It should also be remembered that, if the navigable tributaries be added, the total presents an unbroken highway of internal commerce amounting to 16,700 miles--a distance which, it has been remarked, "is sufficient to encircle Europe and leave a remnant which would span the Atlantic." Next on the list comes the "explosions." I have already given you an account of how the so-called examinations are too often made.

Surely these inspections might be signed upon oath before a magistrate; and as surely, I should hope, men might be found who would not perjure themselves.

The burnt vessels are few in number, and more than one case has, I believe, been tried on suspicion of being set fire to intentionally.
The last on the list is "collisions, &c." By the "&c.," I suppose, is mount vessels which, having run on the river till they wore only fit for firewood, still continued "just one more trip;" and then, of course, the slightest concussion, either on a bank or a floating log, would break them up like a chip basket.

The examination on this point is conducted like that of the boilers, and the same remedy might readily be applied.
I think, however, that the greater number of losses from collisions, &c., may be chiefly ascribed to the collisions.

The cause of these collisions is easily understood, when you are informed that vessels meeting indicate the side they intend to take by sounding a bell.