Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-04
WlLMlNGTONIANB PROTEST.
Objection Made TO the Boiler Inspection
hiii Now Pending in tho Legislature.

Objection Made 10 the EoiJer Inspection
hiii Now Pending In tho Legislature.
Siah Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal.
Dover, Feb. 2.--Tho Steam Boiler
Inspection bill promises to create
lively discussion whom it is reported
from committee. Tho opponents OF
tho measure have forwarded TO many
members OF tho General Assembly
letter OF which the following is copy
We desire to protest earnestly against the
bill recently introduced into tile Legislature
TO appoint State Inspectors OF boilers, and
hence providing, Us we suppose, for COM
pnlsory'boiler inspection by such officers.
We. consider that such an inspection is en-
tirely unnecessary, SO far as applied to those
whose boilers are insured in any reputable
boiler insurance company, of which there
are several doing business in this section of
the country. These insurance companies
assume the risk OF loss by explosion, and
consequently take the very best means in
their power to prevent such loss and to re-
duce The liability to explosion. They rig
idly inspect, at frequent Intervals. oil boilers
covered by their policies, and have the right
to enter the premises and make such inspec-
tons as often as they see tit. IL is manifestly
to their interest TO see that all boilers in
sured by them are kept up to the best STAN
dard OF safety. The insured willingly pay
which usually require total stoppage of
the entire mill In Our case with ten boilers
each inspection means stoppage OF from
three to four days, and consequent loss Of
time and output.
We believe that it would be an unneces.
sary and uncaled for burden 10 be subjected
10 stoppage aud consequent loss of time, at
the will of an additional inspector, to per-
NIT him to make all examination which
had already been thoroughly made by the
inspectors OF the company having vital
monetary interests at stake.
We trust that you will oppose the passage
of this bill, and il it cannot be defeated,
then will you please see that the bill is SO
amended as to exempt from inspection all
boilers which are insured in any reputable
boiler insurance company during the time
they are thus insured.
A prominent citizen of Dover In
commenting ON the above letter said
that the bill would not affect any
boilers now under the jurisdiction OF
inspection and insurance companies
AT the present time,n he said,
"Delaware Is merely the dumping
ground of condemned boilers from New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. In fact, the
first question asked in Philadelphia by
the dealers in secondhand boilers ia
whether or not we have an inspection
law 10 Delaware. Within the last three
years we have had three explosions in
Kent county, due TO defective boilers,
in one case three men. working around
threshing engine, were killed. The
inspection act would no more require
the shutting down OF factories in Della
ware than it does in other States. AT
Richardson & Robbina' factory here,
at tho water works or other large CON
Germs / could mention, the inspections
ou9ur quarterly and there is little. il
any, Inconvenience experienced by the
owners or operators