The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-11-30

The Judicial Investigations have ended without
finding any legal responsibility for the explosion on
board the Louisiana. It is certain that no indiv
dual will ever be proved to be the author, by act or
neglect, and that legal penalties will ever be i'm
posed The direct cause of the explosion is, more
over, still undetermined, although there is vague
impression that it was the want of water in the /
boilers. As the Immediate horror of the event fades
away, the strong feeling for instant action to pro-
vide against the possible recurrence of such muir
derous accidents becomes weaker. What we hear
proposed is a memorial TO Congress, asking for
amendments to the law, and such other Safeguards
as the act Of Congress can supply against selfish
ness and negligence. The present laws, which
have in their view the prevention of the explosion
Of steam boilers, have been often censured by prac-
teal men, inefficient. To suggest remedy, it
Is important first to know what the law is, and
what are the defects alleged. The Report of the
late Commissioner of Patents, made last Decem-
Der, in reply to a call of the Senate recapiuates
the provisions of the laws and states the objections
made to them by scientific and practical men. We
condense from that document.
The laws in force are those of July T. 1898, and
March 3, 1s43 The latter refers only to the
3" steering of steam vessels. By the law of 1888,
the U. S. District Judge appoints Inspectors Of
steam vessels, boilers and machinery. 1t has been
objected that. the District Judge is by education
and pursuits, and often by the inconsistent evidence
seldom qualified to make fl appointment, or to
know the qualifications of applicants. A substitute
flor this appointing power has been suggested in
D local board of men, of skill and experience in the
appropriate manufactures, and that the inspectors
of hulls should be distinct from that of boilers and
) machinery. board of practical engineers is
J recommended the appointing power and it is
proposed that the same board should decide on the
qualifications of engineers, whose certificate shall
be necessary to authorize the employment on board
Of any steamboat of any person as engineer.
The section which regulates the inspection o.
bulls by government officer, is thought to be SUI
perauous. It is thought that the inspections by
the insurance Offices is sufficient especially as il
is always more regarded than that by any govern.
lnent officer. Some recommend that these inspec-
tors, in steamboat cases. should be paid by thu
government.
| By the fifth section of the law, inspectors are
required to make certificate as to the soundness of
the boilers, and furnish the master or owner with
duplicate, The Cincinnati Association of Engi-
neers has expressed the opinion that the inspections
are worthless. Hence, the certificate only begets a
false sense of security. The strength Of boilers
depends so much upon circumstances of thickness,
strength, value Of the particular metal used and
other circumstances, in which no standard has been
laid down, that certificate is of little practical
value
The intervals at which inspections are directed
to be made, are very unsafe criterion. The fact
is well KNOWN that boilers may be fatally injured
uuflng single trip without explosion yet fire.
fueh' inspections at the cost Of the owner, would
DC III lAany cases useless, and operate vexaGousy
/ ui'on ''e owner. The most frequent reconmenda-
''o" 10 'a' the inspectors receive their fees from
uie Ooat LOT the semi-annual examinations. and
nave IN addition, small annual salary from, ,I,
government IN consideration of which tba,, III
VISIT ana inspect every vessel as it arrives /, No.,
"A section IN the law requires the safetv-,,,l,. -.
be opened whenever the vessel stops for ,,,,.,,.s
pose whatever Engineers say this rule foiIo',,a,l
invariably, would produce explosions; and ,be,
give good scientific reasons for the opinion.
The penalties provided in the law are strong. too
strong to be enforced by iuries 1t is impossible q,
hnu loHes to convict men of manslaughter for a
n crime SO difficult to be proved as negligence and
,o consequences in which the party accused bears
y ms equal share Of the danger So the section
i wilch makes an explosion prtzna Tacie evidence
! o. negligence, in civil action for ipipries ,rd
losses IS harsh and not only difficult to be enforced
but enforced liable to drive RESPONSIBLE r.rso,
. out Of he business
The Commissioner, after reoitin, ,to,,. ,l,,.,.
to the law, concludes that although tbe,, ~. ~
main well founded, they are not Ikely 10 h,
died by legislation, on the ground tbat oh,, ~
scending to the details Of management i, r,,,,as
OF which it cannot be the best Judge the law .,h
jects itself to the charge of oppression or laws sf
open to contempt"
i II constructors or engineers could be made com
petent and careful, there would be no necessity for
minute directions and when they are not SO, no