New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-19
Safety In Steamboats,.

The recent accident TO the steamboat Traveller,
although not accompanied by loss of life or any IN
Jury 10 the persons on board, adds another To- the
countless warnings as to the necessity OF taking
every means for the security Of that large portion
of the public who to great extent trust their
lives and property on board the steamers in our
waters and elsewhere. When in consequence OF
the frightful explosions and other casualties which
were constantly occurring Congress passed the law re-
curing all be periodically inspected 1t was
supposed that thenceforwsrd the risk would be greatly
diminished and indeed removed as far as human prn-
dence could secure that end. Aud no doubt very
striking improvement was effected; much greater pro
vision for safety made and accidents have since
been of much less frequent occurrence. But expert
ence seems show that there yet great deficiency
of the necessary precautions that terrible event the
loss of the Atlantic reused the public attention for
time though il does not seem have produced any per
manent result regards greater strength and snncen
CIV in the steamers engaged in the trying and dangerous
navigation of the Sound this head the accident to
the Traveller IL sufficient proof had that accident oc
CURED in storm, distance from the land with the
usual number of passengers board instead OF result
Ing only in Eve or six thousand dollars damage to the
owners It too might have spread desoaon ana sorro"
far and wide through the land
such disasters Is still more complete application of the
means already found efficient If the kind OF inspec'
ton hitherto generally used has produced great good
r.nrs rigid and careful inspection may do all that can
b hoped. Up to the present time Inspectors cerun
cafes have for the part been of the most general
character merely declaring that the boat is sesworhy
the machinery sound &c may be seen by reference
10 those posted up the majority OF steamships we
understand also that in many certificates have been
made not upon the Inspectors own examination Out on
the report of the engineers and officers OF the boat
Now /, is plain that such general and unlimited certi'
6ca,e should only be given where the boat s fully equal
10 every kind Of navigation. When she Is not SO dis
tlncton ought undensby TO be made. 4 boat may De
perfectly suitable for the navigation OF the Hudson RIVER
which would be TO go to the bottom in the hrst
storm 10 which she should be exposed on the SOUND
bost may be perfectly safe for use about the hsroor ana
in the bsys which would be totally unsafe 10 more DIN
emit waters This consideration 10 certainly enough 10
show that II is the duty Of the Inspector to examine
svery boat with particular reference to the SORT OF hs
cation for which she is Intended and the pubic ought
10 psronise which does not carry an inspee
tors certificate that she Is in every respect o''n as re-
CARDS the strength Of her hui and the character Oh ner
machinery equal the exigences OF the route on "nen
she is to run especially when she 10 to run ID waters "
dan serous and trying and connected Win suen reeOe0
tons those of Long Island Sound
So too different kinds Of business require vessels OF
different grees of strength. boat which not sale
for passengers may yet be suitable for towing this
point oush, also to be included the inspection There
IA also another particular connected with the inspection
and that the strength of the boilers The kind OF GER
certificates given by mos, inspectors merely say gene
suv ths, the boilers are sound and strong but do not
saw hs, is the degree OF their strength This IT, bow
ever a most important thing boiler which Is safe
with IS lbs Of steam the square inch may De any
,hp bu, sale with 30 or 40 lbs If the Inspectors Ger
,aeae posted conspieuously on board stated the pre-
ci.a maximum of steam which the boilers OF me oos'
could bear with safety there would be comparatively
ue danger Of greater pressure being applied AtAny
rata any large excess beyond that amount would be al
mos, certain to be discovered by some OF The Pa'sen
cert, officers would thus De restrained from rskDg lie
or property by carrying too much steam
Th.se then are the alterations from the usual chsrse-
ar If thu inspection which to altogether essen
u.l,o the public safety The law does not indeed pre-
..,h. the precise mode of the inspection much lei
90 the conscience and Judgment OF the Inspectors In
fn,srng the duty however, in the thorough manner
wh,h ,ya have indicated not would transcend bis
.rho,v IN the least, and every would De sure Of
the cordial support Of the public At large Indeed we
are confident that with thorough understanding oil me
subject the people will imperaivey demand lastsuen
xind of inspection as we have described.