New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-28
GOVERNMENT NEWS.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTORS REPORTS.

STEAMBOAT INSPECTORS REPORTS.
A BOOK ABOUT DEEP-sEA soUNDINGs-rHE SILVER
DOLLAR NUisAECE-sEcON OND-LEUTENANTS DEs-
IGNATED-THE COTTON WORM.
Secretary Sherman has issued q circular let
ter requiring daily reports from supervising
steamboat inspectors The Government printing
Office has just printed book descriptive of the
machinery used for deep sea soundlngs. The
glut of silver dollars daily becomes more
serious annoyance to the Treasury De-
partment. The President has designated
number Of persons from civil
life for second -lieutenants in the Army. Pro-
fessor Riley has found the cotton worm IN
many places in the South and has just made
a speech on the subject. A short Cabinet
meeting was held yesterday. The Mexican
soldiers have been permitted to pursue Vic
toria's band on this side of the line.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE.
A CIRCULAR ISSUED by BY SECRETARY SHERMAN
REQUIRING SUPERVISING INSPECTORS TO RE-
PORT on ALL VESSELS INSPECTED
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, July 27.-The following circular
letter has been sent to all Supervising Inspectors OF
Steam Vessels: ,,.
WASHINGTON, July 26.
SIR: You are hereby instructed to report day to tne
Supervising InspecorGeueral of steam Vessels up1n
the visited by according to sections 44O0
and 4.4O7 Revised Statutes In making such vlsS you
must in all exercise the authority conferred upon
you by law TO inquire OF the licensed olnees ABOUT tne
hulls and boilers, the efficiency OF thc IRE boats ana
other e-sayng appllancea ana pay especla 2n
Revised Statutes aud rules and regulations OF the
Board OF Supervising Inspectors.
Ifyou fud the local inspectors, when granting certt-
tue equipment OF steamers, you must lnmedlately
make special report TO the Department OF all the facts
I'm te ease. 1t the opinion OF the Department tnat
every passenger and ferry steamer III your dlsttlct
should ne visited several times in the interval covered
by ITS inspection certificate.
Blanks for the daily reports herein referred to Will be
acknowledge the receipt Of this circular letter ana OF the
blanks. JOHN SIBERIAN, Secretary
The blanks referred to being in course OF prep
aration will be made IN a form to require reports
upon the following points daily
Names of steamers visited this day; names OF ports
where lying; names of local inspectors who made the
number of e-boats board and whether they are IN
good order with and ltfenes complete plugs ana
Sins senred by LANYARD whether lfepreservers in
GOOD order number OF permanent stairways from the
main TO the upper deck forward and aft condition OF
woodwork around boiler. whether thoroughly shelded
oy material and with clear space OF not
than inches all sides OF the Doer ana AT
the back end space OF two feet according to law
aud rules aud regulations OF inspection service eondl-
ton and number of tre-pumps and hose Whetner crew
been drilled in boat service names OF officers VINO
assisted in examination OF steamer
The form of the circular letter illustrates one
great defect in the present laws governing the
steamboat inspection service. The recent series OF
disasters has more than ever made apparent tne
necessity for having the inspection service SO or
ganized that there shall be somewhere we'll
defined responsibility for its efficiency 1t is now
found desirable that Supervising Inspectors shall
personally visit steam vessels and make frequent
examinations of their condition, but no authority
exists under which they can be ordered to do so.
The law requires them to do 80 whenever they
think it expedient." Nothing remains. therefore,
but to direct them to report to the Department
whenever they do make an inspection and Its
raa