232 [Assembly 



board a steam vessel, but a practical scientific mechanic, and one 

 who had a thorough knowledge of steam and the steam engine. 

 His competency to occupy such a situation, should be known to 

 owners of steam vessels, and the public at large, by a proper uni- 

 form badge, with a diploma in his possession, obtained from a prac- 

 tical scientific board of professors in the science of steam, and the 

 working of the steam engine. The members constituting this board 

 of examiners for the first year to be appointed by the board ot engi- 

 neers of the general government, and afterwards chosen by the mem- 

 bers of the profession of engineers, regulated by proper and appro- 

 priate laws. 



The great influence such tokens or badges have upon the human 

 mind, can easily be inferred from their use in the navy or army, 

 when conferred, as is already understood, as proper and salutary to 

 effect the object contemplated by this system of distinctions. 



Some forty years practical experience with stationary engines 

 and steamboats, has fully satisfied me, together with many of my 

 scientific associates, that the most effectual way to prevent explo- 

 sions and accidents to the working-gear on board steamboats, is a 

 sound practical, scientific and mechanical education in the professioR- 

 of engineering, assisted with the most improved feed pumps and by 

 hydrostatical water guages, which will, under all circurrstances of 

 foaming, or otherwise, unerringly indicate the true level of the water 

 in the boiler. The ability of the chief engineer to be ascertained by 

 some such rule as especially mentioned abo\e. This would do more 

 in preventing explosions and accidents to the working-gear, than all 

 the inventions that have or ever will be invented for that purpose. 



The situation of chief engineer on board a steam vessel, is mani- 

 festly one of great responsibility, and enough is already known of 

 the explosive element, to demand that the head or chief of this de- 

 partment should be educated in the science of his profession, the 

 same as the physician, or any other scientific professor. The duties- 

 of an engineer certainly require that his qualifications should be 

 equal, if not superior, to those now deemed necessary for the head of 

 a farm, or agriculturist, who is required to possess both practical and 

 scientific knowledge of the department designed for his future sphere 

 of action. Those who are intended for the vegetable or animal de- 

 partments, are required to know the elementary properties of the food 

 they propose to raise of either kingdom. Vegetable physiology is as 

 necessary for raising the various productions of the earth, as animal 



