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1839.] THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT’S JOURNAL. 91 from the money which they had subscribed towards Irish railway under takings, in consequence of which they have hesitated to proceed with the works. This renders it imperative on the Government to repair the deep injuries they have inflicted on Ireland by the Railway Com mission, and to come forward promptly to reanimate that spirit of vigorous enterprise which has been thus so unfortunately checked by reasonable and judicious loans to such railway undertakings as have been sanctioned by Parliament. Railroads are being extended through France, Germany, Russia, Belgium, England, Scotland, and the United States of America; but, unfortunately, in Ireland the Roval Railway Commission has paralysed the progress of these works of civilization, and has sealed their doom for years to come, unless the British Executive assumes the mantle of Engineer-Genera/ of Railways for Ireland, and constructs them at the public expense. This Royal Commission has by its acts and writings, for more than two years past, been contriving the most unfair practices to railway companies, the deepest injury to the existing rights of private enterprise, and the total subversion in Ireland of all the freedom of the pursuits of both the Irish and British people, as conn cted with the promotion of those works of improvement, the offspring of human invention, and which are shedding such a lustre upon the annals of the nineteenth century. It is very remarkable that a distinguished public character, exercising great influence in Ireland, and a strenuous supporter of the present government has lately appeared in public as a prominent supporter and advocate for the commissiDners’ report, and the plan of the execution of railways by the government, on their own responsibility, to the exclu sion of private enterprise. It may be useful to refer to the recorded opinions of the same honourable gentleman as delivered in the House of Commons on the first appearance cf the Commissioners’ Report, and which appears more accurately to describe the injurious effects of that document than a more lengthened essay, for which we have shown there was ample grounds. “ Mr. O’Connell said he was one of those who was dissatisfied with the report. The commissioners had not contented themselves with re porting proper lines for railroads hereafter to be undertaken, but they take upon themselves to stigmatise those already in progress. They tell us, moreover, that no railroad in Ireland can yield more than 3j percent, profit. And through whose agency do they arrive at this conclusion ? Why they employ Mr. Stanley, of the Stamp- oflice, to make their calculations—a person well qualified to close bankrupt books, and give the balance which ever way the party pleased. Really the result of this commission was a melancholy one for Ireland. These commissioners having decided that per cent, profit is the most the speculations could yield, it is now impossible to go to the Stock Exchange and get money to forward these works. The result on the whole is, that it would be useless to make railroads in Ireland. If we had not this report, works would be undertaken, and employment given to the people; and yet the Chancellor of the Exchequer comes forward to praise these commissioners—and praise more undeserved was never, in his (Mr. O’Connell’s) opinion bestowed upon any men. The thing is done—Ireland is stamped—there is the report. He rose to perform a melancholy duty ; he could notapproveof the report, and he had only now to express his regret at the inevitable consequences which must follow from it.”-—Mr, O’Connell's Speech; House of Commons, Monday, 30th July, 1838. STEAM BOAT INSPECTORS. It is with great regret we learn that the Government has given way to the clamours of a few idle twaddlers, and is on the point of proposing measures in Parliament calculated to be in the highest degree injurious to all parties interested in steam navigation. These measures are said to bo based on the plan of appointing inspectors to examine all machinery, and to decide upon its safety and applicability. This is a course which will certainly not only defeat the objects of its promoters, but strike a deadly blow at this important branch of public enterprise, while, at the same time, it will inflict great injustice on a particular class. This is a measure totally uncalled for, as it is a question not to be decided by the clamour of fools, but by the evidence of facts; and to these we confidently appeal, to prove that instead of there being any degree of danger, further than is incident to all human proceedings, there is a less amount of loss of life than is to be found in any other department of foreign, _or domestic communication. Let figures speak for themselves, and then we shall see the thousands of lives which are yearly lost in the merchant marine of all nations, and the numbers who daily perish on land, by accidents from coaches and other vehicles. While, if we look to other countries, and particularly to the United States, wo shall find that the accidents in steam vessels far outnumber those with us. It must be remembered, also, that where accidents with steam boats have occurred, that where they have not proceeded from maritime causes, often so far from being the fault of the manufacturer, they have arisen from avarice of the owners, or the ignorance of the engineers on board. Thus, not only is there no possible reason for such arbitrary proceedings, but there is no reason for singling out for oppression a means of intercourse which has carried so many millions of persons with such an incredibly small number of casualties. Whv have not the shipowners been single:! out ? They count sacri fices of life by thousands where we lose tens, yet none think of attack ing an interest which s powerful enough to defend i'seif. Neither are there inspectors of coaches to decide whether a rotten axle should run another journey or be laid aside; while, because the rights of steam boat owners are supposed to have no powerful protection, they are to be selected as a peace-offering at the shrine of vulgar prejudice and administrative ignorance. While this novel legislation is thus uncalled for, we mav see, by anticipating its results, that it has no argument on which to base its future utility. For by the introduction of inspectors, the whole talent of the manufacturers will be left at the mercy of men who, however competent in other respects, cannot fail to be guided by prejudices injurious to the cause of science, and to the interests of the parties concerned. A stop will be put to all improvement, and all experiments annihilated; and in the hands of two or three men will be left the control of all this important department. What manufacturer will run the hazard of incurring the veto of this despot, or what owner will expose himself to the loss of capital in experiments ? That this will be the result, it needs but little reflection to demonstrate ; for, in a science which is not yet fixed, but is ever progressive, which must be left to the decision of time, which would be rejected by the preju dices of men. Let us remember the opposition of Watt to the high- pressure engine, and the conflict of opinion which still exists on the subject. Let us imagine Watt a steam-boat inspector, and say where would now be the locomotive and the Peruvian mine engine. Let us recall the contest about the powers of the Cornish engines, or sup pose Dr. Lardner deciding on the question of Atlantic steam naviga tion ; and we may be assured that if this plan had been in activity thirty years ago, we should have been far behind; and that if it is carried on now, we shall be as victims before the power of those nations who have the sense to leave science unshackled. Except to produce this mischief, the operations of these obstructors must ever be a nullity ; for they must be more dispersed than poor law commissioners, or as numerous as excisemen, if they have time and power to make such an examination as shall ensure a remedy against the evils which they are intended to prevent. Their superin tendence must be indeed vigilant if they can climb every chimney arid poke themselves into every fire grate, while their occupation will be no sinecure wdien they will afford such admirable opportunities for dimin ishing the responsibility of the engineers, and thrusting it all on the devoted obstructors. The effect will be a check to the progress of science, no guarantee against accidents, and a less available responsi bility than at present exists ; while the unfortunate employers will have the benefit of all the odium of the class over whom they are spies, and the certain blame of every mischance. If there be even a shadow of a fault, and we have shown that there is scarcely that, the proposed measure, instead of remedying the evil, by attacking wrong parties, perpetuates it and creates a greater. It is not the manufacturers who are in fault, but the cupidity of the owners or the want of instruction in the working engineers. These are the sources of the evil, if any exist; and itis to these that the measures of the American government are chiefly directed. The skill of the manufac turer no inspectional ability can regulate; but, by making the responsi bility of owners and captains more direct, a more efficient remedy will be provided, and the error, if any, corrected. In conclusion, we deprecate this proceeding as mischievous and unjust; and we call upon the manufacturers and steam-boat owners to unite and oppose this measure by all the means in their power. It was by such combination that the railway proprietors last year defeated the government in a similar invasion on their rights and property ; and in this case, even should not the entire proceeding be annulled, at any rate many of its ill effects may be removed, while the legislature may be brought to entertain sounder opinions on the question. This associa tion of persons interested in steam-boat traffic has now become impera tive ; for not only in this instance, but in others, measures are contem plated for inflicting severe injury on it. The question of tolls on passengers is of paramount importance, while the proposal of inspectors equally calls for resistance, and the steam-boat proprietors may feel assured that it is only by union and prompt measures that these present evils can be avoided and luture safety insured.