The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-30
IRON FOUNDERS IN A FIX.
Thousands Of Hands Discharged from the Mills
No Iron for the Foundsrs-Ihe New ACT
Declared Arbitrary-A Repeal Of
It Asked For-views Of Thoso
Who Arc Most Concerned.


their customers-tne iron founders ana boiler
makers-that they VIII no longer be able TO supply
them with The material for the construction OF
BOILERS FOR STEAM VESSELS.
This Is in consequence OF the coming in force Of
An act OF Congress, passed February 2s 1871, one
section which provides that every steel or iron
boiler plate shall be stamped with the name OF the
manufacl urer, the place where manufactured and
subjected to inspection. This not be cavllled
at II, after inspection, the responsibility OF the
manufacturer ceased; but the act has been go
framed as to render him liable for all damages
arising from detects, ana consequently the
refusal to supply plates to the foundries the
managers OF which assert that 1t Is utterly I'M
reasonable to suppose that any manufacturer would
assume such vast amount OF responsibility. 1t
would entail far too great risk, as it would make
him virtually not only the manufacturer OF the
plates but the insurer OF the boiler tney composed,
the vessel III which 1t was placed and the cargo aud
lives Of the passengers she carried. Claims for
'INDlRECT DAMAGEsn
could also be presented, and, owing to the careless.
ness Of some engineer, or an indescernible iaw in
one OF the plates that was OF SO slight nature as
to stand the primal test, the ucKess proprietor Of
the rolling mills from whence issued the faulty sheet
Of iron might md himself suddenly sadded with
liabilities as heavy as the Alabama claims.
Even II the act be repealed, or rather amended
for the manufacturers only ask that their liability
cease after inspecti0n-before the present session
terminates an enormous amount OF damage will have
been DONE and 1t IL allowed to continue In force
there is no telling where tho evil will terminate.
Thousands have already been thrown out of employ
ment work in the rolling mills and iron foundries
Is almost at standstil and numbers OF vessels that
might be plying upon the seas and rivers are lying
Idle 10 the great derlment OF their owners and the
public ct large. According TO the statements given
below II IS not too much to say that II this act con-
tinues in force O return OF those days when horse
ferryboats conveyed passengers across the Norlh
and East Rivers, and the bosos OF our broad lakes
had never been dashed iEto foam by the paddle.
wheel or propeller, may be looked forward to.
The following Is the thirty. NTH section Of the act
above referred to- II ,,t..tS,s
Every boiler manufactured twelve months from the
passage Of this act to be used on vessels and made
have been stamped with tho provision Of this
shs So from or plates
hs provisions this act OF Otherwise as herein provieS
who shall knowingly any dsscivc bad faulty irn
svst hole to make i fair or snail deliver any such
ny nr &
s. se the
ss Of @ a Sa and s whc q tue
tensile strain shall be inspected in such shall be
% tSnhne snd ability To wsss Inc
Ss an n nS Soes has
beea 20 and approved under the rules prescribed
y .ha, such plate Of boiler
Il:
So,s.s s and liz ssnss s
Win sectional inch: the inspectors
a sS sn boilers IL sl Sss Ct upon "
sS BE- as ANY tie or %
rsd act s9 ssr o ne .s. or o g BE-
so canse to Ds stamped Or msrsea
with the intent mseaa deceive any such per
son or shall upon snS ns nsa
thereto the discretion OF the Court bsimprisoned not ex-
! In order to ascertain the full effect which the
coming in force Of this law has produced. ana to
ascertain what steps were being taken to procure
Its repeal, q HERALD reporter was detailed to visit
the various iron foundrles IN this city and CLEAN
from the proprietors managers their
VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT.
In tho Office OF the Deamater Iron Works, at the
foot OF Thirteenth street, North River the reporter
found Mr.. Robinson the courteous superintendent
OF the foundry, ana stated MS errand.
al shall be happy TO give you every Information"
replied Mr.. Robinson, especially as 1t Is impossi-
BILE for auv one TO combat the fact that this new
law is working much harm. We have received
notice from all the rolling mills that have been in
the habit Of supplying us with iron that they can
furnish us with more plates for marine boilers.
we CdDnUI place I'LL oIucE VIII tHcu utUuSH VIC
have several; they are obliged to refuse them"
REpoRrER-How are you going to manage about
vessels that require boilers. or whose old ones
stand In need Of repair
MIR. RoBiNsoN-Al vessels In such predicamcnt
Will have to be laid UP. Two Of are now idle,
and In the case OF third we removing her
gines In order to convert her into sailing ship. In
talking with the people VINO control the mills they
say they are willing to make iron plates and
STAMP THEM ACCORDING TO RULE,
but they wish their responsibility to end when the
government officers nave inspected and passed the
boilers. You see any careless engineer can burn o
BOILER out, and yet IN case where an accident oc-
CURED the inspectors might cut sheet out Of the
to fine and Imprisonment. According to The present
Interpretation OF the law the platemakers RESPONSE
bi!ity never ceases so long a. the boiler lasts.
hEroH!EKEi supposs ls Is not always possible to
MI. koDiNsoN-We never knowingly put o bad
plato In boiler, ana II there should chance TO lie
an impcroepi.bie naw If the plate stands the severe
test to which 1t Is subjected there canlos be much
REronrER-rhe new act must interfere with
Mr.. PROVISIONING have now $50 men laid of for
want iron III the boiler shop alone, ana 1t AFFECTS
our other shops Indirectly.
RBP0RrER-Canuot YOU use foreign iron 2
MI. MISUNDERSTANDING not Oh account OF the
government slanip otnerwiae We should import Ii.
fl every foundry throughout the United states. the
only reason that We can keep open now Is That we
are building two steamers Tor the Japanese govern
ment, aud the Secretary OF the treasury, upon our
application, allowed us TO go on with them III the
old fashion, as they were for a foreign nation.
REPuRIEh-How about the rolling misl
Mr.. RoBNSoN-U will necessarily ai1eot them
very materially for marine boiler iron was q large
item In their annual production II Is one OF the
worst blows our commerce could receive the law
Is made by people VINO don't understand wnat Is
wanted,
NEW ACT
IS now before the house, which we hope Will get
drought us purport Is TO repeal this one and allow
tne manufacturers responsibility 10 cease with the
government Inspection. AS tile law now stands In.
speclivn Is not OF the slightest use. Yes, we are
Riau the mil owners took the stand they did; II
Will prove az once low uliv Thev comprehend and