New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-21
Causss Of Steamboat Disasters.

Efom me DeuOh free rfcss
The frequent appalling loss Of life and the still
almost daily hazards TO which the public are ex-
posed on many of our Lake Steamers, renders il
the necessary and almost imperative duty OF those
who understand the OF these losses aud dan
gers 10 investigate and pubish 70 the travelling
community the causes OF these disasters that they
may Judge for themselves and avoid 10 great
measure the peris Of lake navigation.
On thorough investigation it 10 sscersained
that nearly all the LOSES Of life and property that
have occurtd on the Lakes from FIRE and expo-
sions have been on high pressure boats, while the
low pressure boats, which constitute one-haf the
present number OF steamboats,, have been con-
psratively free from losses rom the above causes.
There have been twelve steamers burned since
steam was first introduced in the navigation Of the
Lakes, ten high pressure and two low pressure
Ten OF these boats were total losses
There have been seven explosions involving loss
OF life. FIVE high pressure and two low pressure.
Ii has been sscertained beyond dispute that
there have been seventy SIX hres on board oil steam
ers mostly now in commission, that seriously
threatened thesdestruction Of tn boats on which
they occurred. Seventy FIVE OF these fires were on
high pressure boats, and one on low pressure
the old Michigan
1t il a fact that cannot be disputed that not one
Of the low pressure boats built during the last ten
years has been ever seriously on lire, while II Is
equally true that scarcely high pressure boat 10
running tnAt ndH not Deeu Oh uEo Ouc Ut uOEc
times The public have light 10 know the cause
Of the eat difference III the hazards in these two
classes of boats, aud the reasons for jeopardiag
their lives and property.
The principal cause Of fres on high pressure
boats is that a large portion OF the interior work
Of the boat under deck, where an intense heat IL
kept up for weeks in succession, is protected by
thin layer OF brick work that is certainly liable to
get displaced by the rolling Of the boat, or by any
accidental ar and il often taken FIRE through the
brick work, where there is no percep.ib.e defect.
The high pressure OF steam required to propel
their boat with small cylinder, renders them ind
nitely more liable to explosion.
The second inquiry is, why do people build these
high pressure volcanoes for the public 10 ride on
Simply because high pressure enges OF the same
power coat but about one.half the p:lce OF Low
pres,ure. This is solemn bat melancholy truth,
however unwelcome such statement may De 70
the proprietors Of these boats.
Lis well known by oil engineers that good low
pressure engines are better and safer than high,
but the great difference in the first cost has lndu,-
ed proprietors 10 perseyere Ia the use oil antigua
ted and dangerous machines merely to avoid the
first outlay
Low pressure boilers are 50 constructed that the
fire that creates the steam for the use Of the engine
is entirely surrounded with water. rendering it i'm
possible for fire 10 commune ate from the boilers to
any part Of the wood work OF the boat, while the
cylinders are 40 large more than twice the stze
for the same power that less than bali the pres
sure Of steam is repaired TO obtain the same
amount Of power.
Great improvements have been made in oT
pressure boilers ard engines during the last ten
years, while the high pressure engines arc stdl
constructed on the same general plan they were
when first invented.
Ii 10 time these ancient remains were discarded
and safer means Of conveyance adopted IN their
stead.
If none but the bestlov pressure boats had been
in use on these Lakes, we should not be called
upon to mourn over the loss Of four hundred peo-
pie who have been sacrificed this year to the
Wicked nariimonY Of few steamboat oxners.