Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-03-02
Losses of Life by Steam.

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 1st Improvements in the structure of steam machinery 2 The use of better materials in the formation of boilers and engines. 3. Work manship superior to that of ancient times. 4. Greater care in keeping the machinery in order. > 4 better acquaintance or the part of the en- giueers with the causes of explosions and the means If guarding against them. 6 The m- ! proyement that has taken place in the character of the floating population of the Mississippi and its tributaries. :. The general adoption of "the doctor" or auxilIiary steam engine, jy which the boilers are kept regularly supplied with water when q boat stops at it's laudings- i This, though the last mentioned, has by no mean, been the least efficient cause in dimiu- i ishing the nun bar of explosions. [ Notwithstanding ths, According to the reports of the Supervising Inspectors, upwards of three i hundred persons have lost their lives in the last l four wears, through steam accidents on board of the boats ,uIjec. to the law of 1852 And this is tu: rar- of the evil done. Those who are severely scalded by the explosions of steam boilers and other escapes of steam, are, in many 1 instances. more 10 be commiserated than those who are killed outright.
 Since the Supervisors made their report we have had a succession of untoward accidents" if so be it is proper to call them "accdents.'' As 1st. The explosion on the Cataract on the Missouri river, by which five men perished and some fourteen others were scalded. 2 The explosion on the Fanny Fern, on the Ohio river, by which some fifteen person lost their lives, and some fourteen others were scalded. 3. The explosion on the Col. Crossman, by which from twenty-five to fifty person perished. We here say nothing of the burning of the Col. Edwards, on the Red river, and the burning of the Rain bow, near the mouth of our own river (Arkan- sas, by which two "accidents' a great many men, women and children passed from time into eternity
 We here corfne ourselves to the explosions within the last few months, Oil the Mississippi and its tributaries; and we find that thereby, somewhere between 45 and 70 persons have lost their lives and some thirty or more have been scalded or otherwise seriously injured.
 This shows that those who have declared that "explosons have nearly ceased" have been premature in making such announcement.
 But explosions ougLt to cease, or 'rerly cease" A horse has will of his own, and har some times proves too strong for even the most skilful rider. Steam power is of human creation, and may, in all ordinary circumstances. be brought completely under human control We say under all ordinary circumstances. The force Of he wind ard waves, may, on the Al lant.c or the Pachc ocean, occasionally deprive the engineer of the control of his machinery, and even On our midland waters violent gust may cau-e boat to careeu in such manner as ! to demiye some of the bojiess of their water Then al explosion will be likely to ensue.- l Other unusual combinations of circumstances may cause a similar disaster. But, on all orh- nary occasions steam power is, or may be brought, coml eter u der human oonirol, and ! if any loss ol ie thereby occur 1t is on- ing to some fauls in the build or machinery of the Loat, or some fault Of those who have the management of t.
 To ensure, however, rerfcc. safety in steam nayigation lot one thing only, bu. many are re- ! qaisite
 1st The machinery must Je throughout of i proper structure.
 ! ?. Itmust be of good materials and of good l workmanship.
 3. | must be Eeepin good order
 4 There must never be too little water in the boilers.
 ,. There never must be too much pressure. ] 6."There never m.st be too much heat. '. The engineers must be both skilful and careful
 i If any one of these requisites be wanting. there ] is not perfect safety in steam navigation. No matter to what degree of perfection the machi- nerv may be brought, and no matter what the ! appliances may be fprpreventilg foo much heal, | and too much pressure, and too little water, I there will be danger in steamboat trayeling. if the engineers be not both skilful and careful. And, on the other hand 10 matter how skilnl and careful engineers may be, nor how good the machinery may be iu general there will be d4,- ger, unless proper measures be taken to eua-d against too little water, and too grea. heat, and too great pressure.
 If the boiler makers and he engine builders do their duty. we shall have steam machinery of proper structure, of good materials aud of good workmanship.
 If the public inspectors do their duty, they will see that this machinery is kept in good or der.
 The safety valve provided it be of proper dimensions, and proper construction, (which, by the way, is far fom being always the case,) is commonly supposed to afford an efectual guard against simply too much pressure but it does not always act as promptly as is desira ble
 The gauge cocks and the magnetic water gauge, are also supposed to afford, with ordna- " care, sufficient guards against too little water, though not under all circumstances.
 What seems 10 be chiefly wanted, is some thing that will eflectuallv prevent the terrible disasters that are caused by too great Aeat in a boiler. IL is true no degree of heat in q boiler will cause an explosion unless it be followed by too much pressure; but under certain condi- tions, steam may be so suddenly expanded that the common safety valve will not afford relief This is caused by too great heat There fore, something is wanted that will not only in- dicate when there is too great heat in boiler, but prevent the direful effects that flow from it something in short, that will, in such eondi- tions anticipate the action Of the common safety valve-Somethins that will relieve the boiler from excessive heat, before there is an incou- trolable excess of pressure.
 On this point t may bc necessary for us to explain ourselves Tor the satisfaction of our req ders.
 Under ordinary circumstances, steam heated to the degree of Fahrenheit given in the first column, will, according to some scientific books