New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-19
THE INSPECTION OF STEAMBOATS,.

THE REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING INsPECToR-GENE-
RAf-TRAvELLISG ny STEAMBOAT PRETTY SAFE
COMMENTS on TUE CoRRosIoS OF BOILERS.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.l
WASHINGTON Nov. Disappearing Inspect
or-General James A. Dumont reports that on October
81 the Steamboat Inspection Service consisted OF 100
oncers clerks aud messengers that 4,37 steamboats,
having tonnage OF 1.0I7432. were inspected during
the year; and that 1i4s0 officers were licensed Com
parcd with the previous year. this Is an increase Of
o5lo IN the tonnage OF vessels 20 In the number OF yes
sells and 1876 In the number Of licensed officers.
The receipts inspections Of vessels and the licens
ing OF officers were S272.7O and the expenditures
were S2l62i9.
The total number OF lives lost from various causes dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 80 1873 were, from
blossoms 49, from fire - from collisions 3D. from snaGs
wrecks and sinking l04, from accidental drowning 49,
from miscellaneous casualties total, 2l2 The whole
number Of accidents resulting In the loss OF life was AZ
The report says although the service IL yet suscept
bic of Improvement in that respect am proud to say
that so IN oroughly have its laws been administered that
in upward Of 200 900 900 persons carried on American
steamers during the last year. only one person and one
nth were lost in each million. do not hesitate TO as
1T that travel by steamer under the existing laws OF
the United states safer than III any other country
General DumOnt refers TO the various accidents
which have happened during the year. ana names OF per
sons killed etc. and devoto considerable portion Of
eft is believed that the efforts now being made by this
Office and supported actively by manufacturers gen
orally viii introduce into the market IRON OF American
manufacture for marine boiler equal II not superior
~ that made In any part OF the world But whatever
the qualities OF the iron, the eccentric manner OF It's
wear under steam IA not yet explained some plates
oIidze IA used Others Of Identical texture ana
position wear years without material detcrOTa'oh
and others again. after wearing for several years Win
out damage suddenly oSdze and are DESTROYED
in a few weeks. This last condition was forcbly lns
tratcd by the steamer Magenta, when exploded the
out r shell Of her steam chimney on March ~, near
sing sing on the Hudson. Such disasters can
be avertcd by frequent and and careful inspection
There are places however In I'LL boilers where personal
INSPECTION impossible, and where the hIdrOsthtc TEST
must be relied upon. recommend 10 al stcanooat own
era he Importance of demanding suoh tests frequently,
especially when work is resumed AFTER period OF mac
tvy for experience proves that boilers hctellorle
more randy while idle than while continuously used
The rec0mmr nlatiOn il renewed thht congress legis
late TO provide for signalghts To distinguish TOWING
steamers without sail from steamers OF the same clS
when not towing. o.o ..,.u.
or the total number vessels Inspected 700 Del0ng
10 the Pacific coast, with tonnage OF IoS,D3- ISzo
belong 10 the Atlantic coast with tonnage Oh 400
$50 Western rivers with tonnage o! !soV2-i 30.
10 the Northern lakes, with tonnage OF lsoo'o anu
81 10 the Gulf coast, with tonnage OF oS,eol'