Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-02

view LIdt GABlOoluu5 OCEuI 50 Lb-
quently just after boats have under
gone inspection and been pronounced
perfect. II we recolIect right, the No
selle, which exploded in 1882, oppo-
site Cincinnati, breaking in two parts,
tearing passengers limb from limb,
and throwing bodies 10 both shores,
was a new boat, and her boilers as
new and good as could then be made
for what was intended for a frst-class
boat. The explosive force in that
case was also represented as
almost or quite invisible. The
late explosion of the Arthur could
hardly have been from "damp
steam" if it is true, as Captain Cheek
testifes, that there was little or no
deposit of mud or sediment on the
wreck. 1t is well known that in the
| collapse of hues, with the blowing Off
! OF the boiler heads and the like, when
! the boilers have had anything like a
sufficient supply of water, a thick coat
is deposited on everything the steam,
which rushes out, reaches. That it
was from extreme deficiency of water
that this unhappy accident happened
would seem the more reasonable con-
cIusion. Red-hot boilers containing
common air, the gases, and a bucket
| of water, would furnish US an eXplO-
| sion no known combination of mate
! rails or power could resist. And this
! condition may be given by a failure
| Of supply blythe pumps, by change Of
position Of the boat, or by a failure
Of the connection between the
boilers to equalize the distribu-
ton Of water. The first and princi-
pal thing required, then, is means
by which such distribution of water
will be rendered certain. Is this i'm
possible, even with negligent engi-
neers and watchmen? If not, let in
genuity devise the way. We under
stand that it is customary to attach
the steam guage only to the two out
side boilers. Would it not be well,
besides guarding against incompetent
officers, to place it on every boiler?
We have no doubt Captain Wright's
views as to the action Of Congress are
right. Everything depends now on.
competent or incompetent inspec-
tors, as they may chance to turn
up. The character Of government
officials has so refrigerated that they
are not to be trusted. A little money
or influence will now buy a place for
an incompetent as readily as for a
competent man. And by incOmpe-
tent men, to a large extent, the Gov
eminent is now virtually running
steamboats, and taking care of the
lives of the people, pretty much as its
chief Executive officer was successful
in doing when he was before Rich
mond. Public sentiment demanded
reform, and Congress undertook it,
doubtless in the best Of good faith.
But its measures have proved of no
avail. The. number Of disasters quad
ruples that of the history Of the west
ern waters before the passage of strin-
gent laws. As for punishment Of
bOatmen, this idea is absurd. Not an
instance of explosion has occurred in
accordance with the viii Of a pilot,
engineer or captain. And it is an
unreasonable suppOsitiOn that any
ever will, and more especially that it
will ever be proved. According to
the theory Of Captain Wright las in
case of the failure of connection be-
tween the b~Oilers), the least negligent
engineer may be unfortunate, and the
most so escape for years. After care
fuI efforts to remove the defects Of
machinery for the propulsion Of
boats, we do not hesitate to
say that we should feel
safer rs a traveller on the Mississippi
if we knew we were on board with
an experienced and sensible COM
mander who owned his own boat and
did what he would with it, than we
ever expect to do under the pro-
lection and supervision Of Federal
officials, who, for the most part, know
little about their business. Penalties
and hangings in prospect will not
make men do more than the motive
Of protection to their own lives and
property is sufficient to DO without
them. A pilot or engineer cannot
now be employed without a Govern
ment license, and yet we have no bet
ter, if hardly so good, pilots and engi-
neers as we had before the attempted
stringent legislation. Uhigh-pressUre
boats can be made safe, no laws will
be necessary to control private owners
and interest which has ample mo-
tive to diligence in rivalry and
competition. If not, or it is bet
Ter, let Iow-pressure he substi-
From the conflicting opinions
and the views stated, it would seem
% us this matter had not been sUffi-
investigated. Men Of expert
7nce understand their business better
han the Gland lubbers," and will be
ible to throw light upon it, and
be further consulted. If Con-
sress is to have anything more to dol
With it, it viii be fortunate if it gets
little more on the right track. The
act that accidents grow more numer-
JUS instead of diminishing in num-
)er, and that we have more now in
proportion to the number of boats
han we had before Congressional ac-
ion shows either action in the wrong
direction, or the inability Of all action
" legislation whatsoever. We shall
happy to hear further from those
most competent to advise us on this
ubject, and, because Of its impor-
ance, invite discussion through the
APPEAL.
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