The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-18
,is license irrcyocably revoked.

lives warrant the assertion that Something ,
is materially wrong; great evil awaits
remedy, and should be diligently, thorough !
ly investigated; from the iron ore upwards
through the course of its manufacture until
its completion in the finished boiler, investi-
gated by competent United States officials.
: would remark that working steam at
medidm pressure, the STAN is necessarily
oversatarated with water; condensation in
the cylinder, and ingress thereto rapidly
takes place, involving great loss of effective
heat, and consequently fuel consumed,
The latest movement of governmental in
spectors and supervisors, is to materially les
sen the pressure heretofore allowed; therein
grievously destroying the efficiency of every |
steamer on the river; seriously disarranging /
the proportion heretofore observed between |
the cubic capacity of the steam cylinder and |
the number of superficial feet of fire surface |
of the boiler, the medium by which steam is |
generated. This, with our registry of up |
wards of one thousand steam vessels, aver
aging over three boilers each, is of most
serious moment, not only to owners Of steam
vessels, but also tothelcommunity who patron
ize them as public carriers.
At present no marked or equitable distinc-
ton is allowed for superior qualities OF iron
| or STEEL little more than the thickness OF the
sheet diameter of the shell and tue being
taken into consideration. Under this prac-
| tice commercial economy enforces the pur-
chase and usage of such as will pass muster.
| The most costly, the best, will not be manu-
| featured.
| Laws and penalties are continuously enac-
ted or amended; new and strange regulations
ordered; so that none can tell how long their
| expensive machinery will fulfill legal require
/ hot
/ must endure.
Let owners Of crafts propelled by steam
have definite protection under the laws with
which they have complied, and no longer be
| at the mercy of men who are not skilled ex-
perts. Since there exists pondeross evil,
or alleged evil, let the subject be exclusively
investigated by competent parties.
| l therefore propose that the secretary OF
| war he petitioned to order the subject to be
| investigated at Rock Island Armory, inviting
all manufacturers of iron or steel plates to
!, send samples of their manufacture, with
their stamp thereon, to the commander OF
the armory, accompanied by sample OF the
Il ore, and statement of the locality OF the
ore bed whether the metal was smeted by
7 cold or hot blast; by charcoal, coke, blum
: inous coal or anthracite ; also to give the
, name of the works and the locality where
+ mering rolling, was accomplished, stating II
n and how piled testing, also, tap-welded anc
drawn hues; the commandment to report th'
pressure per square inch; the shell or tue
| of given dimensions should be licensed t
bear in the ordinary cylindrical boilers, wit
fues or tubes as the request may designate
y the test to be by tension, both with and acros
e the fibre or lammellation; that any other ties
II the commandant may deem advisable, he b
Of authorized and requested to carry out I
>, | completion, and that any part or feature n
NAV deem superrogatory he be allowed
> | omit,
OF Also that he be instructed to investigat
of an experiment on the best modes OF rlvetln
ar and caulking, punching by the ordinai
:. mode, punching through two thieknesst
~ whilst on the lap, or by gang drills; that
give his opinion on the best mode of rive
a. ing; testing boiler seams and girder wor
ofi by tension, torsion. and shear strain; giyin
him authority either to omit or enlarge c
p any point or mode he may deem conduclS
or to the public interest.
ge Also, should he deem it advisable for Il
public interest, to build test boiler and e
| pertinent thereon.
ne I name the Rock Island Armory as Il
Is most fitting place, from the fact that u
". commandant, Gen. Rodman, has probab
70 | had most western experience, can most rea
>, lily attain desirable facts, and has the requi
S'n lite competence and ability. To the toreg
e. ing l commend your earnest and prompt
ire tention; thus tar you have had no weigh
N. matter laid before you; in this you have
- opportunity of proving to the commun
..9 that your body possesses ability, energy, al
oi public spirit.
.ir- | have the honor to be.
,a- Very respectfully yours,
JAMES +. GRIFFITH
Gen. Raney offered a resolution, VIII
Try was adopted, requesting our Tepresentati'
ro in congress to use their influence in passl
the the bill now about to be framed for the p
the pose of amending the present navigate
laws.
At the request of the convention, U
Pile addressed the meeting as follows:
~ l am deeply obliged to you, gentlemen
'N the convention, for the compliment you hs
paid me, in inviting myself and my ass
ate Judge Newcombe, to participate IN y
deliberations. I simply wish to make ont
two suggestions and to express to you
'Ss pleasure in meeting with you and In see
=. the interest which you manifest In this n
important matter of marine commerce.
While there are many classes OF men "
e., by their brain, muscle and enterprise, h
L contributed 70 Uuliu up ILLS Sicds -hlooioo
d valley, none have done SO more than
steamboatmen. No greater interest ez
in this country than the marine interes
the interest of the navigation of the ri
,oat- that drain this great Mississippi valley,
a..,, it win be my duty as well as my hig
pleasure, while l am a member of the
port tieth Congress, to serve that interest in
. bill and every way possible. Applause
the Something has been said during the
with reference to the passage of law
GULL will correct the faults of which you comp
and will supply the Deficiencies of the !
!. S. ent law and of the difficulties that
<, of may encounter in passing such law
matt, have this to say on that subject: 1t
II, of will get before the Fortieth Congress,
ouis clear and distinct manner, what you "
together with the facts and reasons in
Il. of the changes that you desire, think
I'd of will encounter no difficulty whatever.
all the money you will have to use viii
I'd to that which is necessary to pay your prir
pre- bill and the expenses of the COMMITTEES
llarly do not think you will have to grease
car wheels, at all, to get that bill passed by
steam gress, if you get it we'll prepared, and
,ploy- measures you desire put in a clear and
al re- tinct form, as | have no doubt you can
lmber will, accompanying them with such r
lcom- sensations, facts, statistics and reasons
will hrino the matter intellgently before