Steamboat Scandal Rocks Chicago: ‘Crime’ to Permit Overcrowding on the Water

In a scathing letter to Assistant Secretary of Commerce, the Chicago Federation of Labor has exposed a disturbing trend of laxity in steamboat inspections at Chicago. The letter, penned in June 1915, accuses the Steamboat Columbus of carrying 100 passenger vessels, a staggering number, with the excuse that the boat was mere 5 miles from shore. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as the labor federation claims that overcrowding on these vessels poses a grave danger to the lives of thousands of passengers. If an accident were to occur, the consequences would be catastrophic, with the boat’s inadequate lifeboats and crew unable to rescue all on board. It’s a chilling thought, one that highlights the blatant disregard for public safety in favor of profit.