The New York herald., 1875-11-18
OIL ON STEAMSHIPS.

THE STEAMSHIP CITY OF HAVANA DETAINED FOR
A TrME-cAUsE OF HER DETENTION.
No little excitement created in the Custom House
yesterday when II became known that the steamship
City of Havana, bound for Havana Vera Cruz and New
Orleans had been detained in port with forty pas
sengers the United States mail and iull cargo
count Of having petroleum on board The vessel was
detained by order Of Collector Arthur He sent n de-
spatch the Secretary of the Treasury at Washing
ton asking for instructions and it only shortly be-
fore the closing OF the Custom House that he received
answer directing him to allow the vessel TO proceed
her voyage with'the oil board Subsequently
HERALD reporter called the Collector who made the
following statement
WHAT COLLECTOR ARTHUR SAYS
The great trouble in this matter is as 10 the con-
structon of the words practicable route" in the law
The defect is that there department or official
directed to define what is practicable route. In my
opinion this question ought be settled by the Super
vsng Inspector of Steamships of this port or the local
board of the same service and one both should be
instructed by the Secretary of the Treasury report
on the subject AS the matter stands at present tho
ruling is l-defned. Messrs. Alexandra, the owners
of the steamship IN question, state that they
rect In assuming that II Is by means of their vessels
that the only practicable route" is reached for the
reason that not one sailing vessel has left for Vera
Cruz, with oil board for the past four and half
months. | only speaking of the law,
not as to the expediency of allowing petroleum in any
shape to be carried in passenger vessels. do not
think that !, on my own responsibility, should pro-
nounce as to what practicable routes. The license
carry petroleum. given by the Local Board of Steam
ship Inspectors, does not mean anything. All the
responsibility that Board assumes in allowing petro-
leum to be shipped is TO designate where it shall be
| placed board the vessel / doubt that
Secretary Brtow will give the matter his early atten-
ton and place the responsibility where it belongs.
| WHAT MR.. ALEXANDRA SAYS.
In conversation with Mr. Alexandra of the
owners of the steamship City of Havana, he stated
practicable Vera Cruz Our steamships not
fully insured and would not risk their safety by
] carrying what we considered dangerous goods The
oil we are shipping is brilliant OIL for Lighting the
streets OF Vera Cruz Ii will ignite at temper
ature ofless than 40 degrees Fahrenheit The law
prescrlbes ll0 degrees In addition to this have
fulfilled the requirements of the law in having 1t put up
in good metallic cans, carefully packed in boxes. II is
slowed away tar from any fires. To show you how
little apprehension the captain OF the steamship has
any danger resulting from this Shipment he has taken
his wife With him. If English steamships carry oil
why should not we2 have seen this oil thrown
fire and put 1t out"
INSPECTOR SAYS.
Captain Addison Low, United States Supervising In
spector Of steam Vessels says that at the last
this question of practicable decided and that
intends to bring up again at the meeting of the
Board. He believed that the delayed steamer had
about 400 cases of petroleum board. He further
added that he had heard that OF the Custom House
officials of the Fourth division had been suspended by
Collector Arthur for allowing the Aspinwall steamship
Acapulco TO clear, having oil on board.