The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-11-04
From the Scientific American.
THE NEW STEAMBOAT LAW.


Allow me, through the colums of your va
paper, to make few remarks
on the workings Of the New Steamboat Law,
now in force. The good effects Of this law
are seen and felt by every sensible well-thin-
king man; the public have been fully satisfied
with it, SO far as it has gone. The loss of
life is very small for the past six months,
compared with sthe same months in other
years; this effect must be produced by some
cause. 1t has been said by some steamboat
owners this law is ahumbug, and they mean
to use their money and efforts, at the next
Congress, to, have it repealed. have no
doubt they will: as some Of them have not yet
complied with its provisions. hope every
Member of Congress will take the trouble to
post himself up in regard to the good effects
Of this law, before he votes ON the question
Of repeating it. The Engineers, of whom |
am one, have been knocking at the door Of
Congress for several years for the enactment
Of such a law. The beneficial effects of this
one is traceable to several causes; the first is
the prohibition of drinking men to manage
steamboats,; another important thing is, it is
every mans interest to carry out the law, as
he has taken oath to do so, and il he fails SO
to do, his license 10 revoked, and then he can.
not get employment any where on the Missi.
ssippi or Ohio rivers. This 10 a very impor.
tant feature, for an engineer holds his situa.
tion only by doing his duty. This feature is
carried to wonderful extent in England -
every police officer and fireman holds his off.
ce only DUNG good behaviour. There is q
great difference between man holding his
Office for one or more Years by election, and
one holding it as long as he fufills his duty.
Another effect Of the New Steamboat Law
is the adoption of better means of avoiding
danger, in the way of life boats and life pre-.
servers, steam and water gauges, and the fus-
ible alloy in the boilers: this latter is a valua-
BILE acquisition when properly applied; but,
unfortunately, it has been allowed by the in
spectors to be applied in by way, such as
having the plugs in the fiues, and some on
Evans plan, which, in my opinion, is deci-
dedly the best it has two advantages over
the plates or plugs; the pressure does not
come on the alloy. the same metal answers all
the time. The inspectors should settle down
on some system of using the alloy, which will
be certain and uniform in its operation. such
an important matter should be well digested,
and some uniform plan adopted. Some of the
Inspectors also will pass things which others
will not; and some are not capable of inspec-
ting themselves; these things should not be.
Who il il that objects to this law! No one
but the owners of boats, who have to pay for
fitting the boat out in compliance with the law; ;
the public and engineers do not object;the pi-
lots do not, except one here and there who
likes liquor too we'll send you these, facts
that the public may have chance to think
for themselves before the proposition comes
up to repeal this good law.
An Eu1,rrry