Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-11-19

INTERRocAToRIEs IN RELATION TO THE
 BURSTING OF STEAM BOILERS.
 l. Are you acquainted with the nature and use of Steam Engines9 In what employment have you been engaged? Were you present, and in what capacity, at the bursting of any steam boiler, or collapsng of f1ue; or have you been made acquainted, by other means, with the facts in any such case9 lfso, in what case?
 3. In that case, was the water in the boiler above the gague cocks? Ifnot, at what height compared with the lower gague cock!
 3. If the boiler contained f1ue, what was the difference between the height of its upper side and that of the lower gague cock'
 4. What was the weight per square inch on the safety valve'
 5. Had the safety valve ever been found rusted or sticking in the aperture. or was it so at the time?
 6. Had that part of the boiler above the water ever been heated to red heat, or ap- preaching thereto?
 7. Was there any 'incrustation or sediment found at the bottom of the boiler? Ifso, what was its thickness and composition?
 8. In what part was the boiler rent, and what was the appearancea and extent the rent!
 9. If the bursting happened to the boiler of a steamboat, was the boat under way, or ar rest? Was the valve open, If so, how long be- fore the accident? Was it opened by the En- gineer, or by pressure'
 10. Was the piston going at its usual speed, or faster, or slower?
 II. Had the firemen found any unusual diff fculty m keeping up the motion of the engine previous to the bursting of the boiler; and if so, how long before?
 12. Do the iron boilers used in the Western waters generally accumulate calcareous n- crustation at the bottom? If so. have any or what means been used, with success, to pre- vent it?
 13 Is it observed that when there is sc- dment or incrustation on the bottom of the boiler, it requires more fire than usual to raise the steam; and how often is the sediment re- moved, and by what means?
 IA. Are any means used for preventing n- crustation on the bottom of boilers; and, ifso, what effect has been observed?
 Is. Have any means been employed to prove steam boilers before they are used or afterwards, and what pressure has usually been applied to iron of given thickness! Are the proofs made when the iron is cold or hot?
 16. Is there any instrument employed to ascertain the temperature of the boiler above the water, or of the steam in the upper part of the boiler? If so, what is it?
 17. What means are used to prevent the fire from the fire place and hue from extend- ing to the boat9
 18 Have you ever seen steam boilers heat ed to red heat on the upper side? If so, is such temperature regarded as cause of ex ploding the boiler9
 19. Have any means been used in the con- struction of boilers or fire places to prevent the heating of the upper part of the boiler9 If so, what are theye
 20. How many persons were scalded by steam, and at what distance was each from the boiler9 At what distance from the boiler was the steam supposed to be hot enough to scald? Was the current of steam from the rent in the boiler instantaneous, or did it con- tinue for some time, and how long? What number of persons were wounded by the parts of the boiler or machinery, which were dri- ven off by the explosion, and what position did each of such persons occupy ill the boat? 21. Have you ever observed the piston to move irregularly, for few minutes, or for a few strokes, alternately faster or slower than it's usual speed, without perceiving any change in the resistance to the paddles, or any other obvious cause for such irregularity; and, if so, how it was accounted for? g. To what immediate cause have you at tributed the bursting of the steam boilers, which have come within your knowledge? g. Are there any other facts within your Knowledge in relation to this subject, which appears to be important in the present nqui- ry? If so, please to state them!
 oJ To be published twice week, until the first day of December next the papers authorized to publish the laws