The New York herald., 1871-08-03

any distance from the landings are cur on from all
Communication with the city after six r. M, as no
rains run either way after that time. On this
Ike but So0ss @ a
Gowns unusual, and fear, unless great I'M
provements are made IN the arrangements o. l lh,s
|n0t.be long before the HERALD will be obliged to
chronicle another terrible disaster repete w,n as
there no trains for the accommodation Of those who
pre- detained In New York after six O'Clock or TOT
thOse who wish to pass the evening at place OF
amusement and return nome the same nlghta II Is
the duty OF every railroad company and steamboat
ne provide for the safety and convenience OF It's
Passengers, tut II this Is not done let measures be
'"A'" " '''0' '-''' ~ " A STATEN ISLANDER.
STATEN ISLAND, July-sI, 1871.
Why the Inspectors Are Useless.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Your letter in yesterdays issue from ON "En
Hneerr has struck lorcbly, as pointing IN the
right direction as the responsibility for the late
disaster. that am tempted to add my voice in sup
bort OF his views knowing, do wel their entire
borrectness. l am an engineer OF nineteen years.
Experience mostly on large ocean steamships; nave
rlsen from third assistant to be nrst class chef,
ma as such haye ha1 charge OF both ocean and
river steamers AS a consequence ! may be sup
posed to write knowingly. have, during the past
three years, gone in ships that had boilers in
them to which that on the Westleld was as superior
as could be imagned-bollers that had fourteen
patches put on furnace In Charleston the whole
front OF one OF them so worn out and Thin that o
blow with hammer would go through. Now.
where was the responsibility l stated to the own
ers their condition, and told. "We, do the best
you can; be careful, ana try to make her last for
bad living TO make. family 10 support; plenty
would have stepped in my place. snscfne no haye
would have caused my discharge and also
have debarred me enectualy from being employed
on any other line, on such fact becoming known to
The other owners. NOW, III THIS instance, tile lQs
spectors knew the state Of aars almost as wei as
did, but never came near the Ship slept night ana
day in the engine room aud have several times
come into port with plugs sticking out OF the boiler
while on tho passage In ali my experience never
know an inspector examine the interior Of boiler,
the Central America disaster the ship was on Was
Condemned In the excitement OF the tIme because,
boring INTO s 6eeso some partially r1ssen
the vessel and machinery, to my certain knowledge,
were In teriect order: the COMPANY 1 immediatey
3cS this spare snip hogged one Of her cylinders
cracked and patched, her Intermediate shaft with
large flaw In II, which opened and shut IN sea
lway, recurring untiring watching, and her boilers
20 worn out and leaky that gale Of wind would
khe innocent public.
Nov 70 my ideas on the subject Of the Westneld:
have not seen her boiler nor do want to- She had
patch on part OF her boller-generally the last 10
uve out II that patch was well put Oh and covered
Rxtend completely over: y was not. & Now, 4 when when
critically examined-Dy sounding as it Is termed,
with hammer. and in other technical ways-no
lmperrecton could possibly have escaped notice; 1t
Is utterly impossible. The inference can be drawn.
There are plenty OF steamers IN every part Of the
why Is 1t sos why, because they are allowed to oe
20 by tue silence Of the Inspector And why do they
GoSd their ONCE one Week II they were to stop as
they could do. one half of the steam marine. The
Boon % suppant them With others more plIable, and
who would have the faculty IN perfection Of not
o we're any mem sn
paid as they ought to be, affairs would be different.
% gs yn Sne pnt a6st al Ravs
tre called ''steam drums" extending nom the top
the main shell rom four to 81 nine Inc Ieet above the
IN the boilers. Now. through these drums, whlcn
as %hS iSs ss ae aaa
consequently these drums are required to be braced
from the outside to the inner lining Tais Is done
Rn the inner space by scroll o. iron exactly @ a.ied
etsocket," Us it Is named keeps them from coming
together In other words. renders the sheets immoy.
ADlc either way, Now 1t Is chance II the condition
81 these bolts is looked after half dozen times
hurln0 the whole life Of a boiler. In time they
cOrrode, and the drum either cxpOdes outright or
lips open ana these drums are IN the river steam
ers especially, right IN the upper saloon. though
Rgo exploded hers, and scaided several. / saw
her soon afterwards, and the bolts were many OF
them totally eaten through others had corroded to
khe SHAPE OF an hour glass The current OF steam,
Feneraliy carrying water with 1t, going up this
1rum to the steam pipe and engine, does this Now,
I would like to hear OF any Inspector who ever
Arawied into the interior OF any boiler and
An aExpers,' says the wes.ncld's boiler was not
properly stayed sr eraGed No. nor are Reeane 6e
did not either Know his auyhs whole
0utV-O did not perform It. "
AS q matter Of course Mr.. Vanderbilt would not
have mad this disaster happen for $1,000; It Is
hyanst his interest; but II the Westied had run the
Seasoh out safely he would have knowing her con-
irrOn ha Cnlcklpd
PocKeied dollars, and may be raised the pay OF his
bc:caied ens!neer as 2 reward. ,,, . o.
Don't know that you Will read even this far-but
You can depend npon 1t that not until there are IN
Ever may be the cause OF their not doing 1t now
bot until then will the lives ol passengers Pc sae on
kieamers. ENdiNEEK.
Dangerous Mnuaaem eut of Bailers-PossIbIo
I Prevention Of Violent explosions.
10 THE EDITOR OF rHR bERALD:-
h This communication upon the cause of the West.
bold explosion, and upon the to prevent such
baamities aims to exclude all matter not based on
facts, and 10 point to such precautionary measures
pnly as are supported by known physical laws and
proven by experience.
& TO present the matter clearly the following I'M
1eniable points as to boilers must be kept In
mind:-
l. It is practically impossible to provide In boilers
For uneven expansion and contraction.
{ q A boiler cannot be made so strong as TO
Withstand unequal expansion without deterioration
bnd Its giving way under SUCH circumstances Is Dut
b question OF timo
I s. Red hot iron plates do not make steam faster
bor as fast aS plates under usual heat, because
Intervening steam prevents sufficient contact With
the water, as proven by experiments.
4. Red hot "kitchen water-DacksO sectional boil
ers &C., forming receptaces OF comparatively small
extent will not burst by the sudden application OF
water. as proven by experiments.
g. Red hot plates in boiler act disastrously, by
causing unequal expansion and great strain, and
by the weakness OF the part so heated
r g. Water contains air. which, upon eDullltion,
escapes and leaves the water subject to 'soidiy"-
Hhat is to acquire great adhesion OF It's particles to
Each other In which state 1t reslsts the formation Of
bteam.
7. Water deprived OF air requires constant cir
cuatton 10 prevent its ACQUIRING heat far beyond Its
pressure, which excess OF heat may amount to over
loo degrees Fahrenheit.