New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-12
The Algonquin ControvcrSy.
To ne Editor Of TIE " T. Tri5rn>.

SIR: The annexed letter explains one of the
causes why tho comparison between tho Algonquin and
" nOos XII has not been made TIE desperate and de-
spicahlc attempt OF the Engineer inchie 10 obtain
dishonest advantage over Mr.. Forbes ny carrying
ior rai at the risk Of the lives Of all aboard. and
al IN the vicinity of she dock Is worthy OF It's author,
and tie proper subjec, Of indictment fr endanger
ing pubic safety One Of the so-oaed judges o. this
trial informed me to-day that they should continue
10 Use low water" cOnirNance Notwithstanding NV
protest. II they do the Algonquin w no, start Tor
Th@ specification against which Mr.. Forbes agreed
to compete provides in exact terms Tor ne water
gauges 'Ls i0uss' b ard 0neh1J irchcs Gb9re
hiSas p1Ei Of upper tvbs piaf, ne Oh % D, c7ni dts
fanr four fncho berecn ctHfers' With this arrange
men,. II water was allowed to get lower than the
gauges IFS true level would not be known ant no man
would dare 10 continue using tho boiler unless the
water pumped up Bat BY applying gauge DO
and the chances OF O Chonaugo explosion incurred.
therefore insis, on removing these gauges applied
20 commit fraud u Mr. Forbes II evident that ~
hy putting IN a J0h spfctfrf. the WnOO,I could
doub. her performance yet she could rot lawfully DO
On is trial because Mr.. Forbes Oaly agreed to run
against engine Without ha'b)k Much lees can they
make an addition which would endanCer LIE and which
10 man would voluntary stand by u he was able 20 get
away from u. When coroucrs Juries are called the
int inquiry IS. whether the exploded boiler had - ior
rser" II 10 had that settles the question. but here
they carry "low water on purpose Other peoples
lives beIny much less valuable than TIE concoalncnt
Of the wrongs done By the Navy Department TO the
American people. Yours &c.
NEW YORK. Sept :. ls65.
Rear. Af-i-aiF II. GREGORY.
SIR Il f. proper that should notify you IN writing
as have nrcaiy notified YOU and the Board OF Engi
neers orally that Ny. Forbes will not consent to start
the engine of the Algonquin for comparison other
wise than with cold water Ia the boilers. and with
weighed fuel charged 90 both vessels supposed after
our c0nyeraon lOdays that the Justice Of this de-
mAnd recognized by yourself and the bohfd o. En-
giueers, but / Inferred from renerk OF Mr.. Darby
eterdAy that IL designed 10 have the engines run
or i've hour without charging them with the coal! and
then TO begin TIE weighing and charging
l. wond superiuous u argue this question II IL
evident that with e. per cent more CRATES and about
three times "a much boiler. tie inoosn would have
an immense advantage II SIZE could Accumulate the
great amour, OF fuel necessary to ill furnace, without
being charged with IL. one Of the economies of ny
machinery is that requires much less Ire 70 RAISE
steam from cold water than does me lhooskls nA
chuery; and IL we're deprived vi tue benefit ol tbat
difference IL making comparison /; would be simply
dishonest
II however there were no difference In economy,
still should insist on beginning with cold water and
weighed coal because the amount Of fuel on lire IN the
furnaces at any particular tine cannot be ascertained
aud must be guessed at AID es do nor appoint me
guf,ser, should have more confidence IN TIE scales
am also Informed by several engineers that II Is the
design Of the Department 10 run the boilers OF the
Winooski 9TH Ob ua'sr and that tor this purpose
gauges and glass tubes have been applied below the
level 81 the tube sheet, which In ordinary usA ia GOV
cred with water. To this object for several reasons
one Of which Is that my employ 90 ana VIII necessarily
e near these boilers during The trial. and my experience
L " l
sencc ~ body In such About - victims o. l0c
nat, in the case 81 the Chennngo. double ender with
boilers just like the Winooss suggest coroner lury
too f0rcby 20 be agreeable to one VINO IL expected ny
day and night FOR four days. to be IN us helghDor
hood Another Of these doubeender boilers exploded
al Newburg
the Wnoosh Just the engineer 81 the Cbenango
found it 10 be- until the fatal moment arrived. lie re,
marked 10 Capt Filebrown. that The engine worked
better than LIS expected as would do with hot steam
priuced bv low water also agree that with tbernom
cers In the steam pipe. and large corpse engineers
on duty watching with extraordinary care an explosion
ia only rrubqbe not inevitable. But n - obvious that
his ia moi the way IN which these boilers can be worked
In practice and that 70 work them 50 on this tIia "ol
/ be dishonest.
which the passions of men are aroused To degree,
where for the moment success Is considered more IN
portaIt than life and where any dangers are incurred
without hesitation. but II Is comparison OF Two "a
giues By tho Government 20 ascertain when Il tue
more economical me dock when both are WORKING ~
they are designed to work, and where no hd'hutnse
ought To be taken Of Mr.. Forbes who Is honestly en-
deayorng. ~ great expense 70 himself 10 pe"eh' '"'
country. not himself -
Tie defects Of the boilers OF the double endefs may
be- concealed somewhat by this device but no enBhc9r
will say that il Is practical or that 1t coad be nhue
sne an orIonry ne with the vessel moving 50 as 10
cnuse the water IN the boilers 20 surge the lhooAl
were under way could keep TAR enough on 70 in"he
the danger less important 10 ne. personally Dut 20 Oe
within orv fee. o boilers IN which tie elements rex
plosion are all ready to combine. ana whleh tnc ony
safety is in tie slrlJrdila'g ss Of the op'iu1ol :, Wv
much like being IA u powder magazine WIN tnsu
smoking cigars and being required to rey nloh 'he
7 great care with which they Will guard the sphIks =
Tb.,o IL onofber affection 20 this trick which ~.
that the Winooskps boilers are rot within the s~1'
fcation" when they have Gauges below the Ha'er in'
and Mr. Forbes contract only requires "l'i 70 "a
.gainst constfctcl ss the "sp'cihratiF ~
OF the "double.rnders" require. None of TIE 90 lble
endors have any such arrangements as these o carr!
ing low water and they were applied 20 ,"o W
advantage shall therefore insist upon nav ing incm
removed before the comparison IL made. he oblec
ton Is a material one; for II ,he,c uooeis Gan y
it viii be a decided advantage 10 have carried low
water. although tho operation vould destroy the boilers
very soon II continued in practice Nsr! ttuy Iou.s
~, 49,, I...', - g,iI Ga Iavn amman rof