The New York herald., 1871-08-03
Politics and n Bursted Boiler.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The appalling calamity on board Of the Westfeld
has sent thrill OF horror through our whole com.
munity. But now that the smoke has risen and the
wounded have been carefully disposed Of, being
practical people, we ask, "Who is responsible ?"
OF the hundred correspondents Of each OF our hun.
dred newspapers each lays down different theory.
We may investigate the matter and discuss 1t from
every standpoint but my word for 1t, the verdict for
the community VIII be, "a Mystery" And why'
Simply because coroner or q c0roners jury are
incapable Of rendering true decision upon EVIL
dence that mechanical experts OF the highest talent
only can understand. And In all such cases most
Of the witnesses take o non-committal position on
account Of their property their interests or those
OF their friends.
Suppose we question the capacity OF the engineer
Mr.. Vanderbilt says he Is the most reliable OF all
the company's engineers, Was 1t the fanlt OF the
cOmpanyS VI course not, for tney will prove IN at
everything that care and foretnought could provide
had been done to secure the safety OF the Westeld
was 1t the fault Of tho toiler Certainly not.
The boiler was tested up to forty pounds hydroSatic
pressure TO the square inch, but the stupid thing,
having no confidence In itself. went aud exploded
when exposed 10 O pressure OF twenty seven pounds
Was there enough water in the boller' Of course
there was. Tho engineer had just tried IL Two min
utes before the explosion hs is always done In SIM
liar cases. and found full supply OF water.
wears old and there are excursion boats In our har
Dor that 60 ont every day loaded down with human
on the Westheds.
Was It the iaalt Of the government inspector, No,
that he carefully obeyed them-appIyng the pre-.
scribed tests and giving the proper certificate, with
all It's conventional adOrnments.
And the community Will ask yet again, what
caused the ned Disaster And the Investigation WI
UOnS ALWAYS give the same answer.
Now. hold that In this period OF scientific prog
ress the recurrence OF these disasters ana the en-
shroudiDg OF them in Ignorance and stupidity Is abb
solutely ipexcusable
When boiler expodes we can trace 1t to one Of
two Causes-there was too much steam or there was
too little water. No steam boiler ever exploded
from any other cause.
express ON opinion in this case as to the causes tnat
led to the accident. The sufferers, however, and
WIZ Wy t% Ge wnen ney learn na
take notice OF the affair and ol1er special nvesti-
cation, by which many OF them will learn for the
first time that the finances OF the country are ma.
nIpuated by the man who is charged with the re.
sponsibllity Of inspecting steam boilers. 1t is true
they may consider this rather lncongruous dis
position OF responsibilities; but it cannot be ex-
pecied that every person understands the science OF
political economy.
Ii a banker were to start a blacksmith shop we
would not expect the undertaking to be successful.
head Of financial system is Incapable of carrying
out the minutl@ OF steam boiler Inspections We
make the inspection OF steamships political lever,
and find fault that II Is not managed In practical
way.
Ihe extent OF our country and the number OF
human lives at stake warn US that this Is most
unwise disposition OF affairs. Yesterday 1t was
"Avondae;' to-day 1t Is "Westfeld;' tomorrow
1t Will he a broken rail-
We have fines and imprisonment for petty crimes
but wholesale slaughter Is dismissed with repri.
mand.
Let us learn the lesson that this accident suggests
1t Is this:-That the safety Of human life IN transit
and In mnug operations and the economy OF life
IN the prosecution OF mechanical pursuits demand
that we Should have q "burcau Of mechanics" )" with
q thoroughly practical and scientific man placed at
its head beyond the waves of political agitation.
Let the head OF this bureau be held TO strict re-
sponsibiity for sucn accidents as this which you
have portrayed in such dstresslngy vivid manner
and my word for IL we would have fewer OF such
horrors to weep over. The time OF the bureau and
the instruments employed by 1t not necessarily
occupied In this way could be directed into such
channels as would most contribute towards the
development of our Industries. department in
which We are crimluay Dlind TO our best interests
Your paper could do a great deal towards the
establishment OF such q bureau, but my voice Is
feeble.
can simply ask will we adopt q means Of this
kind, so much needed or will we relapse back into
a criminal apathy Wondering from whence the
next horror will be reported, and asking ourselves,
will we be among the yictlmsP Yours, A. 3. G.
EAST 23D SYREEr, NGw YoRK, August g 1871,