygiene.

📖 Why It’s Useful:

• Demonstrates how sanitation improvements reduced disease transmission at sea.
• Provides insight into early HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems, a key part of modern public health.

 

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2. The Importance of Fire Safety and Wireless Technology

🔥 Why It’s Interesting:

• Fire remained one of the greatest dangers on passenger ships, leading to innovations such as tube fire detectors that could identify a lit cigar in the hold.
• Wireless telegraphs had already saved lives by 1911, proving their worth in coordinating rescues and preventing disasters.
• Submarine bells helped captains detect underwater obstacles before hitting them, reducing accidents.

📖 Why It’s Useful:

• Connects early maritime safety innovations to later technologies, such as radar and sonar navigation.
• Shows how wireless communication revolutionized maritime safety, paving the way for modern GPS tracking and emergency response systems.

 

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3. The Changing Conditions for Steerage and Immigrant Passengers

🚢 Why It’s Interesting:

• Older immigrant ships were infamous for disease outbreaks, but newer vessels like the SS Gothland and SS Lapland introduced private rooms and better washrooms for steerage passengers.
• The demand for better steerage conditions grew, as companies like International Mercantile Marine Co. improved sanitation to attract more immigrants.
• Third-class passengers on some ships even had access to public decks and social spaces, a major improvement from the past.

📖 Why It’s Useful:

• Helps genealogists and historians understand the gradual improvement of immigrant travel over time.
• Reveals how business competition—not just government regulation—drove sanitation reforms.

 

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Final Thoughts: A Landmark in Shipboard Sanitation and Safety

This 1911 article on ocean liner safety and sanitation is a crucial historical record that reveals how early 20th-century ships transformed from disease-prone vessels into advanced, highly regulated passenger liners.

✔ For educators, it is an excellent resource for discussing industrialization, public health, and maritime safety.
✔ For genealogists, it provides critical context for understanding the travel conditions of immigrants.
✔ For historians, it showcases the emergence of advanced ventilation, fire prevention, and sanitation regulations.
✔ For maritime enthusiasts, it paints a vivid picture of how technology made ocean liners both safer and more comfortable.

Ultimately, the improvements in sanitation and safety during this era shaped the future of ocean travel, setting the stage for modern cruise ships and international maritime health regulations.