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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[August, 



the Covcriiineiit have occasion to hire or to purchase steam-vessels for naval, 

 military or other jiurposes, these recorils would cnahle their otlicers to select 

 vessels, whose strength, efticiency, capacity, power, &c., would he known ; 

 together with all the minor, yet imi)ortant details necessary to determine the 

 fitness of a vessel for any special scmcc. These records, and their acccssi- 

 liility would stinndate the owners of steam-vessels to construct, and fasten 

 tliem on the most approved models ; to supply them with the best machinei-y ; 

 and to maintain them in the most efficient state of repair and sea-worthiness. 

 That the science on which Na\igation by Steam depends for its economy, 

 safety, its present success, and future advauccment, would he promoted liy 

 these measures, cannot, we think, admit of a douht. I'crsons commercially 

 interested in this hraueh of our national power and prosperity, whether ships 

 liuilders, engineers, owners or commanders, ardently desire and seek for re- 

 sults, and correct information, which at present are procured with dirtieulty, 

 or are still oftencr, unattainable. When it is considered that a large and 

 increasing capital is expended on the hull, machinery ami equipments of a 

 single ocean-going, or large coasting steam-ship (a transatlantic steamer, 

 costing above 50,0(10/.) ; that every deviation from already adopted dinu'u- 

 sions, proportions of parts and power, or methods of constructing the bull 

 and machinery, is an experiment in which not only mercantile success, but 

 the security of life and property to a vast amount are involved, we think the 

 vahie of a national, and accessible record of facts, cannot he too highly ap- 

 preciated. 



The importance of keeping a steam-log, on board ocean-going steam-ships 

 especially, is alluded to by se\ eral of our nautical, and other correspondents, 

 who also suggest that the contemiilated Registration system should include a 

 record of such logs. 



We have reason to believe that the deposit of these useful documents would 

 not be objected to by steam-ship com|iaiiics ; the log of the " Great Western" 

 has been printed, and the owners of tlie " Livci'pool" have adopted the same 

 excellent means of registering all engineering facts and occurrences during 

 the transatlantic voyages of that vessel. 



The foJlowing Table has been supplied by Mr. Shaw, with additions by 

 Messrs. Curling and Young, and Messrs. Maudslay and I'icld, and we believe 

 it to be nearly correct. It contains some of the dimensions of the hull and 

 machiuery of the five largest steam-ships yet built or building, which jiriuci- 

 pally influence theii' steaming and other requisite qualities. With an exact 

 knowledge of these dimensions, and power, combined with a knowledge of 

 the effect produced, which the logs would supjily, the ship-builder and en- 

 gineer wcndd ])roceed on surer data; and proprietors could count, with 

 greater certainty, on a new vessel answering its intended puqiose. To the 

 degree in which all these i)arties h.ive been occasionally disappointed in their 

 expectations, and bow costly have been the alterations rendered necessary by 

 mistakes, eveiy large steam-vessel company could bear' ample testimony. 



The practicability of executing two of the three principal measures recom- 

 mended, viz. registration, and periodical surveijs, is proved on a large scale 

 by similar operations, conducted under the (Urection of the Committee of 

 Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. 



The effects of the system pursued by this eminent establishment, on the 

 security to property and life, on board sailing-vessels, have been highly ad- 

 vantageous to mercantile interests, and to the safety of ships. It ajipears, 

 however, that as regards steam-vessels, the praiseworthy eflforts of the com- 

 mittee are powerless and inoperative. It is stated by various correspondents, 

 ship-builders, steam-vessel owners, and also by the intelligent surveyors of 

 Lloyd's, that the mass of the projirietary of steamers do not register their 

 vessels ; or, do so, chiefly with the view of advertising a new vessel in the 

 widely circulating volume annually pubUshed by that body. It appears, also, 

 that of the steamers registered, many discoutinue those periodical surveys 

 required by the rules of the society, as necessary to determine their character 

 in the list. That such is the fact, is shown by the (circular issued to owners 

 of steam-vessels by the committee, dated Otii December, 1838, and by the 

 blanks in the surveys of steam-vessels registered in Lloyd's hooks, a list of 

 which is communicated by Charles Graham, Esq., Secretary. The numerous 

 derangements to wluch steam-vessels are liable are, clearly, far beyond the 

 reach of a commercial body, unassisted with the authority of the law, and not 

 l)0ssessing that mechanical knowledge, which can alone enable it to decide 

 on the merits of a mechanical question submitted to them. Self-interest de- 

 mands of the owner of saiUng-vessels that he should register in Lloyd's hooks, 

 and conform to their rules. The same principle actuates the steam-vessel 

 owner to register a new vessel, but when that vessel is no longer worthy of a 

 character, and when the owner knows he can no longer obtain a good repu- 

 tation for his vessel at Lloyd's, he discontinues his surveys ; which is precisely 

 the time when a compulsory survey is required for the safety of the pul)lic. 



Human life cannot be secured by under-writers, and passengers form the 

 principal source of revenue to steam-vessel ow ners — to the greater proportion, 

 the only source. Lloyd's Register holds out no inducement to this class to 

 adopt its regulations ; it appears, also, that on steam-vessel cargoes, in gene- 

 ral, there is no difficulty in etfecting insurance at lower rates than by sailing- 

 vessels J and the large steam-vessel companies are very commouly their own 



under-writers, insuring only the value of the vessel, and, sometimes, that of 

 the engines. 



A trustworthy smTey, and report on the state of the boilers, and machinery 

 of steam-vessels, upon which so im])ortant an act as the granting a certificate, 

 affirming them to be " in good order, and safe working condition," should be 

 made, — not by the makers of the engines, or by fellow engineers, or by parties 

 who have repaired, or who may be called upon to repair them, — but by com- 

 pctent persons independent of all interest in their construction, and of all 

 connection with steam-vessel owners. Nor do rival engineers like to survey, 

 aud report upon each other's work. Obsenations on this subject, and much 

 to the point, will be found in various letters in the Appendix, particularly by 

 Mr. WilUams, Mr. North ; and full information on the system of Lloyd's Re- 

 gistry, as regards steam-vessels, will be found iu Mr. Graham's communica- 

 tions. 



The report concludes by giving an outline of Proposed Legislative 

 Regulations, which we give in full :-^ 



OUTLINE OF PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE REGULATIONS. 



Having thus noticed those heads of the subject which appeared to require 

 particular consideration, we now proceed to submit the outline of legislative 

 regulations, which we recommend for adoption. 



1. That a Board lie ap|iointed, in connection with and under the president 

 of the board of trade, whose business it shall be to register, and classify all 

 vessels navigated by steam, built, orbiulding; the register to record detailed 

 specifications of hull, ami machinery — periodical surveys to be made upon 

 them — and particulars of all disasters and accidents, which happen to, or 

 may be occasioned by steam-vessels. 



"That the Board he authorized to appoint local or district surveyors, to in- 

 spect and report upon the condition of steamers ; that, on such report being 

 satisfactory, the Hoard shall grant licenses to the owners of steam-vessels to 

 ))ly ; that, if unsatisfactory, they shall w ithhohl such license, as far as relates 

 to the conveyance of passengers. I'enalty for phing without lincense. 



That the Board be em])nwercd to investigate, personally, or otherwise, the 

 nature and causes of accidents ; to examine vritnesses on oath ; and call for 

 the production of papers. 



