The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-25
Exchange Clippings, July II.


During the past season the nongensical GUS
tom Of firing saIutes on the arrival and depart
ure Of New Orleans packets was revived IN that
city Several of the packets carried toy can.
non, which was fired on entering ana leaving
port which was answered by q small cas-. Iron
wharf-boat. James Gordon. the Waterman of
the New Orleans wharf boat had charge OF the
cannon, and generally did the "saluttng' bust
ness. In accordance with this custom, part
ing salute was being fired to the, Paris @. Brown
at 10 O'Clock Saturday night, when the cannon
burst, One piece went down through the roof
OF the wharf boat and on through the floor OF
Royse & Massett's steamboat agency rftce, and
on down to the deck Of the wharf boat. Another
small piece OF the cannon went through Inc up
per end of the roof of the wharf boat. AND lit
81 the deck Of the boat Fortunately, no lives
were lost The escape Of Gordon. who fired the
cannon, was most miraculous as he st cd i'm
mediately over 1t. We hope this Will END the
farce.
Capt. Lees boat will be launched at Towards
shipyard in few days.
A VALUABLE INVENTION IN STEAM ENGINES.
We have been favored with an explanation. Of
the drawings and plans Of q. w. McCOrm1ckS
new and improved steam engine, and from our
knowledge of the plans and propositions there.
in displayed have no hesitation IN according 70 IL
what experts pronounce 1.-THE greatest i'm
provement on the steam engine for the laSf nall
century. One Of tho oldest steam engine build
ers says: This accomplished it will complete
ali improvements on the present form Of en-
gines." There is nothing intricate or o. diff
cult construction. nor to require addit1onal care
or repair other than in ordinary engines.
The inventor claims an Increase OF one-tnlrd
additional power, or asavtng OF third OF 1uei
over engines rs ut present used, and proposes
to convince any Intelligent engineer by an ex-
animation of the plans proposed.
First, he proposes q near approximate OF
boiler pressure against the piston by large
steam passages; second, quick and instanta-
neous relief Of the reactve force Of the exhaust
steam by corresponding large openings; third,
the saving of the steam now lost in dead space,
chamber valves, nOzz leg. etc. The Improve
ment is susceptible of being placed on engines
already built.
Owners Of steamers and manufacturers. who
are most interested should investigate THIS ln-
vention as 1t Is one worthy OF al due consider
dence, No. AZ Clay street.
Padueah News:
Ths Sun of this morning hits the keynote OF
sound sense in q paragraph about the intoler-
able nuisance of attaching a steamboat upon
any trivial charge that may be made against
her The law which authorizes such thieylng
was probably made by thieves, for the beneht OF
thieves and at time when thieving was more
abolished The Sun says: -Four steamers
were detained at this port yesterday by the
Deputy United States Marshal for trifing sums
alleged to be due roustabouts as wages. In
most cases the officers of the boats wou Id rather
submit to be swindled by unscrupulous en-
Royes than to be fe be sI officers but
enforce the law as 1t appears on the books
However the law Is all wrong and too rigid OF
steamboatmen and should be done away with
and something more Just and equitable supplied
in its place. Railroads can owe thousands O
dollars and run their trains right along as l
nothing had happened; but let an unhappI
steamboatman be sued by some triting. good
nothing roustabout, and he must t9rt
over" at once or submit to all kinds OF Vexatlo1
Memphis Avalanche:
The Belle Of Shreveport Is seven days on
from New Orleans tonight, and started VIII
twenty cabin people and $50 tons of freight
The propeller Whale, from Chicago. with ca
nal boats Labrador and Friendship and 100000
shingles for the Eau Clare Lumber Company
arrived at st. Louis last week.