The New York herald., 1872-11-22
NEW EGRALD FRIDAY NOVEMBER 81 SHEET

~ Mvs1ERasisn, b not only to find
int 40 has been clipahls or negligent in the dis
q qs S.s causes 70 S and 70
Known tho practical lessons which they convey, in
order that smilss casualties may % se ns IN me
Investigations, much valuable information has
The law requires that boiler Plates shall be tested
for the purpose or ascsre1nlng their tensile
s. sa aO
carried INTO esos Il necessary that the s Steam
with a. snIicient number OF testing :''' ma
chiscs Until within brief period the
tists Hhd civil engneers Manu- iacturers are, how
ever, bceinnang TO supply themselves with testing
naShnes whsn y "a uniform III system Of tests has
win be rated In the markets " the country accord
ing to their ascertained qualities rather than npon
dnerent parts OF boilers require iron OF different
qualitles. In the chief requisite Is toughness
Hachanes can be uc3ed which win indicate ali
these qualities. the principal manufacturers OF
or testing machines designed TO meet certain re-
quirements which have been submitted to
them: When these plans have been received spec
thcattons Will be drawn, and steps taken to pro-
cure the machines. In this connection would
mention that on the sth OF August last letter
OF State, requesting him 20 ascertain through the
diplomatic officers OF the United States to the va
ao O. m 20
TO testing boilers and hoilcr plates, and to other
kindred subjects. Much valuable information has
LLFEB0ATs, LIFE RATS AND AUXILIARY LIFE-sAvINd
s&l APPARATUS. sHe al
Our laws aad rules In relation TO the capacity OF
lifeboats life RATS and auxiliary liic-saying appa-
ratus are vague and af0rd no definite Information
to nspectors as to Their actual carving t eapac5y t
capacity to be assigned to the various sizes and
forms OF these appliances. From such data table
OF equivalents can easily be compiled. q "a 8a5a
fils 0es re SAFETY VALVES. sM s6eu.f I. u
A series OF experiments was recently conducted
Navy Department for the purpose OF determining
the relative value OF certain form OF spring valve,
ana s Sy s
Mr. John Menshaw, Of Baltimore supervising In IN
q sa Ta anssl Uhss v sss
the purpose Of observing and reporting IN relation
interesting and valuable, although the experiments
were by no means OF an exhaustive character !
recommend that Q more general test be conducted
suflcient notice thereof be given to the owners or
the various kinds OF safety valves.
Ge STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS e M NA#
At this day, when the commerce and industries
OF civilized nations depend so much upon the
power Of steam there are questions in relation to
It's concerning which there Is great diversity OF
opinion. Steamboat boilers explode with fearful
destruction OF life and property, and when practi-
causes thereof the opinions advanced arc 80 varied
and conflicting that an intelligent investigating
Gay sr. ss aspSs r
experiment and for the best thought Of those
whose minds are turned 70 the Investigation Of
power cf tSs age may be entrey subdued to the
% uses Of man fn November, 1871, series OF sxper.
was made at sandy Hook under the direction OF
Mr.. Francis B. stevens, OF HoboKen, N. j., at the
q sae
gained rom ali the steamboat boiler explosions
had yvx thA of Anvpn
on steam vessels. the conditions attending such
disasters are seldom known to the persons In
known, there are frequently motives which lead to
q suppression Of the real facts In the case. In
course Of scientific experiments. however, all the
arriving at sne solution Of the results developed
During the last session OF congress bill was In
be deemed useful and important to guard against
the bursting of steam boilers strongly recon-
s 9 s wSna sSes Ss
taned for the better security OF life and property
on steam vessels Experiments should be made
OF the seaboard, Of the lakes and Of the western
BY the terms Of section 4, act Of February %,
1871 passenger steamers are prohibited from carry.
Il th
fined petroleum. whish VIVA not ignite at lower
semPsrature than 10 degrees Fahrenheit, may % be
porting IL. Refined petroleum, in the language
has andersohe. to some extent the process
OF distation, or in other words to certain dlstil
troienm appear in every form, rom the gaseous to
the solid state, and their range OF innammability
is very great Some Of the oleasinous products.
whale OIL This Is iSily estaSsisheG Sy Tie tessi-
BILE precaution should be observed for the preven-
tion Of nres on passenger steamers, our statute
o snd the
Teer % tne S s
inent Of the Patent ONCE. LAppendix Al !
as as" to allow passsnger ' steamers to 1T carry
as freight or stores such products OF petroleum,
II % ssp opUSS SaSsr 81 % s
remove all danger Of disaster from this cause.
also respectfully recommend that the provisions Of
sSip%ent Of Explosive or Dangerous articles Be se sc
amended as to authorize, in any case Of such ship
articles thus shipped or attempted TO be shipped.
THE STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE.
Servce ~ oi
spectors, 50 inspectors of hulls 80 inspectors Of
boilers, assistant inspectors Of huis, assistant
it Is the intention Of the Act OF February 2s 1871
that the service shall be selEsustaining without
fairly attained. Mse aA w
STEANBOAr INSPECTION LAWS
Laws for the preservation Of life and property on
steam vessels have been established by almost
every commercial nation. Their salutary eject,
not only In securing the safety OF travel steam
vessels but also In improving the character OF the
steam marine and In elevating the morale OF
ofncers and crew, has been generally conceded and
suits have tended to appreciate the value OF steam
boat property far beyond the cost OF the fesaving
appliances required by law. The proper limits or
such laws cannot be defined with mathematical
precision. The degree OF care which shall be exer-
cised by the government must be determined by
those whose duty Il ig to make laws guided by the
best available information upon the subject. On
the one hand our laws may be made so burdensome
upon the steamboat interests Of the country as to
NAV be SO loose and Intellectual as to expose the
lives Of the travelling public to frequent and
steam marine OF the country and to depreciate the
value OF such property. II we err at all in this