New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-13
hail and cooperate with whatever looks TO DC
An honest and sincere effort for reform and
good government.



grcss with colmmendabe vIgor, and it 10
pleasant to notice that their arguments iali
upon no unwilling ears. In open House ana
Senate and without the usual long forInili-
ties the bill introduced by them seems to be
moving to its passage-and without OPPOSE
tiOn-the reasons which arrested the move
ment to establish ocean tracks for steamers
when first undertaken by tho Chamber OF
Commerce in the Winter of 1867 no longer
interfering Then the cable was IN It's IN
fancy, and the struggle for superior speed De-
tween the vessels OF the different lines was at
its very hight Now there is hardly ques-
ton of superiority in speed, and IL there were
there is no chance Of competition IN the car
ryiug of information with the electric current.
Numerous plans for averting disaster, and
for providing means of escape should disaster
occur, will no doubt be brought before this
Commission There il no lack of plans OF
either character the nations will compete in
their ingenious devices. The Chamber OF
Commerce has committed itself to an approval
of the electric light. which, it is asserted, will
project brilliant pathway even through tho
thckest fog This light has already sustained
the test of actual experiment, though by no
ton as it will soon be when the recent I'M
provements have been applied. Its priDclplc'
that of tho development of light by motion
without chemical combustion, seems 10 place
it beyond the reach of rivalry. Then there Is
the magnesium light for attachment to DuoyS,
and to be ignitcd at the moment OF disaster
70 mark the place of accident. Many poor
| fellow falling from the slippery yard will find
| safety in clinging to this buoy. while the
burning light above him directs the boat
In addition to these are the raft schemes,
and chief among these the Monitor Kat pro-
posed for the approval of the Chamber OF
| Commerce at its last meeting by Mr.. Stevens
| Though called a raft, this is in reality tubu-
lar life boat. or more correctly still raft sup
ported by two or more tubular boats For the
use of sea vessels it has the advantage over
all of it's competitors, that il is capable OF being
| anatod or collapsed at will. How servlceapie
! and seaw0rthy il is was established beyond
dispute by the crossing of the N0nparel
tubular life-boat raft of this character, from
New-York to Southampton IN the Summer OF
1867.
| The raft proposed for the use OF steamers Is
composed of three air-tght cylinders eacn
twenty-tw feet long by twenty six inches
diameter These cylinders are covered with
heavy duck castings and connected by heavy
duck hangcs, which being attached to the out
side casing of tho air-cylinder, form com
Dlete deck surface. Above and across the CYL
jnder5 are placed a series of tbwarts or planks
each twelve feet six inches in length, which
are dashed at either end, and serve as
retchcrs TO keep the cylinders apart ana
in place when inflated, and also as seats.
Across these timber strctchcrs stronger pieces
are fastened lengthwise with the raft, and 80
arranged that they may swing round fore and
aft for convenience in packing when not III
use. TO them the rOw-locls are attached. Each
of the air-cylinders has an air-valve when
opens and shuts at will. The air is introduced
into the cylinders by IN initiating bellows which
Is always attached to the raft. The air thus
introduced gives to this simple contrlVance
buOyant capacity of seven tons. In lS60, on a
trial in the harbor of Aspnwall, by the u. ..
steamer James Adger the raft was found to
sunport lifty-6ye men with weight of seven
Thousand nine hundred and seventy-iiye pounds,
without the cylinders being submerged more
than one half their diameter; and though In the
open roadstead and with considerable sea, the
sailing master with six oars pulled the raft
around the sbipin two minutes. Numerous later
experiments by the Navy have shown us aDso-
Lutte seaworthiness in most difficult situations.
These RATS may be inflated and put In trim
for use in six minutes, and when rolled up Tor
slowing away occupy space OF twelve feet SIX
IN length and two feet in diameter-the whole
apparatus weighing about six hundred pounds
The yenturesome little craft which crossed the
Atlantic was of the Dimensions and character
here described. Rugged with masts and sails,
and with a light tent for shelter from the
weather, she was taken over by three men.
In all cases of sudden disaster, and where
there are large numbers of passengers, this
raft has the advantage of easy launching and
of the certainty of floating 1t is impossible
to swamp OF sink it under any circumstances;
and it will give temporary support, which is
all that is commonly required, to very large
number of persons One such raft would have
hoated every passenger OF tho unfortunate
Vile du Havre; and with proper rope faclli-
ties. one would have landed every passenger
from the Atlantic
The only drawback that we see to this raft
is that it may lose its floating power by the
action of the elements drying and breaking the
cylinders; but we trust that the International
Commission will make such regulations that
no steamer can go to sea without written
certificate of thorough examination of all the
life-saying apparatus on board. This will Sc
cure q careful testing of the buOyant qualities
of the raft on each voyage. And compliance
should be secured by heavy penalties on own
ers. and suspension or dismissal of the officers