Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22
ON The EXPLOSION OF STEAM BOILERS.
ron THE NATIONAL IsrIILIeEscxH.


The frghuful havoc Of life and property from
steam.boiler explosions hal. long been to me sub
ect of intense interest, and the principal incentive
to my zeal in the prosecution of experiments with
view to the substitution of electro magnetic power
for steam. Many years since, devised and pro-
posed various modes for preventing the explosion
Of steam-boilers, and, after much study and refec-
tien, was led to the conclusion that failure of
water in the boiler was the proximate cause of a
great majority OF the severer cases of explosion,
and published in Sillimans journal plan for not
only detecting failure of water in the boilers Of
steamboats,, but also for giving notice at once of
the same to persons in every part of the boat The
apparatus was exceedingly simple. But not long
after this became convinced that the cause of
many explosions was recondite, and that neither a
failure of water and the projection Of water upon
red-hot metal, nor the explosion OF gases afforded
adequate solutions Of the explosions, as these con-
ditons did not exist. Nor was the age, imperfec-
ton, or local weakness Of the boiler of so much
Importance as generally supposed; and as to the
agency of electricity in exploding boilers the idea
was too empirical to elicit discussion or experiment
Explosions in some cases are easily accounted for,
but in others, after the most patient investigation
into the actual condition of things at the time Of the
accident science has been at stand. In the abb
explosion of locomotive boiler in Pennsylvania
a philosopher Of high repute came to the conclu.
sion that the explosion was caused by stroke of
lightning. One fact will strike every one as pecu-
liar in the history of steam explosions in this coun-
try, viz. the extreme rarity of explosions in the
Northern and Eastern sections of this country, and
their great frequency on the Mississippi and Ohio
rivers and the lakes. am not prepared to say that
there are no careless engineers North and East
nor that the difference is owing to want of atten-
ton TO the construction, use, and inspection Of boil
ers South and West. Surely the distressing ac-
counts of these casualties from those quarters,
which almost daily rend our hearts and ears, can
not fail to excite the fears of those on the spot, and
rouse public attention to these evils. Where, then,
shall we 60 for the solution or the remedy? ven
sure the following suggestions Mr.. Downy has
not long since shown that water, when deprived of
air, bols at the temperature Of $40 dogs. Far. at
the ordinary pressure of the atmosphere, and then
explodes. Faraday has also discovered that if ice
is thawed so that il cannot absorb atmospheric air,
Chat is out Of contact with the atmosphere the
water therefrom explodes when it comes to the
boiling point. Who can say that such may not
have been the condition Of water in many of the
recorded explosions! Recurring to the terrible ac-
cident of Hague street, so fresh in our minds, may
there not have been of these conditions, as the
pipes were said to have been frozen? May there
not be some peculiarly in the waters Of the Ohio
and Mississippi! Or may there not be a marked
difference between the Eastern and Western wa
tiers, or river and water, in respectt its ara
ton? The fact is we'll known that srGed waters
are, to great extent, deprived of air by he mocha
meal admixture of fnelydivided matter Of any kind,
and may not the nauddiness Of water bs of some
importance in this connexion! And lastly, il there
is any thing in these suggestions, would not the
simple remedy be in Grating the water before 1t
goes to the boiler Experiments to settle such a
question could not be at all difficult, however ex-
pensive; and considering the great moment and
intense interest Of the subject nothing should be
left untried which presents shadow Of plaasbility
CHAS. 6. PAGE.