The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-24 00:00:00

STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the
cause and remedy for steam boiler explosions, met yester-
day for the purpose of taking evidence, Mr. Hick, the
member for Bolton, in the chair.
Sir W. Farnham, C.E., President of the Manchester
Steam Users' Association for the Prevention of
steam boiler explosions, was first called and
examined. He stated the circumstances which
led to the formation of the association. About
the year 1833 or 1834, when the high pressure sys-
tem first came into operation, it was foreseen that steam
boiler explosions might become mole frequent than under
the low pressure. The association had worked extremely
well from its formation, fifteen years ago, and it had been
the means of inducing more care than would have otherwise
been the case, and the results had been that there had
scarcely been the loss of a single life through the explosion.
of boilers belonging to members, and had all associations
acted on the principles which they had, there would have
probably been very few accidents. They made no money
and divided no dividends, but simply devoted themselves
to the prevention of accidents and inspecting the various
boilers of the members of the association, and secur-
ing them against the pecuniary loss arising from
accidents. The honourable baronet, who spoke
in so low a tone that it was almost impossible to hear a
word distinctly, exhibited to the committee a portion of
a boiler employed in a colliery which had collapsed .at
100 pounde pressure, and said that, by an improved con-
struction of the flue, the boiler became three or four times
as strong, because it might be constructed in such a man-
ner that the tubes could be reduced considerably in
length, and therefore the tubes were better able to
resist the pressure. A good deal of the boiler
explosions took place in consequence of corrosion.
There was another important point, and that was the
very unsatisfactory nature of the investigations, which
took place after an accident had occurred. The juries, as
a rule, could form no correct conclusion, and he thought
it would be advisable that all such investigations should
be attended by some scientific person to advise them. He
was of opinion that the mere verdict of accidental death
was of no use whatever.

By Mr. Fielden : The corrosion in the boiler end took
place as well in those parts which were exposed to the action
of steam as in those which were in the water. The
expense of inspection ought to be borne by the owners.
Periodical inspections alone would guard against
corrosion. He would test a boiler a little over
the pressure at which it was required to be
worked and not subject it to any very large strain,
because that had a tendency to weaken it. He was of
opinion that the boilers should be inspected both exterior
and interior every three months. He was in favour of
voluntary association rather than Government inspection.
He thought that the Government should lay down
certain broad principles, and then that they
should be carried out by voluntary associations.
There was no difficulty in getting good and efficient
inspectors. All that was wanted on the part of the
Government was the passing of a law by which all
boiler owners should have their boilers inspected by some
competent persons. He had been president of the Man-
chester Steam Users Association for fifteen years, and he
admitted that the number of boilers they inspected did
not exceed 2,000, but he did not think that the voluntary
system had failed. There were in the whole country
about 50,000 boilers, and the'only way that they could
reach them woul d be to make a law of compulsory inspection.
The expense ought to be paid by the owner. An owner of
six boilers paid 31s. 6d. a year for the inspection.
By Professor Lyon Playfair : He would be satisfied by
the inspection of a competent engineer, whose competence
should be judged of by the boiler owner. Competency
would be ea lily ascertained, especially by an association.
They could have no other evidence of general competency
than the reputation of the engineer himself.
Mr. Fletcher, the engineer of the Manchester Steam
Users Association was then called and examined, and in
reply to the chairman said that he had had great expe-
rience and paid much attention to the subject of steam
boiler explosions since 1861, and had reported on them to
the association. Steam boiler explosions were both fre-
quent and fatal. The number of those killed by boiler
explosions exceeded all those killed on all the railways by
three times, and there was no reason to suppose they were
on the decrease. The steam boiler explosions arose
front the simplest causes. Boiler minders were
very often unjustly accused where the boiler
maker and master were in fault. In point of
fact, where the boiler minder was the cause of one explo-
sion the boiler maker and master were responsible
for six. Out of fifty-eight explosions which
occurred last year, no less than twenty-six were
attributable to the malconstruction of the boiler.
He explained that the mal-construction arose from the
want of certain seams, hooks, and rivets. He also men-
tioned that a great many explosions had occurred in the
Cornish boilers( which when well made and looked after were
the safest in the world and neverburst), in consequence of the
obstinacy of the boiler makers, who refused to strengthen
them with rings, where the manhole was cut through, and
in Lancashire a large proportion of the boilers which burst
were constructed on the Cornish principle. Among other
causes of boiler explosion he also mentioned defective
safety valves.
After some further evidence the committee adjourned.