The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-18
OUR STEAM FLEET.

UntlOne-Boilers, steam Chimneys, Pumps,
Boats, Buckets and Axes and Vessels
As,sin.
The recital Of The principal defects and omissions
in the character and fitting OF the steam feet owned
In and trading with this port as published recently
in the HERALD, has awakened an appreciating in
terest not alone In the immediate community, but
among the travelling public throughout the sea-
ports ofthe Unlon in the inadequate provisions notice
able In too many instances and the criminal neglect
apparent In Others OF steam passenger vessels gene
rally in the requirements OF safety to those who en-
trust their lives and keeping to the officers COM
handing them. 1t has been clearly demonstrated
to the minds Of the most Indifferent that
one or more of the deficiencies already narrated
have been primarily in part the cause OF the loss of
life that has been the record of the steam neet
of this country since Its first essays.
The law enacted by Congress In 1852, before adj
verted to, wherein are embodied measurably wise
and requisite requirements starts boldly and appro
priatey In Its opening section to define the duties OF
the inspectors appointed under Its provisions at be-
raj adequate salaries at the root the primary
of fully fournfths of the appalling disasters at sea
that ever and anon send the shafts of death among
the households of and-and that is fire. Icebergs
may float down upon the comparatively pigmy hulls
OF steamships. crushing their iron bound proper
lions as II they were egg shells; frghtful
seas may lash vessel, severng timber from timber
leaks may arise from imperfect mechanism or from
decay OF planking; but fire Is the greatest OF all
ocean errors. The section reads that such inspec-
tors appointed Ito examine and see that suitable
and safe provisions are made throughout such ves-
sells to guard against loss or danger by fire. and that
no license or other papers, on any application, shall
be granted II the provisions Of this act are not COM
piled WITH" &c. This is plain and comprehen-
lam
tiously carried out, were the precautions which
are subsequently noted in the same act and
the remedial measures 1t suggests to competent
men fully enforced, there would be but little
cause to complain In this connection. Can the pub
lie have confidence in the character OF inspections OF
steam vessels when these are overlooked or ne
glected-whether from ignorance or completely Is
not, perhaps known-the all important measures to
ring on boards Can they feel safely when vessels
deficient In "gOOd and suitable boats?'-when they
insuficiently furnished with axes buckets, hose
pipes, &C. ? Are they willing to risk life where,
Instead OF life preservers being adequate In number
suitable In material. well adapted for the purpose
and kept In convenient and accessible places, they
are criminay insufficient in number character, lily
adapted for the purpose intended and impraccabe OF
easy accesss VIII they not, on the contrary, turn
as de to such steam vessels having suitable prOvt-
slons for the preservation Of life In OF fire or
other dsasterp And to this end, fully Of the con-
vctiOn that the noncOnfOrmity to the laws OF Con-
gress, just and measurably effective when carried
out, have been too long In vOgue-that too many
disasters nave been the QrecC consequence OF lgnO.
rance something worse on the part Of inspectors
the disregard of owners the neglect Of trust con-
fided to captains and engineers-this previous and
matter that 1t may arrest the attention Of inspec
tors, owners officers, and all others interested in
tive positions causing them to reflect upon the ma
ture OF their duties, both to the public and them
DoILERs-pRorEcr1oN TO WOODWORK AROUND
THEM-THEIR CHIMNEYS AND SMOKE PIPES.
In addition to the requirements included IN the
work Immediately surrounding a boiler, its steam
chimney and drum should be placed at the greatest
distance practicable consistent with the capacity OF
a vessel, and properly protected, both respecting
material and workmanship, already clearly and de-
nitely made the subject matter Of previous articles
the act impcratively demands that steam chimney
rooms and the space about smoke pipes should be Of
atcharacter to admit Of the passage Of around
them These spaces or rooms should be without any
ward escape Of the heated air from the boiler below
also to admit the Introduction in any emergency Of
q hose pipe In the event OF the woodwork around 1t
being ignited. Whenever and wherever a smoke
pipe passes through deck, however light may be
open space about it to admit q current of air to
pass through and around 1t, and as o further pre-
caution, between this space and the woodwork
to further guard the wood rom ignition.
Respecting the use Of feltng as an admirable and
fully show how essentially necessary It is to prevent
the communication Of fire from Overheated boiler
Wholly nesected while in Others t Is only in part in
rs that s ss 6R3Rs sS apsp RSsf
cause il requires limited and immediate expend
ture OF money, and that upon boilers In passenger
boats plying on lakes, rivers and sounds-wnere but
with an insufficient number OF life preservers, and
these slowed In such inaccessible positions as to be
OF little service In q sudden alarm-is dlflcult to
account for; and equally Incomprehensble Is the
why the inspectors do not enforce this efrec
tive precauon. so well established are the advan.
inf in info
engineers-not "engine drivers Of which there are
too many now cxtant-that they oftenttmes refuse
20 go 20 se a. Us 70 snd Is
agency In the economy OF fuel
Equally dfcult Is 1t TO comprehend the persistent
use OF blowers In certain steamboats,. Boilers are
mperfectly constructed, and as consequence there
must be additional draught. which can only be OBJ
in many instances that the boilers suffer immediate
humiliation than subject passengers to the risks
which the use of blowers entails SO opposed to all
preprey and safety Is their presence In vessels that
q prominent engineer has said that $50 essentially
necessary to the requirements OF personal safety n
the abandonment OF Them question II jury, CON-
posed OF Intelligent persons, with the facts fully
before them, could be found throughout the en-
tire sSy s se wa mot unsaa t c
on lake or the ocean, win Messicars inspectors
PUMPS, BOATS BUCKETS AXES.
Of Of are ss cdn %ps1sts soer the %ssr
sheathing, &C., greater regard should be had
70 the provisions against IL. Yet this require
nent in many instances Is not observed and the dis
regard to the safety Of life I'm this respect is equally
the with the other points referred to. That is,
first, there insufficient number Of Independent
steam pumps, with engine combined In sea-going
vessels steamers Of magnitude plying an ocean route
boiler TO work Them and they should be placed upon
the main deck, IN order that n fire occurred in the
hold It could he worked without It's attendants being
Interrupted choked by smoke. To this there
SHOULD be suflcency OF hose, leading to any and all
parts OF the vessel ready ut any moment for USE In
the matter OF the provision Of this supply Of hose
many OF the steamers inspected have apparently COM
piled with the law, but the officers and crews off,
times allow Il TO be slowed In such inaccessible places
that II can he Of little service In emergent cases.
Iifeboats and ordinary boats are provided in
matter OF number, in the majority OF cases. as
certificates call for, but the absence OF oars tholc
pins and the boats locations In many instances,
on the upper or hurricane deck such as to mega.