New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-12
Steamboat Engines and their MANAGEMENT
Engineers.
To ne EdRor n The Trib.

y
My attention is called most particularly 10 this
subject, by the perusal of Petition of Mechanical
Steam Engineers, Manufacturers Of Steam.En
giAes, and others Of the city Of Cincinnati 10 the
Congress Of the United States and which was re-
fered 70 the Committee on Commerce Of the House
Of Representatives during the last session Of Congress
This Petition refers only to the better regulation and
management Of steam Engines in Steamers Of the West
ern and Southern Waters
II is proposed that Board Of Engineers shall deter
mine the qualifications Of skillful and practical Engi-
neers for such Steamers the end that such may be
selected would ensure 10 additional degree the
safety Of life and property. n such sp-
propriste and necessary in the southern and Western
waters they fully In steamers navigating the
waters ad accent 10 New-lorki
This doubt not will be Acknowledged.
It is sn incontrovertible fsct-hough much 70 BE- re
grettedthat majority OF the persons entrusted with
the manag cement OF engines, OF plying In the
vicinity OF Eew.York are wanting in mechanical skill.
are unscquainted with the details of the construction o.
engines and Of the resdest and most Efficient
of repairing them-beng wholly unscqusinied with the
rudmcns OF Northumberland having lab0red IN the
workshop constructing Engseer where such massive
and complicated parts comprise steamboat engine
are forged and cast TO the Of such persOns do
trus, lives those Of our families and the security
Of our property For the safety and ibeng Of the
travelling community It Is most earnestly hoped that
the time ia not distant when the question asked
by the traveller when stepping on board OF steamer
will be- is the Engineer Mechanic sober and trlsiy
would even 20 farther and suggest the propriety Of
causing 10 be placed ia conspicuous part OF the steam
or 4 certificate Of an Examining Board % Engineers,
which certificate should that the Engineer had
worked as IOurneyrnan mechanic H. the construction
of steam machinery that h. veil understood the theory
and proper use OF with other requisite quaihca
tons to constitute him oil that could be desired
Engineer To obtain the services OF Engineers quail
ned compensation somewhat greater than that usually
allowed would be necessary This, apparently, would
augment 10 a trihng degree the expenses incurred in
steamng but In reality would be economy for not IN.
frequently does II that the want of some little
pair of the engine which requires but little labor but
mechanical skill than is usually possessed by In.
gineers unacquainied with the construction OF machine
~ IL the of massive and expensive portion
OF the engine breaking down and large expenditure in
its repair being required.
lad or young man from bis school, chooses for in
stance occupation best suited 10 hs fancy and
biuon that of mechanical and practical steam Ensi-
by the Kind inercession OF friends his object l.
in attained by his apprenticeship at good
machine shop and engine mandatory this being the
only true stepping stone to the solid and mechanical I'm
gineer He enters the shop with the hope that when
he shall have arrived 10 the end OF his term he will be
rewarded for his industry and the requirements OF his
occupation by situation in which he will receive
sum commensurate TO the responsibilities and duties of
that station. He hnds his departure from the shop
numbers ready 10 attempt to perform that duty which
has cost him years of labor and hard study for com
pensaton far less than Justice IN his would demand
And by such persons too he conscious are wholly
unqualified both from want OF practice skill and study
TO perform iB efficient manner the duties OF an Eng
neer he alternative bat to return TO the sacp
accept the situation of Engineer for rfng consid
Grafton compared with his merits.
An Engineer OF high qualifications must not only be
working, but reading and thinking man not content
with his idea of matters he must be willing 10 lis
ten TO those learned than himself in the proper
adaptation TO- and of steam in the steam engine he
must be watchful Of the working Of each of the parts
ain nnar0 MA Ia
next 10 his family are priced. When first on deck be
to his engineroom he trusts not 10 others that
which done wrong the responsibility alone would TALL
upon himself The tremendous engine before him he
tames with his finger and the powerful and expansive
steam lies still at his bidding fireman is selected by
his athletic appearance and labor being his only duty
parties employing him not how many grains Of
sense he possesses the skillfu Engineer being always
watchful Of the condition Of his boiler the hight OF wa
ter and pressure OF steam yet lsmenabe a. Il may BE-
many a fireman is admitted into the engine-room to
assist the engineer in starting and stopping the engine
and soon thereafter we ind him acting as Engineer
pretending Engineer may explode good boiler
while real Engineer would carry steam sale with an
Indifferent one.
II will be found in the list of explosions that very few
have occurred under the management of practical sci
enthc and thinking Engineers they being as esres Of
and attentive to, their boilers As ther engine
We have in the various districts OF the country In
amners OF Boilers Yes. ErGain0s Of Bottos Just a.
II their procurement Of the boilers good and sale
would them not TO explode IN the hands oil care
lust left the vessel and pronounced the boiler In
cellen condition and the next day we may learn OF
dreadful calamity by the boilers being torn to atoms
carrying to eternity the unfortunate and unskful man
who placed in charge as Engineer.
The point is and let the suggestion be taken up by
the press of the country, Examine Tie EHsiaeos Then
will the travelling community be assured that he who
has charge of the engine IL capable and attentive In
the examination let sObriety industry. education, sci
and experience be the test upon which they stand
fall. Then passengers need not be afraid OF life and
limb being conscious that the Engineer has these re
quirements and that he viii be desrous oil maintaining
his reputation agreeable the qualifications awarded
him. say then, examine the Engineers and admit the N
into the Merchant service Tor such reasons and Tor such
only as Engineers admitted into the Naval ser
OF the United States Let these Engineers be the
examiners of their respective boilers, and hold them
answersble for any disaster unless Il should appear i'm
possible TO have averted IT,
Steam is mighty though harmless agent when con
troled by those well understanding its philosophy and
action but most destructive one under the manage
ment OF the ignorant and unwary.
IN instance occurred but short time since eyncins
the carelessness which exists under the management OF
Firemen Engineers and the utter disregard or indieT
ence-no doubt through ignorance-they manifest for
the life and limb of the passenger The side pipe OF the
engine OF of finest steamboats, running on Long
Island Sound unfortunately broke The boat brough,
the city for repairs of the breach The Engineer who
is prsctical mechanic and skul in his profession
took the proper course OF requesting new steam pipe
10 this the SuprfrtcadiHS ERgtnep OF the Company
boats in the most peremptory manner replied tina, the
boat could not wait for that The Engineer OF the
steamer insisted ha, the repairs should be substantial
but was approached by the experimenting Engineer
with the remark of DO you call that steambOating -
Patch it up any how aud il accordingly was patched
up any how Her Engineer resigned his station in con
sequence And the conseq tina, might result from
this well others OF similar poches any A0u' will
doubtless be laid at the door OF earthly being but
undoubtedly will appear that to blame-thai
il was the will OF Divine Providence-s calamity which
could not be syerted SCRUTATOR.'
Nec- York January 6 1871