Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-07-04
The late steam boat accidents are ,bns no.

The late steam boat accidents are thns no.
ticed by tho Editor Of the Philadelphia Ma.
,ional Gazette. Ills remarks are pertinen,
and sensible -
During the year 1886, upwards of three
hundred and fifty lives were destroyed BY
steamboat accidents in 1887, six or seven
hundred were cut off in the same way and
for the year 1885 we may already count near.
Iy or quite u thousand persons killed thus, and
prospect OF having to witness at The end Of
the year, if tho evil be not arrested, proper
iionable increase TO this hdeous ratio. II
the country does not wish to be sunken in
reputation, this havoc must cease. Congress
has failed in its duty, in this matter. Mr..
Webstsrs proposition TO regulate steamboats,
it carried into effect when it was made would
have saved the country some two thousand
lives, a consideration vi greater importance
than the metaphysical constitutional scruplcs
and objections which defeated it. Mr. Grun-
dy's bill is inefficient and even that is vet
passed by the House, alter having required
months 10 call il up which time was spent on
matters OF infinitely less importance, and
SOME Of them Of no Importance ut all. Wit
ness the twenty days occupied on the Duel.
ling question. When Mr.. Bidde, in The
House OF Representatives on Saturday moved
To suspend the rules in order to press this
question of the steamboat bill, and accolnpa-
MED it with some earnest remarks on the I'M
portancc Of its immediate consideration, ifty
seven members voted in the negative. We
would ask that minority of fifty seven what
other question possesses the same primary
importance? Could they deny Mr.. Biddle's
assertion that frigbtful responsibility hung
over every hour OF delay-tIat it was a mat.
ter that touched human lie--and that his Do
stion compelled him painfully to feel that
the chance for securing attention to the bill
was rapidly passing away. The Steamboat
Bill is a matter Of more real moment than
fifty Sub Treasury Bills. Human life should
be preferred to gold and silver.
We have been led 10 these remarks Nv the
news Of the loss OF the Steam Packet Pulas-
k The destruction OF life in that instance
comes under the general head Of accidents
nnd is set down TO the account Of Providence
when we should look To the kind Of iron g.
workmanship in engines OF the boat, her
adaptation to sea voyage, ond her manage
ment at the time Of the disaster. The frames
and tmbers Of the American steam packets
are generally not strong enough, lin this
particular the Pulaski had the advantage
enough together /; the plauks are not suf
fcicDtIy heavy, or the fastenipgs adequatcl,
firm. Their engines are not strong enough
10 material or workmanship or both, in con
sequence Of which they work with mucI
more jar to the machinery generally than j
they were Of suitable force. With all thes,
Deficiencies supplied, explosions will tax,
place If the waier be suffered to become Low
IN the boiler, or the temperature the sican
TOO great, and the danger will be greatly in
creased should Doth Of these circumstance
occur simultaneously. We are induced Il
believe that the explosion of the Puask
originated with the neglect Of the epginee
or his Incompetence, which is the sam,
thing. They were low pressure cngipe
and copper boilers. There will be no DIM
ger when oor coasiing steam packets are a
strongly built ~ is the Grest Western il
Their wood and iron dctails. sDd when engi
heers are always fl for their Office.