True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1839-01-23
LETTERS FROM THE COAST.


mos, prominent causes Of explosion, collapse, and
other disasters to steam hnats.
As before remark ed, hefnre any useful law can
be made TO hear eff-c ually m the subject, much
careful investigation will be necessary. The eau.
SEES Of disaster are numerous and complicated.
and can only he fully understood bv patient en-.
quiry,-Wha, we shall suggest Al bes,, can only
form a few prints If whs, ought to enter into tho
composition nj q law Of thai kind.
We would recommend the establishment Of q
board Of practical skillful and men whose duty
it should he. to examine all pilots and engineers,
touching their qualifications and make It requi.
site. tina, they should produce satisfactory tes'i-
m"nins Of sohreiv and moral character The
hoard might comprise ms ma Of its members.
old and experienced pios Of d,ffe'cn, rivers. md
some ex erienced engineers. For c"nvinience,
there nigh exist three separate boards, or one
board divided into three branches, as many
necessary, one 10 reside in New Orleans, one in
Louisville, and another at some point east OF the
Allegheny mountains. The members Of these
boards should he paid sufficient TO secure the
services Of men every way qualified for the duty.
They should have p"wer TO appoint persons from
among themselves, or detail cow mt,ees for tina,
purpose, to net az inspectors Of the hus, boilers
and machinery If steam boats and to reject, or
approve If all hoats submitted TO their examinn-
ton. They should employ their spare time IN
adopting all means lp their mower to test the ad.
vantages the various plans and modes of pro-
lection and safety offered TO their co"sidrraio ion,
| and be required 10 make an animal report I"
Congress through one Of the departments, Of their
| proceedings, and 10 recommend IN tho goverrs
| ment the ndrption Of any nddi,innal measures
| a,'time and experience might prove to he ne
ceesarv. In hnr, this tBn, I'd OF In,ernal N,viya.
ih"', as II might be termed should have tn"
whole control. supervision, and police nf steam
avien,i"n within the United STATES, A rigid
| aud v'gilan' police, exc cised over steam heats
VII. cvsi s"y SrH w"5 ac" Of rcgni,,rs
a'empe ed. the boat ITSELF shout d in certain c,srr.
he liable Ia seizure and cnnrcmna,ion. Thj.
woul make owners and underwriters cboce IN
the secriion uf officers.
| The fac, il. we donh', whpther the uni, ed
wisdom of the nat ''n1l Legislature, can devils.
! uniform and p"rma ent law; that will b. AIDE.
quae TO meet all eases that NAV nrise in steam
| navigation. The police rrguInt;nns, iha, The
hoard should have power tt1m time 10 time TO
adopt, and enf"rce, would be much heller cnlcu.
lated, 10 arrest every remedial cause of danger,
| that might spring up. than any law Of details.
passed by Congress. wise general law, 10 ~
cessarv. but MANI of s details had better be left
10 the police regulations Of a vigil mt board, II
suitanle pilots and engineers should become scarce
rs il likely 10 he the case from the rapd ncrense
Of boats, the should have power to receive ap-
prenices al a certain age, and see that they have
the clements Of educ ,,oR suitable to their future
callinys and then bind them for 50 many yeays 10
experienced pilots and Engineers in active ser.
| vice.
|, is true mcasnre Of his DESCRIPTION would he
attended with some expense, greater than might
meet The apprnna'"n Of some. But what of III o.
| Supp"se, The pay and accidental expenses should
cast the Government 100000 dollars. "r mnre
| per annum what il 'hls I" the greenland growing
interest 10 be p,o,er,sd7 The increase of steam
boats in few yenrs, will swell their number, on
the western waters, To more than 1000 hon,s The
valley Of the Mississippi contains p"ru'a,ion Of
f'om to 7,OOO,0'O Of Inhabitants, who are inter-
| L A..