New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-04-01

iects OF explosions IN steam engines, In this vcyt
the author fully investigates the explosive element
OF powder, lightning. gas and other iaAammaSlso o.
explosive matter and concludes that the effects o.
phenomena are alike 10 each. Ia England and other
| parts OF Europe, scientific investigations on this
subject have arrived at the same conclusions. Bat
perhaps the most apparent resemblance which o.
tains between the explosions OF steam boilers and
the explosions with cIectic fire. firearms when dis.
charged with the muzzle closed, and the blasting
of rocks with loose sand on the rowder without
! tsmping, 10 the bursting Of Captain Stocktons big
| gun which was alleged ct the time 10 be owing 10
| an interval between the powder and wad. Here
| the circumstances OF each seem 10 establish the
| anoIogy between the explosions viz An interval
or open space between the place OF generation and
the covering or stopping. no matter how slight the
same may be. The explosions OF steam boilers or
accidents 70 the working gear are never known to
| take place only when the engine 10 In motion hence
the interval in the boiler as well AZ the open space
in the steam chest or cylinder These slight Gov
ers or distractions evidently prevent the escape OF
the calorc which has given up its combination with
| the gas and Immediately deprves the surrounding
metal of one OF its constituents which 10 part and
parcel of itself thereby reducing the strength OF
the metal, destroying its cohesive property And
causing an explosion. The laws OF elastic huids,
| gas yapor or otherwise have universal and uni.
form operation and TO prevent explosions OF steam
boilers and serious accidents to the working gear,
| il does seem that correct knowledge Of theseele-
ments and the changes or metamorphoses they IN.
dergo when combined with other equivalents 10 q
necessary requisite IN the quahncstion oil the en-
gineer.
The prevention of the frequent loss OF life and
great destruction Of property caused by explosions
| OF steam boilers, has often occupied the meetings
of the scientific members OF the American lDstitate
Some two years ago Prof Mapes mentioned bis
intention OF having q Committee appointed Tor the
purpose Of considering this subject and report
| ing on the same. He was the first to suggest plan
which met the unanimous appreciation OF his eseo
ciate engineers IL was their opinion II IL could Do
carried into effect and sanctioned by the General
| Government, regulated by appropriate laws that
explosions would seldom il ever occur; and should
such an accident happen, there could be but one
opinion az to who was to blame-the person IN
charge for the time being of the IRE department and
the working of the engine should alone be neid re-
sponsibe he and he only should be amenabie, Tor
To him and to him only ought to be inuusted the
sole management to regulate the FIRE for generating
the required quantity and pressure OF steam and the
supplying the boiler with water Prot Mapes
proposed that no person should be intrusted with
| the working OF q steam engine on board steam
vessel but q practical scientific mechanic one
who had a thorough knowledge of steam snd
the steam engine. The competency to occupy
such a situation should be known TO owners OF
steam vessels and the public at large by proper
uniform or badge, with 4 diploma 10 bis posses
sion obtained from practical scientihc board
|
| ing of the steam engine the members constlsus.
ing this board Of examiners for the frat year to be
appointed by the Board of Engineers OF the Gene
raj Government, and afterward chosen by the mem
bers of the profession OF engineers, regulated BY
proper and appropriate 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 az
proper and sautary to effect the object contem
| plated by this System OF distinction.
Some forty years practical experience with sta.
tionary engines and teamboats, has fully satisfied
me, together with many OF my scientific associates
that the most eiiectual way to prevent exPosions
and accidents to the working gear on board steam.
boats is sound practical scientific and mechanical
education in the profession of Engineering assisted
with the most improved feed pump, and hydrostali-
cal waterguage which will under all crcumstan'
ces of foaming or otherwise unerringy indicate the
true level of the water in the boiler The ability
of tho Chief Engineer to be ascertained by some
such rule as especially mentioned above. This
would do more in preventing explosions. and &C.
cdents to the working gear than all the Inventions
that have been invented for that purpose.
The situation of Chief Engineer on board steam,
vessel is manfestly Of great responsibility, and
enough is already known Of this explosive element
to demand that the head or chief Of this depart
ment should be educated in the science OF this pro
fesson. 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 head farmer
or agriculturst. who 10 required TO possess both
practical andscentiic knowledge ofthe department
designed for his future sphere of action. Those
who are interested for the vegetable or animal de-
partments required to know the elementary pro.
perties of the food they propose to raise from that
kingdom. Vegetable physiology is a. necessary
for raising the various products Of the earth a. ami
nal physiology for the health and happiness Of the
animal race. And in the Engineers department,
under skfu management lifeless substances are
made to assume the properties and powers ofvtali'
ty, guided by the science Of chemistry and me-
chancs; a prodigious power 10 evolved. which il
dangerous and destructive when operated by IN I'M
skilliu engineer yet in the careland keeping If an
operatical scientific mechanic 1t 10 made IN IN.
speakable blessing to the human family. ltsnature
parakes of the properties OF the elements on which
it feeds Its natural life is not for q season only,
bat for all time to come Its vitality will endure
until the last trumpet shall sound aud its death take
place only when the elements shall melt with fer
vent heat and time shall be more. Such ma.
chine certainly deserves the protection Of the law.
and its controllers au honorable badge, or uniform.
Yours. with esteem,
JOHN CLOVES, II. Of the A. Institute