The New York herald., 1868-05-04

quite passable in direct contrast with many ocean
wooden steamships,
route $50 tons measurement has 420 feet OF hose,
hfty-hve lre buckets, eleven axes, four lfo
boats boa and one hundred cork jackets, s,,oi. a.
which are felted, but the proximity Of the
wood work h reprehensibe. The United states IN
spectors may see this at their convenience Gauges,
steam, vacuum and water, are In position, and from
eursory examination appear to be right.
\. @, employed in the transportation Of freight, yet
carries some passengers. No person ON board At the
time visited knew anything OF the inspectors certif
cate 1t was subsequently discovered In the cap
tam maaihs room Thls document certltes that there ar0
Oe iget Si nose twenty IRE buckets aye axes one
servers. THESE last named were placed under the
nld e IN the sleeping apartments The boiler is
almost against the woodwork OF the hull TAeiRde-
cesssIs Poan Is on the upper deck bs "a an mac
spectors can see when IL Is their pleasure.
III Inc IL, Inames, carrying passengers between this
lain disliked the Inspection oris vessel He thought
the Inspectors certificate could give all the norma-
ton required The certificate which was hung up
or door leading to his room certified that@ne1Ges-
sci had $50 feet Of hose twenty-five lire buckets six
ers. Owing to the refusal OF the captain to allow an
examination it Is impossible to say anything in re-
lation 10 how the boat Is provided from personal
The san salvador, running between this port and
Savannah. The first mate, who was acting in the
absence OF the captain, refused permission for in
spection OF the vessel; thought the HERALD had no
right to give instructions to any person to visit the
vessel or see whether she complied with the law In
relation to the safety of passengers. How far the
provisions OF the law have been carried out In her
case 1t Is impossible to say Her boilers are nos
felted.
The Montgomery, plying between here and Savan-
nah Is !, 1856 tons measurement. In accordance with
the requirements OF law the vessel carries 400 feet OF
hose thirty live fire buckets, three life boats, one OF
which Ia of metal, and number OF life preservers-
Her boilers are partly felted and the spase between
them and the ships side, though ample, Is not pro-
tected by sheathing. Her pumps, gauges, injectOrs,
&c are III compliance with the provisions or The act
But like many others better security against fire
could be made at little expense. Yet she ranks a.
The United States, OF 3ee TONS travelling between
here and Fall River, only carries few passengers
fre buckets two life boats and twenty-nve life pre-.
sewers Her boiler Is not elted and is too close TO tho
woodwork, and might be better protected. Gauges!
feeds pumps, though small are accessible 1t Is Of
alleged frequent occurrence that this vessels main
deck Is encountered with freight OF easy ignition. 1t
Is mourning great risk.
The Ya1oo, Virginia and Albemarle, formerly en-
have been Withdrawn and are lying idle for the
present.
dence Is 1867 tons measurement; she is provided
with 500 feet Of hose, sixty fire buckets twelve axest
four life boats and 20ole preservers In addition to
the number Of buckets deck there Is to be found
in each staterOOm The life preservers are In the
passengers staterooms. The pumps are In access.
ible positions and the boilers partly Ielted. This
vessel has In a conspicuous position the government
locked safety valve; not the case in many other ves
explain. Zinc protects the sides Of the vessel.
The Thetis, Oceanus and Metis, belonging to the
same line the previous steamboat and running
over the same route, are lying at the docks under
going thorough overhauling in painting and re-
The Empire State, on the Fall River route has 600
feet of hose in good condition. thirteen axes and six
life boats and 1863 life preservers in the different pas
scnger rooms. Although the government inspectors
speak OF there being sixtynve fire buckets not more
than twenty could be seen In convenient or accessi
bic places. The boilers, like all the Sound steamers.
are situated on the guards and although the WOOD
work almost touches them and 1t is protected by
zinc IL IL too near from the continuous radiation or
heat from them. The wood work above and at their
backs Is the same The pumps are on the same deck,
prove TO be very inconvenent and quite naccessi-
bic position In emergent cases and under circum-
stances admitting of no delay.
The Fulton, on the route between this port ana
Aspinwall. Is Of 06l tons measurement She Ia well
provided with all the appliances necessary for tho
She has board 600 feet OF hose eighty fire buckets
sixteen axes six life boats and two working boats,
together with a large life raft capable OF holding
fifty persons She has also $50 life preservers placed
In the different berhs. This vessel, sister vessel
to the Arago formerly In the European passen-
| ger trade. Her boiler department in every respect
Il quite well fitted end In her security and provision
against fire stands good quite uncommon In .ls tnis
| day Of uniyersaf neglect and indifference about
OPTICAL RATES OF THE INSPECTED VESSELS
| That the standing OF these vessels on the
| books OF the mutual marine insurance companies
OF the country may be understood by the unin-
itiated, the following official list OF their rates s
| given. These include huls and machinery, with an
especial standing regarding their respective risks by
fire. To arrive at these rates 1t is incumbent upon
the surveyor Totally unconnected with the United
States nspectors to examine their hulls thoroughly
and efficiently, all the fittings In both engine and
boiler departments, ground tackle, with the char
acter OF the propeller or water wheel as II may be-
| These rates are seldom published, but they
given In this connection tO demonstrate
| how far the inspectors OF the govern
ment blameless in their duty. though
their conscientious feelings often heralded 10
the world In the rates given let 1t be remembered
| that "A1" IL the highest mark given, and "A3"
about the lowest unless the recipient OF b should be
something in the nature Of floating colin. In the
fire risks ''goOd Of course denotes proper observ
ance Of all precautionary measures to prevent such
| disaster; indifferent" what the word indicates.
and insufficient" neglect OF remedial measures.
With this explanation the subjoined list may be very
| readily understood -