The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-05

sm hf@RERCAEL
not excssding two months or both ~ were ne 10
spectors ever aware, amid the thousands OF gross
OF one when, II they had been fully acquainted
Win the law could have secured the CONVERSION o.
me eigntn provision q section 0 OF the same law
PROVIDES ior the appointment Of engineers py the
his appcantsl character, habits Of lie, knowledge
q e authorize tie q a e 3.
and safe person to be entrusted with the powers and
sna shou srin GRADE
Trustworthy n,, sober and experienced But ne
rS1s, worthy s ss
but there exist so many exceptions among the
ranks that one s inclined TO denounce the whole sys
tenn OF examination by the inspectors appointed &c az.
as desa letter There are G now sS en-
in the Ia large ports Of the country MSs
nrt with pride the creased certificate Of the Board
Suaiidcations; when should dozen interrogasories
OF the proper character upon the steam engine and
the marine boiler. their workings &C., Be plt me.
incompetency would be easily made manifest. Such
abound they are living injustice TO the minded
undermine established wages and such employers q
favor cheapness In their vessels even to criminal
smPy nsn tney Sa9a po aG sss
discharged after the expiration OF one MONTH as that
month has been in experience, In cost OF repair Co.
tory, ever roaming about. seeking what additional
machinery they lay their desecrating hands upon.
steam vessel It should be his rst care to advise him.
self fully as to the security and provisions again9o
fire and the means to free the vessel from water In the
case OF leaking or being blged. II she Is not, pro-
perry secured and provided he should forthwith re-
port this condition OF affairs to the captain own
erS, ana he or they assume the responsibility OF nos
giving attention to his report the engineer has dis
charged his duty and he must await events. II. how
ings, and the engineer would have moral courage 10
give the public the facts they would hereafter have
attention given TO their representations and thereby
Unfortunately, however, engineers as a class are
the last to assume this Independent position; but 70
acknowledge its propriety as rather than guard
against dangers which they best advised Of they
appear consider the exhibition of Indifference the
point of honor. This has confederation almost daily
and is lamentable, and one great reason why many
vessels and lives been lOsta neglect altogether
ineXcusabe and wit bout Justification
THE STEAM FLEET OF BOSTON-vESSEIS VISITED.
Carrying out as far as practicable the avOwed pur.
pose when the subject matter of this and previously
sye JOurneyng about the docks OF New York to visit
and examine such steam vessels as were then in port
In order TO note how far they complied with tho
United States laws the port of Boston selected
TO make investigations OF the same character.
Boston seems not to he In the most hourishinx
commercial condition, as after perilous peregrina-
lions about its basin like docks II revealed very
duh condition OF trade, so far rs that pertaining
to steam vessels was concerned. Its enclosed
piers in many Instances were silent IA those Ola de-
serted city, yet here and there activity was dis0erni
bic but the exhibition of 1t was exceptional In
East Boston matters were also extremely duh, the
piers about the Understanding locality OF Grand
Junction being dead to trade occupied alone by boys
amusing themselves with the innocent juvenile game
OF see-saw while grass had sent its keen green
blades between the panking giving promise ct No
But few vessels were found and those thar the OH
in charge allowed to be examined will be found
The John Brooks Boston to Portland, of 10l2 tons.
her certificate advises has 400 feet Of hose seventy
two buckets, tive boats, two axes and 800 life pre-
servers in staterOOms and berths. Respecting thu
hose, portion of this,was only seen after vigorous
search. and the balance may have been on board.
Th,rty-hye buckets only were noted twenty-five
being the upper deck location impracticable Of
easy access. 1t Is known whether The number Of
axes was correctly given on certificate but the few
and route. Four Of the boats were on the upper
ascSa pad location In In case r,,o Of sacds s
without lowering apparatus They were In fair
condition, but the ropes attached seemed to be OF In
ieri0r strength. Has boiler, built in 1885, partly
feed; the side protection to hull was fair but the
planking above did not possess the protection de-
e e risk q, @ @ cS1d c pc
deck loads OF a nature that ia very Objectionable.
The Massasoit, running In Boston harbOr. has, pei
Inspectors authority. $50 feet OF hose, twenty
buckets, one hundred life preservers, five axes ana
two boats. The hose was seen: the buckets were
noted AS correct; three OF the axes were counted,
and those only. The boats are small, and
one did rot possess any lowering apparatus.
initiate against The boiler Is partly on deck
not olted with but little protection to wood work.
Portion OF the wood near II was charred BY exces-
Is no independent steam fire and bilge pump on
board. But thiry-sx life preservers were counted;
consequence, not accessible and Of no service The
general risk OF this boat both in apparatus ana
security ana provisions could be easily improved.
The katahdln ,2S4 tons, Boston TO ports In Maine
was undergoing few repairs and painting at East
Boston. az DHGG1
The Blackstone l,l97 tons, was laid up at THAI
grave-ltke wharf, Grand junction.. Her career has
been slightly checkered.
The Erie and Ontario-the former three thousand
tons and the latter 2 80 tons, over which the club"
went into such unprecedented excitement whom
finished. and which. to saw the least somewhat i'm.
paired the fortunes their orginators-are in the
the same state. Their mammoth proportions loom
M as evidence OF mistaken excellence OF mechanical
SKILL and probably will 40 remain. The Liverpool
line, of which they were the pioneers, somewhat
suddenly went out OF existence sad commentary
upon the ability OF Boston merchants TO support an
enterprise OF this character. -
Fht America, one Thousand tons burhen, Is In tho
same satisfactory state--aid up.
The George Appod, 1870 tons Boston to Baltimore,
Ehs per certificate hose boats buckets, axes and life
preservers rs required. TO an extent these are no
ficcd some or The buckets being missing, the life pre-
servers In part In berths; the boats fair con.
dhon, but In matter of lowering might be improved,
Has one boiler low pressure, built IN 1884 which u
partly protected. The provisions against fire mighs
be improved. Ash door insuficlentiy secured.
The Geo II. Upton 601 tons Ia in that state of Idle
ness witch l. suggestive OF the great dulness of trade
in Bostoi-seelningly Its chronic state.
The Norman, Boston TO Philadelphia was visited.
but permission was refused to make an examine
ton. said the officer In charge, 1t's against tho
rules: you must see the owners" ssWhere IL the
captainS" "Oh, he's gone to Cape Cod fshinQ."
care you not afraid she IN impcrfectly fttedr'
"Dont know, you rnustssce the owner' returned
the sriped-shrt second mate, and thus 10 IL lmpraO-
ticablc 20 note whether this steam vessel Is In her
provisions OF lifc-saving apparatus and security
against nre fully complying with the laws In cues
ton, whether she IN lamcntably deficient In these
requirements.
The saxon 1893 tons, on the same route ~ the
above, when visited was receiving but little freight.
Permission to inspect her was also refused the
being simply that the "IIERAL Id had no right u
authorize such an inspection" This boat was built
10 IL believed 'down East" where some steam vos-
ses have been constructed on purely original pans
and not very successful. 10 Ia alleged. ~ =
The Zodiac, $40 tons, was deserted. A are had re-
Gently made rather ssd havoc with her upper works,