New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-17
STEAMER DEXTER, February 9. 1871.

STEAMER DEXTER, February 9. 1871.
Hon. James +. Casey, Colloetor Of the port of New
Orleans.
DEAR SIR-In conversation about the re-
cent steam boiler accident on the Missis
sippi. you expressed a wish to learn the re-
suit of my observations on the subject.
comply with your request, not from any
desire to see my name in print, but from IA
wish to vlnuicate a lnOde OF navigation to
which l have devoted some twenty odd
years OF my life, from an injurious and, in
my opinion, an unjust prejudice.
When we reflect that the number of
steamboats, on the Mississippi and its tribu-
taries is not above half the number that it
was before the war, while the boiler acei
dents are at least aS numerous, we are
naturally led to look for the cause of this
last fact in the construction of the ma
chinery or the application Of the power.
am satisfied with the manufacture and
the metal generally employed in the engines
aud boilers. think the law of Congress very
good on the subject and that the duties OF
the inspectors are properly and faithfully
performed.
The public have every assurance OF the
strength of the material and the proper
working of the machinery. The fault must
then be found in the boiler construction.
The most frequent cause OF boiler accidents
Is. III my opinion. the excessive and unneceS-
sary extension Of t1ue surface and rivet
lines introduced in modern building, and
peculiar, so far as have known, TO our river
boats. This involves not only more strains
and margin of defective work or metal, but
u necessity of degree of V GLANCE on the
part of the eng ineers, that can not be eX-
pected on all boats and at all times, during
Il voyage OF six or eight days and nights.
Le. us examine the practical working OF
of our present boiler model. A battery OF
six. eight or nine boilers each having four
or more tlueS, is heated by furnaces CORE
spending in number to the boilers. 1t is
obvious that the difference in the quantity
of fuel. the casual Obstructions i'll draft the
momentary inattentiOn of engineers render
it impossible to maintain the fire at an in
tensity always exactly equal. AS an evi
dent consequence of this lrreguiarity, the
water is driven from the hottest boilers tC
| those of less temperature, and the surface
of the boiler OF builers thus left dry is in
stantly heated. and the immediate return ol
| flow of the expelled water upon the super
| heated surface generates steam. so sudden
| and powerful As to surpaSs the capacity Of
metal or rivet> to resist it. Hence the most
| of our boiler accidents. IN my opinion.
| The boiler surface on our boats is too
| great. and should be reduced as far as COM
| patibe with the demands OF Il safe speed
| The explosion of the tubular boiler tends tc
show the damage of the present system. and
| the abolition of these boilers on river boats
WAS IA step in the right direction The re
| turn. as nearly as possible. 20 the simple
and safer plan of the original river boiler
| and the present ocean boiler. will restore
| the safety OF the boat and the confidence o1
the public.
think. moreover. that the present dial
| plate gauge is too complicated to be always
| reliable As a pressure test. The mere III
| spcctiOn OF an eng ineer or striker OF six OF
eight glass plates. any one of which may he
cloggeI or otherwise deranged. is not 50
good as the ordinary gauge cock and the old
| style OF safety valve. These last tests never
fail to deceive the engineer.
| The causes then assigned are. l think
| more reasonable than the new theories that
! the hidden contact of water and hot iron
| generates gas that cannot be controlled
| by any means now i'll our power. or that
| electricity is in any way concerned in pro
| ducing boiler explosions.
| An investigation on the testimony OF
scientific and practical river navigation,
would. am sure, demonstrate the accuracy
| of the views suggested by me and cOncurrcd
| i'll by many men of experience and good
| Judgment. | should like such an investiga-
| ton to he made by the government for fear
some ingenious person may invent mode
| for the prevention OF the formation o!
| this fancy gas, or get up some new-tangled
| electric battery. to carry OF the supposed
electricity, and compel us to purchase the
| patent FOR every boat as a companion to the
handsome dai-plate steam gauge to Which
| | have alluded.
Should these views suggest any improve
| ments by which the recurrence OF deplOra
| bic accidents shall he prevented, and the
confidence of the pubhc restored, it would
afford me great happiness to feel that had
! i'll any way been instrumental i'll producing
! Il result 50 desirable. Yours. truly,
ISAAC H. JONES.