The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-10
Protest Against the Boiler Bill.

Mr.. EDITOR: i SEQ by tho papers that u
bill has been introduced in the Legislature
providing for the appointment of boiler
Inspec; ors Also for Il; twelve hundred
clerk, whose duties amount to about one
hour day The inten ion is to install
near relation in the office, who will have
all tho manufacturers Of our city and
county in his power. We have the dis
stinction of the inventor CT the steam
engine and boiler, having lived in our
Stac. An Englishman, | think named
Oliver Evans who Invented u small
steam engine. AMI run it SO succs ssful-
ly in grinding plaster, saving stone and
grinding flour, and applied IL to u mud
machine Ia Philadelphia in 1885 to 1891.
lie also claimed the first invention Uf a
F.. steamboat and the first invention of II
steam road carriage which for want of
capital he could nos put in uao AMI
ho was accused of insanity for talking
about such aschemc and which we have
such evidence of at present as the lOcomo-
tive, trolley system and steam carriage,
all over tho civilized world.
Mr. Editor: If We havt got along from
the invention OF the steam On zinc and
boiler in | iSj to the present time 1873, one
hundred and twelve years Is IL not reIsoI-
able to expect we cun better afford to get
along at present, when we have such mas
ter mechanics rs the Puscy & Jones Com
pany, the Harlan & Ho!lingsworth Co.,
the Remington Co, Walker & Elliott Co.,
Trump Co, Hilles & Jones Co, Bstts Co.
All these companies arc master mcchan-
les.
10 my own knowledge they rank
amongst tho best in this OF any her
country. Is it not absurd to think that
such mechanics, engineers and boiler
makers will be made to submit to u DO
litiCal heeler ns the person applying for
this office and allow him to go into their
works and tell them what 10 do with their
engines and boilers. Who made tnemg
The bill as it reads cxempts locomotive
boilers which is class legislation. ! hero
Is II greater mum Der Of locomotives blown
up than stationary boilers as they are more
liable to accident. Yet this inspec! or will
have no power to Inspect the locomotive
The Federal government las wisely put
an inspector OVER marine steamers rs it,
requires n practical engineer th0 maChin-
cry in vessel Is much more complicated
than tho stationary engine and boiler, but
when you exempt boilers which have Ger
tiflcutes from Insurance. Companies Loco.
motives and Government license, tho bill
says it shall bo the duty Of tho Inspector
once every year to submit every boiler
used within the state for manufacturing
or heating within the state for mechanical
purposes.
That will include boilers for scalding
hogs which all the farmers will have to
pay tribute to if they had only one hog to
kill of 100 lbs, which would pay better to
buy tho hog than to raise him. The fee for
inspection is to be S3 for each separa te boil.
er. but when there are ten or more boilers
within radius of half II mile it will be 81
per boiler; his salary is to be 500 and -
per day for travelling expenses, which
will make his salary $500 and his assist
ant $270 for Odays will be 5000, incidental
expenses, l suppose would be $3.50 III print
ing, stationery, etcy, which would make ii
at least S25OJ
Then comes the inquisttion, the Inspec-
tor is the judge Of the competency
Of the per,un employed to at.
tend to the engine and boiler, his fueer
ito will get the job whether competent or
not; the Inspector will get mechanical
book with all the intricate questions in it
that he could not answer himself without
looking at the book, it will l,e in line with
civil service re!orn and Will venture TO
say that nine tenths Of tho engineers Will
not be able TO answer the questions. which
will drive them out on tho tramp.
We have had less boilers blown up in
tho State Of Delaware than any other
Stats ] know of. In fact, we have not
any exceptit might DO corn thresher
with sume Incompetent farm hand to run
1t. Taxation has got to limit The last
hair broke the cuinel's back. A word to
the wise Is sufficient CITIZEN