New-York tribune., 1867-10-16
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SUPERVISING IN.
ssPECTORs OF sTEAMiYEssELs

The various Inspectors of steam vessels
throughout the Unedstatcs have assembled in this city,
and are holding their annual meeting at the Howard
House The gentlemen comprising the Board were
appointed under act Of Congress providing for the
better security OF theves OF passengers board vessels
propelled by steam In each Of several ports Of entry
are two local inspectors whose dutyi to inspect the
hus and TO make estimates OF the strength and seaworh
every vessel and TO inspect their boilers and machinery
They also empowered 20 license engineers and pilots,
each Of whom must show proper certificate before
receiving license. Ihe law requires that before
steamer il allowed 10 leave her dock, the owners
have complied with all the requirements Of the steamboat
act They to Use every precauton against fire. To
have the pumps IN working order. with sufficient length
Of hose full complement OF life boats, buckets, axes,
and life prCseTycr and other appurtenances. They
also that the windasses and ground tacklng
m proper condition. and of sufficient strength to hold the
record n all licenses 70 pilots and engineers,
aud all revocatims thereof must be kept by the In
port the Superv sing Inspectors OF their respective dis
trics their decisions in reference 10 all disasters or
accidents that may The Board OF supervising In
spectors which i now in session for joint con
staton and to establish rules and regulations for their
conduct and that Of the several Boards OF Inspectors
within their districts Is comprised OF the olOwlDgnamed
gcntemen William Burnett. lst District San Francisco;
lor sd District 81 Louis G. W. Morris 4th District Bal.
tmore; Charles stephenson 5th District. Gaena, III
Devcnny 7th District Pittsburgh; Alfred Guthrie, sth
District. Chicago A. 8 Bems 9th District, Buffalo; Wm
Rodgers 10th District Eew-Oreans The Board organ
ized by eectng lir William Burnett Of California Presi-
dent Several Inventors have peutioned the Board to
INV tvshs ,b sro iiptrict sro ,he Roord,s last
meeting begun Considerable interest Is manifested
IN the forthcoming report Of Mr. Bradford OF tho district
who will have something TO say about the Dean Rich
this district and Mr.. Bradford the only persons
authorized o Investigate accidents on the rivers and bays
near Ncw-lOrk. At the last meeting Of the Board Mr..
Bradford reported 10 or 20 disasters In his district Ia
which more than 60 lives were lost The following Is the
brief report made by hp on the St John disaster:
pl on ,Ss sis sr sat sys miles ssoys he ciiy Se@YorE
2 DAY Of October 6' B ihi' aeat tnesn lives Se os the
majority oi shon scrc pengcrs The 81 John h ndswheel
steamer Of tie largest cas ,f boat measuring St5 iuas
Of 'front.' y fee, diameter Of shell tabular return These
s ulr' a c sms manner usual on The Huison and other
rers These hoier made o iron of varYng thickness
stampr lf b. Jaw and coAd,red 0AeH Hspoeed
sheet 10 Of ve d,,ar, visible
20 ih ere There % easn hosete that there was dshene{
the Of NJ oaso sorerAa ,Aro.ef IN mystery bat The
pul.suoH gss ehmasys These boilers
nos. of sIt ahe. se other bran, bave
thought the boilers pseci against the pressure aose
This Board Is indirectly responsible for the safety OF
millions of lives, and the law ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that
they shall be selected for their knowledge skill and ex
pcroucc u the uses Of steam for navigation and further
that they shall b. competent judges not only OF the
character of vessels but Of all parts of the machinery
employed In stoaming and yet u ~ wel-kn0wn iaet
that certain mcmbers Of the Board deficient IN that
knowledge Vessels constantly leaving this port with
defective machinery. rotten hulls and ruseaten wind
lasses and ground taCkug ~ u rumOred that during
the present OF the Board measures are 20 be taken
that Will IN future compel ful ana thorough enforce
ment " the law. Last Spring. by order OF
tho Secretary of he Treasury. Life Saving Commission
was organized 20 examine aud report upon various life
saving devices that might be presented for their con
sdCratlOu. Among the Commission were Messrs Brad
ford Stephenson, Col James v Guthrie, Alfred Guthrie.
Bems, and Kogcr supervising Inspectors. They were
IN session two months, and during that time examined
than $50 dcvres. Inventors were put To consider
able expense and tOuble IN exhibiting. In consequence
OF q singular arrangement the various Committees were
instructed a. mako cir reports 10 Mr. New Of the steam
boat Bureau Oi The Treasury Department. where, from
an that can carn they are now pgeouhoed II may
be improper o. remark here that one OF the super
yisiug Inspectors observed while coming down the
river the steamer Daniel Drew that the pilot OF the
boat passed several steamers, moving IN an opposite
direction. without giving the required signals aud once
twice took the wrong side an passing. similar
violation OF these rules the cause of the late Dean
Richmond disaster The inspectors think that the pilots
charge of the Dean Richmond aud Cornelius
Vanderbilt should be indicted for manslaughter.