True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1838-12-29

he pIacen I'LL safely OF boats, which are fealli
uesals. baiit for seryice. ,.
C II ms; q %, thst Inspector calling
iur the purpose of examining the noilers and ems
gne of bDat, 10 look al the hni er heads anu
proba5ly,iN or two OF the boilers aud turnlsh
certificate, reporting the boat To b, inthe cond't' on
required By the 4M section Of he Act Of Congress,
what guaranty would his inspection be, that she
was in safe condi,ion Aud yet such has been the
case. Did the law contemplate that the eXnini
na,ion of boilers should he mere coup d.G i o
the inspector? Then, are its provisions mt "nlN
useless, but the boats paying an onereus TAX
for the purpose oil conniving at an imposili IN on
the creduty of the public; and supporting g"y
eminent officers who hold in fac, but 'snecures'
| If accidents happen, after an inspection, q
law holds such 'primu facie' evidence OF negli'
gencs on the part of the officers OF the boat. l.
| this fuir! Arc not steam boat owners lncnrfine
heavy penalty be airing onerous burthen, mere
ly for the sake of having their engineH Inspected,
| when it is of no utility? Suppose the Ehg'n ers
/ to rely upon the certificate of the inspector!
| He is in the post of most immediate danger. II
| behoves him to be on the alert. lie may, after
such inspection feel degree of security, and
more remiss in his own examination OF the boileTt,
and 50 be made the first victim to his own credu-
ty. and the inefficiency Of the law
The following is copy of certificate required ana
which given after inspection Of not much longer
duration, than itwould require to write it,
| ANEW ORLEANS, 18th Dec. 1888.
No.70
|
the Steam Boat Geo. Washington built at Pittsburgh
in the year 1886, and running part ofevery season.
have found the Boilers and Machinery OF said boat to
be in the condition required by the 9TH section OF the
NV o'As''''' App'''N' G. MAIZE"
Now, no i'll feelings exist towards the Inspector.
doubtless he performs what he thinks, and may %
his duty, but his examination any thing but sat
factory, and did not inspire the officers OF tbs boat WITH
any degree Of confidence in the utility of that portion
Of the law as carried out by lite agents. The Engineer
bod .l,n,C Ia,
put in complete trim, bat had them Intentionally lett II
he was convinced from the slight and general man
ncr in which they examined that the lnsrccto
could have little knowledge of their actual stia
ton. They not in running order, whatever thu
law might require. lifts requisi,ions were all CON
piled with he felt assured that the object not iu'
flied and that the fee the Inspector was useless
burden, and the money thrown away. The erttrna
e appear ance Of boilers and engines, is no criterion o
their actual condition. In nothing, can appearance b.
rendered decet(ul, and nothing needs more cure
r full investigation.
have come this city during the present season, hav
cause to complain Allusion is made to TIM, sectie
of the law Which prescrhts the use Of hHer ch"'n IN
stead of re pes, as formerly used. The ntnlN VI IN
chain, and its superiority TO the grass cord NOT ques
toned. But those boats have been subjected to hea
= Wy penalty, aud very great Inconvenience, winch ma
been detaned by the low stngc Of water in position
where tiNer chains could not be procured inns "n
the case of the Geo. Wushngt m. Coming from pom
where j! was impossible TO make the exchange reluf'
10 by the law and being unable to replace the rope WI"
suitable. chains between that point aud this ely, sl
was held bound in the penalty AID hn required al
though the impossbility of procuring chain "as "''es
ted BY the officers 1t is not known that the ns' nj
under the law exceeded their duty but 1t was felt t"
some v, hat onerolis, if not ouious i'll lis nature.
This commu licaton ha. not been originated by irr
liability i'll feeling. Its intent is merel 10 sho" l'
,, those engaged steam boating arc Imposed on by III
~ equal il moi Intellectual laws ]t the Geo Naslnigu
had left a pert where tiller chains could uvc bee
nr,cn,ed aud failed to supply herself with the sam
she would nave been Justly subject 10 the l'hction
e the penalty AS the circumstances eAISe'lt Is 'l"uSl
that il was unjust that she shod be competed 10 III
dereo the same punishment, lbrlns ''"oeen') III
n would have been awarded to the gHhtr. . , .,.
C That public safety does demand tue cfiich' ,.sP.
ton of boats is true. The boilers Shoul lie s
TO som. severe test. 1t is believed that it is inccap
TO nut them to such trial. That they are tired by an
. standard which NAV Indicate their true condition,
= not believed. The mere form Of trial they unders
not only does contribute to the safety OF Passe'
II gers hui ii induces confidence which all unreal an
- NAV frequently crowd unworthy boats with Passe'
gers to the imminent risk of human lie. Aief an III
grea secret of security les in The competency ana III
sleepng vigilance IF tn, officers OF the boats. who al
"a OF necessity subjected the greatest personal exp
sure from The very nature of their occupation 1t Ii
stead of ssing glance the "boilers and mncin
=. ry the skill and wnchiuness of the officers could
asceruined, and the strength OF the boilers severely "
ted the great object OF the law might more iieaf't
reached and the safety of the public be better secure
This communication is made by the Master ana II l.,
gineer of the Geo. Washington, for the heneht Oh y
- public and II show of the lnconvemences ""
r which an oppressed portion OF the community nfe D"
- thened.