Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22
Work Of Steamboat Inspection Service

- GORGE CHLER. the supervising
inspector general of the steam
boat service OF the United States
government, is indirectly re-
sponsible for the safety of every
man. woman and child who rides on
every boat propelled by steam in this
broad land of ours.
How many of the happy eAcursionists
who daily ride up and down our rivers
and lakes have any idea of the precau-
lions Uncle Sam is taking for their safety
and the wonderful safeguards he has
thrown about to save them from horri-
bio death by burning and drowning.
The steamboat inspection service is lit
ilo known TO the general public. but 1t is
one OF the most important services under
the government Its work Is done with
ont fuss or feathers. and the only time
u comes TO public notice is when some
disaster desolates the homes of scores OF
families. and then the notice il gets is
far from complimentary. No matter how
rsrfect system may be. there. are bound
to he times when that system fails, for
man Is not infallihle. y disregard of
some trivial injunction and the mischief
j. done But fortunately these disregards
are few and far between.
II has taken years of study 10 develop
this system. but the results that are being
obtained Justify all the hard work that
has gone by. There are thousands of
Steamboats In service in this country
and Mr. Jhler knows every one as init
Tnately as a merchant knows his wares
how tn boat was made and the exact
location of the boiler. He knows how old
a certain. piece of steel is. and he knows
when IL is time TO have "A new piece re-.
place IL
likewise the hulls. His inspectors ex-
anime every vessel as it is being built
for CONSTITUTIONAL weakness and they con-
tinue that examination as long as the
vessel continues in service. And so il
rs with the life-preservers' and the life
boats and d dozen and one things that
90 into the construction of n steamer.
TheT are all known To the steamboat in
srectior service, and have to he up to a
strict standard. \ defect i'm the frame
Weakness in the boiler might mean loss
OF life
nder tho Law every steamboat TO mat
Ter what her size or what her service en-
cept such small steamers, as come under
t'" resignation of motor boats, must he
lnspecte once YEAR by the board Of
i3cal inspectors. and as much oftener as
Inc INSPECTORS deem necessary to keep
track of boats condition Rr,t long
before the boat is built the inspection
begins. When she is designated bIue-
prints OF her proposed boilers are sent
10 the inspectors in charge of the dis
tr1ct and these plans are carefully ex-
amined- II satisfactory they are O. I'd
by the Inspector and the builder orders
his material. The establishment that a.
cefveS this order then notifies the m
spection service that such order has been
placed and that the material will be ready
fer inspection a certain time The
inspectors are notified and they inspect
the plates Even the tubes that go into
the boilers are made according to "A
certain prescribed process.
Not only are the boilers and hulls in
speeted and tested and stamped with the
approval of the United States govern
ment, but the life-preservers and the Tfe
boats and RATS must measure up to the
standard The inspection of the life-
preservers Is especially rigorous. Not
only is every piece of thread and every
biz of cotton and every square of cork
required to pass II strict inspection before
being put into the preserver. but the
preserver itself every year Is hauled and
maulcd and pulled BY the inspector. end
when he gets through with 1t there Is no