Omaha daily bee., 1890-12-14
SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE.
1t is Respected by the National Association
of Boiler Inspectors.
HOW THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED
The Part an Omaha Man Played in
the Inception and the Remark
able Results Which
Have Followed.

J. H. Standeven, city boiler inspector, has
returned from New York city, where he at
tended the third annual convention OF the
Boiler inspectors association of the United
States and Canada.
The convention was called to oorder by Will
lam Mcclellan Of ST. Louis and lndulged in a
three days session.
Three years ago Mr.. Standeven and Mr..
Mcclellan met in st. Louis and, in a casual
way, had aconversation regarding the methods
in which engines and boilers in large cities
were run. At that tlme there was no law in
force requiring engineers to have a certlti-
cato showing their experience and ability.
These gentl emen at once realized that many
lives and m uch property could be saved each
year if these steam monsters were placed
under the control of competent men.
Shortly afterward they called a convention
of engineers, to which dozen or mora re
sponded, and, as result, Omaha, St. Louis
Philadelphia, New York, Brooklyn and Den
yer took hold of the matter. Each OF these
cities passed ordinances creating the office of
boiler inspectors, and men to fill the positions
were appointed. mali OF the cities the ordi-
nances were the same, and provided that the
mayor shall appoint by and with the consent
| of the city council boiler inspector who
shall hold his office for two years; that he
| shall be practical engineer, well-qualitied
| from practical experience in the use and
heaters and their appurtenances used for
| generating- steam for power, Steaming or
| heating purposes; that he shall execute a
| bond in the sum of 5000; that the
| mayor shall appoint two persons who shall be
| qualified and have had at least five years,
| experience as practical engineers who shall
| act in conjunction with the boiler inspector,
| who shall constitute board of engineers
| that the boiler inspectorshall devote his time
| and attention to the duties of his Office and
shall perform the duties of secretary Of the
board and shall carefully inspect and test
| every stationary boiler and steam-generating
| apparatus within the city limits at least once
each year; that whenever a boiler shall,
| in his Judgment, be found unsafe, it shall be
| condemned and ordered removed, and for
| each such inspection a fee of S5 shall be paid
by the owner of the boiler; that the board
| shall have power to examine engineers as to
| their competency and grant licenses; that all
persons intending to put a boiler or boilers
into their establishment or building must
apply TO the boiler inspector for permit
before setting up any boiler; and any one
failing or refusing to comply with the samo
shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor,
and upon conviction thereof shall be fined
not less than $50 nor more than $500.
The ordinance also provides for the num-
| ber OF pounds OF steam that each and every
boiler shall carry and a fine Of not less than
500 nor more than 81, 900 TO be levied against
the owner of condemned boiler when he or
they refuse TO remove the same.
| This ordinance or a draft of the same was
| represented to the Nebraska Legislature, but
was defeated by the Lancaster county mem
bers who argued that it would incur too
| great an expense upon the owners of manu-
featuring establishments throughout the
state. The bill was known as house roll 397
ana was championed by Mr., Specht and MIR.
| Standeven.
Four states however, looked at the matter
in a different light and passed the law This
winter, a similar bill will be introduced, not
only in Nebraska, but in most of the states
of the union. The bills will have
the united support OF the as.
sociation and Mr. Standeven is Of
the opinion that in most instances laws look