New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-16

chimney and boiler and the whole Is In full combustion
In other cases this woodwork around the steam chin
ney is placed close to it, precuiing the proper circua
ton Of air. and not aordng necessary room where
with to cover tho wood with any material or even TO
yhitewasb it, and when fire is communicated 10 this
work fitted BY its character and position for ready
combustion it requires but an instant for II to be do
yeapod and beyond the control o. the means usually
found In steam vessels
DICK LOADS.
II Is very occurrence for the main deck OF
Sound and river steamers to he 80 incumbcred WIN
freight ths. not only is there great risk ncrodH IRON
fire being communicated TO the freight when oomtusti'
bic but in the occurrence Of fire the esenoe OF Ills
freight is al obstruction to the means necessary to be
rcsorted to to extinpuish it.
STORE AND TOOL ROOMS.
These are other and prolific sources of fire on board
of steam vessels rendered by their being appropr
atcd TO the storing of oils. paints turpeniine, loose
hemp. cotton waste, packing yarn cotton wick
matches. &C.. &c. which in largo majority OF cases
are not properly slowed aud from the careessness OF
those who visit these rooms articles of the character
above noted are often scattered about and thus con
stany exposed to ignition by the upsctting or falling
down of lamp In steamers with more than one deck.
the boilers being below is by no means rare to md
part of the spice Immediately the boilers allotted
10 s,oreroom for the engineers department. for tho
reason that being unsuted by its high temperature for
ordinary purposes it is not Objectionable on tia. 30
count as an engineers store.room it being declared
convenient the engine ROOM and thus the proprey
of the location is confrmei the result OF which insane
practice u.s. that upon the upseing of an oil can OF the
breaking of vessel containing spirits turpcntine or
Ii. aid Of ,ha hpue
flooded with an element of combustion which rarely if
ever fails 10 cause the destruction Of the vessel
PUMPS.
In former years in the construction OF an engine for
vessel it was usual 10 attach an ordinary lifting
pump of capacity calculated TO free tho vessel from
tho drps of from the engine and boiler. and from
the ordinary leaks of the hull This was also arranged
so as to be worked by hand when the engine was not
in operation and il also usual 10 connect to the
feed.pump Of the boilers air vessel by which 1t was
made to project water. and thus be used US fire
engine; and. until the introduction of the Independents
fire and blge pump Ordinarily termed donkey j.
no other means depended upon 70 free vessel
from water. furnished 1t TO arrest fire. Even now
the operation of the independent steam fire and bige
pump is in most negatiyed by is being placed In
the lower engne.room, or just above the skin OF the
vessel where in the event Of smoke fire or water In
this space. ii is unapproaohabe 10 operate it, These
details give the numerous Of fire on board Of
vessels and Of the imperfect means adopted to
prevent or arrest them. We desire to briefly re
captuate the several causes referred to. and 10 sug
gest such to be adopted in the opinion Of
persons well informed upon the subject by the owners
Of steam vessels their contractors captains and ene
neers will avert this most terrible Of all disasters a, sea
SECURITY AGAINST FIRE.
]. Boiler Nth e1iraa furnaces should bc supported BY
standards alone. The sheet plate iron. which In.
closes masonry should DO accurately fitted In its
joints and under circumstances should the wood
work around the boilers be allowed within one foot Of
them their upper surfaces being well covered with
telling Of hair and the under sido " the woodwork
Immediately them sheathed with zinc or sheet
iron the nails securing which to be In square, not more
than inches apart and the laps Of the sheets to DO
secured every half inch.
9. boilers eA iaterral furnaces should have water
bottoms in order to guard fire from being communicated
to their beds through openings therein. Where a
natural draft is used for combustion. the exhaustion
within the furnaces aues pipes &C. is such a. to cause
current of air to lead into and through any speriures
opening them and hence fire sparks are prevented
from being emitted through any Of the ordinary open
ings JOINTS about u DOHcr; OuI Nh'Ef UiV"ri -
used the conditions are entirely different. The pres
sure Of air within the furnaces. daes &C., is so Great
that fire. sparks and small pieces of ignted coal
will be forced through any openings that may exist
and as boilers generally have a number OF insecure
openings such those Of the furnaces ash doors nue.
doors &C. fire is constantly being forced out through
them. aud great number Of steamers have been de-
-troyed from this cause. II the public at large were
A.. - alt,fx In
steamers where blowers used the abandonment OF
all such vessels would be almost universal and then the
owners Of them would be compelled to hs risk
forthwith their interest in this respect inducing their
attention thereto more eFectuslly than any law that
could be enacted TO reach them.
3. CgrerinS and Protection 10 Boi!T..-All boilers
should be covered with lair telling for the double pur
pose Of indicating when they unduy heated and az
Of preventing the radiation OF heat from the
boilers to the wood work around it, SO well ostsb
shod the Advantages Of eting boilers both for the
economy of fuel security against fire. aud comfort to
crew, that III most of the and all naval steamers
the telling of twice or three times the ordinary thick
ness is used added to which fitted oyer it, cover
ings of canvas aud sheet lead
PROTECTION TO WOOD WORK AROUND BoHEES, THEIR
cHlM,sEYs AND sMOKE-PIrEs.
l. U0od uork around Boilers-The wood. work imme.
diatcy around boilers and their steam-c hnneys should
be set off from them far it may be practicable
sstent with the capacity OF the vessel TINS when the
boiler is ia the hold of single-decked vessel 1t is not
practicable to afford much space between its top and
the under side of the deck beams above it without
making break in the deck, not always con-
sistent with the requirements Of the vessel neither is
it desirable when the boilers upon the guards of
81 &c al
hight 10 secure il from being fired b. radiation Of heat
f.,, e hoilor Neither ia il imperatiyely necessary