The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-21
WASHINGTON.
Report on the Westheld Explosion
The New Loan.


on the Westfeld disaster recommends
that the engineer forfeit his certificate,
and also that in future the master of
boat shall be held responsible for the
engineers performing his duties.
London dispatches received at the
Treasury Department this morning.
states that their is an active demand for
the new five per cent bonds. The
Treasurer has received numerous letters
from national bankers, applying for
more bonds.
Deputy COmmissiOnershIp.
1t is not fully decided yet whether
first Deputy will be appointed in the
revenue office, but it is probable there
will be. 1t was thought that it might
be probable to dispense with the ser
vices oi the first Deputy after Mr..
Douglass was appointed Commissioners,
but it is found necessary to have labor,
of that nature performed by some one,
and in case of the absence OF the Com
missioner the first Deputy is the only
officer designated by law to act in his
place. There is good deel of compete.
ton for the place. The name of Chas.
Chesley was, until recently, the head OF
one of the law departments of Pennsyl-
vania, also that of second Deputy,
Williams, and third Deputy, Green,
are mentioned as candidates.
New Loan Taxed.
The Commissioner Of Internal Reve-
nue. has decided that the profits accu-
mulating from the exchange of bonds
held as securities for the control of ma.
tional banks for the new loan are SUBJ
ject to tax OF two and half per cent.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury bal
ances at the close of business to-day :
Currency, s., ,626, ,000 coin, S9O076, 900
certificates, SIS, 924,0 900.
Quarantine.
The Quarantine committee of New
York will arrive in Washington on Mon
day morning for the purpose of having
an interview with the Secretary Of the
Navy regarding the precautions to be
taken against the approaching cholera
from Europe. 1t is understood that the
quarantine authorities desire the Navy
Department to allow the use of one or
more hulks Of disabled vessels to be
used as hospitals for cholera patients.
The Cause OF the westfeld Disaster.
The following extract from the Off
cial report on the Westield disaster
contains some important points: The
primary cause of the explosion was the
defective sheet located on the lower side
of the boiler. This sheet had crack
or flaw on the end laying to the port
side. The crack could not be seen by
any external examination. We think
Mr.. John K. Mathews conscientiously
discharged his duty in the inspection Of
June -, 1871. The engineer states
that about one and half minutes before
the explosion occurred the steam gauge
in the engine room indicated twenty
seven pounds. We think the explosion
was produced by pressure not much
IN excess of the engineers statement.
Mr.. Braisted, Superintendent Of the
ferry, says he had frequently repri-
manded his engineer for carrying steam
in excess of what was allowed by law.
The testimony on his part plainly shows
that the engineer on this ferry had no
regard for the orders Of the Superln-
tendent or for the Inspector.
The fact that the engineer Of the
Westfeld, Henry Bobinson, could not
read the inspector certificate, feartully
increases the responsibility Of Mr..
Braisted in this case. 1t is not unjust,
therefore, that the superintendent should
share with the engineer the RESPONSE
bility of the explosion. In view OF the
above facts, we say that no person
should be allowed to hold the position
of engineer who could not read and
write. In order to secure strict con,
formity to requirement of inspectors
certificates in relation to the amount OF
working pressure allowed, that RESPONSE
bility should be thrown entirely on the
engineer in charge, and that carrying
steam in excess OF what Is allowed oy
law should be sufficient cause for the
revocation of his license. 10 each
steam vessel carrying passengers there
should be some one individual held re-
sponsible as master, and not, as In the
case Of our various ferries, one man ap-
nearing as master OF all the boats OF the
company. The report is signed by l..
H. Boolens, Local Inspector, New
Y ork, and J. S. Hill, United States
Local Inspector, Boston.
APrize Fight.
A prize fight took place this morn
ing at American Hill, near PennsyI-
vania avenue, between a Washington
man named Gallon and Baltimore
light weight named Dougherty. AFTER
a hotly contested fight, Gallon threw
up the sponge. The affair was con-
Quoted so quietly that the reporters
and police knew nothing Of 1t until
late this evening.
Committed to Jail.
w. P. James, who was an accessory
in the McCarty murder, was to-day
refused bail and remanded to jail.
The Tax on Tobacco.
Commissioner Douglase is OF the
opipion that at the next session
Congress, there will be more important
changes regarding the tax on tobacco
consequently, he has concluded to re-
verse the order to print the revised reg