The morning call., 1895-02-11
BOILER INSPECTION Law.
Demanded by an Important Branch
Of Industry.
Not to Shut Out Competition, but for
the Sake Of Safety and Local
Development.

The mechanics, manufacturers and mer-
chants of this city who are particularly en-
gagged in foundry and iron trades are about
to present bill to the present Legislature
for the purpose of having boiler inspec-
ton law enacted for this State.
It is claimed by those engaged in iron
and steel industries in this city that since
the eventful molders' strike they have lost
the greater part OF their trade from the
fact that at that time persons who were un-
able to get orders filled here sent East for
such goods as they required in the machin-
cry line, and that to meet the requirements
of that time the persons engaged in i'm
porting machinery of various kinds here
from the East have largely increased their
stocks and varieties generally to the exclu-
sion of domestic-made articles in the same
lines. The reasons why such conditions
exist are explained as follows:
The boilers and other classes of machin-
cry that are imported to this market are
made in localities where all the conditions
are most favorable, VIZ, cheap COAL iron,
steel and labor and all other commodi-
ties that contribute to the manufacture of
these goods, and in addition they manu-
facture in large quantities of duplicate
articles mostly by piece work. and IN con-
sequence of not being subject to any in
spection are put up in the cheapest posi-
BILE manner.
When these goods are brought here and
to other markets they can readily be sold
under the prices for which the local manu-
facturers could fill similar orders, for the
reason that all of those who are engaged in
such lines here build only on orders, and
in consequence the reputation of the maker
goes with every article he makes, and con-
sequently we :Aake our work as good as
the best quality of material and the highest
class of skilled labor can produce, rather
than allow any complaint to be made re-
garding the products, but on the other
hand the Eastern manufacturer who sends
his goods to dealer here makes cheap
articles in their lines, sells them cheap and
the dealer in turn sells them cheap, and
the purchaser is the one to suffer, which
he does invariably when he purchases
cheap Eastern boilers and engines.
The people who are advocating the pass
age of this law do not desire to deprive
others from fair competition for the trade
of this State, but they desire that all toll
ers shall be subject to thorough mechanical
inspection as to material and construction,
and as is the case in the marine service"
allow boiler to carry only such steam
pressure as it can safely stand, considering
the material and construction, for all the
boiler explosions that have occurred here
for many years past have been of cheap
Eastern make, and those who are engaged
in selling them are occupying the public
streets for storing them, while the persons
engaged in manufacturing are occupying
land and paying large rents or own their
own land and employing the residents of
our own State, and it is clearly the duty of
our Legislature to exert themselves in the
direction of developing manufacturing in
dustries in this State.
A strong feature in favor of this measure
is that it is supported by all the mechanics
and workingmen-boilerm machin-
lists, blacksmiths, engineers, molders, pat
ternmakers and other trades which are not
in iron or steel, but desire return of San
Francisco's former prosperity.