New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-04
DANGEROUS STEAMBOATS,.
M NETWORK INSPECTORS PERFORM THEIR
DIITll


From GAsOMETERS - INSPECTION OF TIE
FAST RIVER FERRIES.
Mr.. Jacob Vanderbilt, President of the
staten Island Ferry Company, says he considered the
boiler OF the weStfeld which exploded on Sunday hl-
ing nearly persons their deaths, the best any
n, tho three boats OF the line Yet II is beyond dispute
that this best boiler Ought TO have been condemned long
ago: that &c had two fractures, and that the safety
valves were rusty from long and neglect as to he
looperatvs The thn, fractured boiler exploded before
The safety valve would open. II this the best boiler
rf the Company, what must tho others bei From the
admission OF President it is clear that the Govern
ent Inspectors should at overhaul them, and see
20 IA tat heir work has not been sighted in TIE case
o. the wesifcll
An immediate investigation should be made of the
so.dtion Of the boilers, gas tanks and lifeboats OF all
Tho other ferry aud excursion boats which carry daily
mss of human freight about ana across our rvors
Many of these od their boilers are worn ana
patchcd have not Seen inspected for year OF morc
the as tanks Leak the feboas carried are inadequate
for their purpose IL Short the thousands OF passengers
and pleasure seekers on our streams constantly in
hanger of being blown up by defective boilers and nse-
cure gas tanks.
An examination OF the Steamboat Inspectors Records
reveals the foowuc facts in regard TO large number OF
excursion steamers:
The Norwalk Of the Coney Island, North aud East
River route was built u 1S9 p years ago. and its boiler
= ten years old The boat rebuilt in 1865. the
BOILER has subjected TO pressure OF "a pounds 10
he square inch and 50 pounds pressure is allowed. What
he nature Of the rebuilding in 1865 was should be sub
ect OF careful scrutiny among its thousands of regular
passengers.
The NaushOn. of the same line rs the Norwalk is %
years old recorded repaired 1865 The boiler
gas built in 1902 The test pressure was ~ pounds, and
pounds allowed. The boat carries 222 feet of hose
% buckets. metal Gfe-boat. and wooden boat.
Here then, two venerable boats daily carrying
thousands OF human creatures TO COney Island and no
4 dav
-unning % that popular resort The captain Of the
Tosed laid especial stress upon the fact that had IL
not been the immense strength of the hull of his
steamer section of boiler that few toward the bow
would have gone quito through it, and sunk the vessel
lie showed the strong transverse iron braces in the hull
md an iron connected with them passing all round
he vessel Just below the deck, the principal
hat the Weseld did not instantaneOusly sink with all
VI board This statement should hasten the thorough
Investigation Of the hulls of all the old hulks that
waters loaded to their guards with human
freight.
The Rip Van Wrinkle, daily regular boat for the Fishing
Banks, which carries brass and cotlion baud, bait,
ines and refreshments" is &c years old Her boiler
quilt in 1867 she carries feet Of hose Is buckets,
and tho usual number Of boats The test pressure of
he boiler is 40 pounds, 80 allowed.
The Thomas +. Hulse runs to Fort Lee and Pleasant
Valley. crowds visit these places, especially
holidays This boat built in 1885, and the boiler in
The pressure of the boiler is 81 pounds and
POUNDS allowed. The Huse carries feet of hose
% buckets and the two regulation boats This steamer
was refused certificate last year, and repaired at
IN expense of $1,000
The Pope Catlin runs from Harlem to High Bridge
connection with the last mentioned She years old
md the boiler built in 1852 The test pressure 30
pounds-oO allowed.
The Sylvan Grove Of the same line was built in 1853
and her boiler in 1865 The test pressure is co.'s al
owedand she has 200 feet Of hose and usual buckets
and boats.
The Eliza Hancox which goes daily to the Fishing
Ganks Except Saturdays, is advertised as new and
pendid going steamer but is not mentioned in the
Inspectors books. She has been South several years
and should be inspected at once.
The New Champion, Sunday grand excursion"
boat TO the Fishing Banks is % years old There
record Of rebuilding repairing though the Inspectors
say this has been done in many without having
been recorded. The boiler was built in 1863 Test
pressure, Al pounds35 allowed Has feet of hose
and usual buckets and boats.
The Antelope runs to PeeFskill and intermediate land
ngs daily; built in 1862 and boiler in 1871 The
pressure is 60 pounds As allowed Has $50 feet OF hose,
and usual buckets and boats.
new law is being framed for the regulation OF lie
preserver &c. The old law required that there should
he lfepreserver for every passenger but inspectors
have been in the habit OF averaging the passengers
learn how many fepreseryers should be carried. Boats
of 500 uns and under carry buckets Those that
unnage in the same proportion. There must be hose
pipe twice their length all boats burden;
under that. length and third but what is
iSerc that these requirements not also evaded.
= curious statement made by practical steamboat
engineer fitting conclusion TO tie consideration of
excursion steamers He says that many Of The excur
sion boats vessels that have been driven rom the
North River lines unsafe. Yet they undertake
voyages the Fishing Banks. what is worse,
sanay salt ater m heiE k2irs. Said the engineer:
Peoc go crazy about these excursions and sal away
On any kind Of a tub. There are very few Of them
.FTr.,~
THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY BOATS.
Three boats now remain TO the staten Island Ferry
Company. These the NQrthteld, MiddietOwn, and
Josephine The two former double-enders and the
latter forc-andaf boat employed by excursion
parties, but which may be put ON the ferry
- supply the place Of the Westteld A reporter 4
surveyed the Northed closely from stem to stern yes
terday After finishing his inspection he repaired to the
enginceT's-room, and applied for some Trivial details
preliminary TO asking for permission to inspect the
boiler rapid Interchange of signals passed between
the engineer and the collector who on board, and
the former in surly tone replied, IN give you no In
formation The reporter then asked If any additional
instructions had given for the government OF the
engnerOOm since the catastrophe bat no answer was
given At the third landing tie reporter was acco9ted
by passenger VINO asked the nature Of the queries he
had propounded 10 the ferry employees Gas they had evil
IDENTITY excited some cOnsernaton for the employees had
cesticulatcd to each other 10 mpart no information
Tho reporcr stated that he desired facts relative
10 the boiler. The passenger said that the Mortified
was regarded as q fair boat but that the Mddletown
would some time be the Of another disaster sInr
70 the Westfcld fit not looked after in ine Tor
said he there be about Il patches on that boiler
The reporter asked how he could verify this, ana was
told by the passenger TO the cOmpanys blacksmith
who was short distance from the third landing Ar
irving at the backsmiths, the reporter asked one who
appeared 10 be the foreman if he in the habit OF
making patches for the MddetOwns boiler Tie admitted
that ne had made a number but could positively
state how many were the boiler at the present time.