New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-02-19
steam Engines and Engineers.

II iAs Ed,tor Of TAs Ty'tEn,'
The article headed Steam Engines and Engi.
neers' signed : appearing in your paper Of the
10Th ut as a reply to mine Of the 18th ult contains
such palpabe evidence Of individual interest at
the sacrifice Of public good that | desire through
your columns 10 notice some Of the ialacies in
which the writer has INDUCED and then rest for the
contemplated and certain action Of the next Congress
upon the matters OF which have treated
The analogy of employing chip carpenters navi-
gators does not hold good in the Of Engineers as
stated by S" inssmuch as the hmbers constituting
vessel are nearly possible firmly fixed and to nay
gate ship il distinct scieDco apart from IL construc
uon. The q the Engineer IL widely different be
must be able TO forge NJ and connect every part and
portion OF steam Engine that could be produced by the
forge anvil, sledges hammers. vice coldchisel. drills
fles &c &c the tools with which steamer 10 usually
provided 10 short the steamer Il his machine shop Tor
the repairs and construction Of such parts OF the Engine
can be mrde anoat Were it necessary TO the pro
polling Of vessel that its niDers should operate one
upon the other must the moving portions OF steam
engine then would be conceded that ship carpenters
OF great skill would be ind penssby necessary tothe
safety Of ship a. the star reader and mathematician
To start stop and grease Engine 10 allow sufficient
injection Of water to the condenser, and TO turn COCK
gauge quantity required in the boiler even add
ing the very important and nis, look Of the Fireman Tn
eneer evinces very little necessity for either knowledge
or wisdom mere youth with but very limited
knowledge OF steam and the Steam ngnc mas ahu can
preiorm these duties evolunons. Were II possible
for an Engine 10 operate under al Circumstances equal
y and the without risk OF breskagei or me want
Of careful attention and minute mechanical reasoning
On the part Of Engineer 10 guard against difficulties
and dangers then would there be an end 10 iascOus
and frivolous statements made by the Fireman Engineer
satisfactory to the victims Of ignorance and steamboat
eaamtes But rs the case now IL, the true cause Of
disasters ia seldom if ever known even 10 the owners
themselves. The crew, with the Fireman. Engineer at
their head assign such might be probable
IL tf9r ind
are well calculated 10 exonerste themselves from al
blame Let the mystery OF the loss OF lie
and property by csreessness and Ignorance IN the man
Agement of steamers be unveiled, az am determined
il shall be- and then will the public well as the own.
ere see with lamentable regret clearly as have and
do the fallacy Of employing pretended Engineers,
rather than those who have aboTOusy fitted themselves
for the safe and efficient discharge OF such vastly i'm
portant duties.
ers are the capable Of judging who are and who
are not the most Trustworthy is evidence that such
Engineers they select the most skiu competent
and proper persons to be entrusted with toe discharge
Of duties OF such vital importance Il is notorious that
in all professions arc employed. who are netner
Trustworthy skilfu OF capable and the persons
poyed not unfrequenty have to themselves the very
requisite faculty Of cOncealng their deficiency and
when mistakes made by them Of assigning any other
than the true cause. care not what amount OF expe-
renee the Fireman Engineer may have had In running
Steam Engines when 10 must be understood that dlih
Guilty may any moment occur to his Engine the like
OF which he has before witnessed The TACT OF
his having raised and lowered the starting
fully observed the position Of the crank 10 order to
know when to raise and lower it-stened TO the IN,
gress and egress Of steam gwen his Fireman loud ana
pcremptory orders reposed upon his dignity, looking
very wise and saying very little in the presence oil mo
owners. will never repair breach or remedy dIn'
Guilty How is il with the Mechanical Engineer under
his supervision thousand different and varied diff
cultes may occur and promptly applying the great
principles Of his mechanical profession the remedy Is
easy and certain and the apparent Inevitable desruc
fhoeo public nave an equal
right with the owners, to demand OF the Engineer Ooh
safety and security and the idea that the owners are
the only interested parties is absurd for having paid the
amour, demanded fare, the passenger is entitled TO
safe conveyance.
Tho ststemonto 5" that tho Engineer Of the Massa
chusetts discharged utterly incompetent, and
for want of sufficient skill to repair rfing injury
that sustained by that steamer altogether without
foundation. As stated in my previous article he re
signed lie is a practical and sklful mechanic, and has
in hs possession the indontires OF his apprenticeship
at the Steam Engine business. aud was employed for Sc
vers years as superintendent OF Repairs and Alterations
Of Steamers whSe he not only gave full satisfaction
but has written testimonials OF his employers In
Guiding the OF the said steamer Massachusetts
10 his entire competency.
will close nv remarks by stating. that during
trial in the q. District Court Tor the southern
District of New York the principal witness introduced
by q steamboat company was Fireman Engineer IN lts
employ. This Engineer is looked upon by thst COMPANY
as their chief and most knowing Engineer lie was
asked 20 give the for piston OF gwen diameter
and the capacity in cubic feet and inches OF the gwen
diameter and length OF the cylinder OF the hnsine ~
the steamer IN which he the Engineer. lie was
aso ssked the strength OF boiler iron OF certain and va
rious thickness and what amount of pressure !.
u,ov1d these stio.S no SoaiSsssd
his INABILITY TO reply knowingly not only in relation to
these inquiries but to many others OF similar import
did he confess his total ignorance and yet on this very
trial he stated that he had been Engineer Tor upward
Of twenty three years
The truth that Frenen Engineers TO the Mechsn
cA Scientific Engineers what the petiiogger is TO the
lawyer--quackery to medcine-tsnaticsm TO true re
leion and theology-demsgo gueism to Craftsmanship
and ignorance botchery and stupidity to every science
occupation. and calling SChUIAIoh-