Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-04
EXPLOSION OF STEAM BOILERS.

! FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIsENcER.
The frequent explosions of boilers and
destruction Of the lives and property of fellowczens
have reached extent ghu that it is the duty of
public authorities to nepose law to step the evil at
once. We can scarcely open newspaper without having
feelings agonized by accounts OF scalded and manged
men, women and children, who could have knowledge Of
control over the danger to which they exposed
Men Of science have failed discover the original Of
these explosions. The Investigations have only proved that
they impuable to the age of the boilers def
cheney of water in them; to any particular form Of them
nor in cases. neglect of the attendants Common
sense them dictate that the defect be in the
material of which the boilers composed and the Of
cheap and inferior iron should be prevented by law.
well known fact that the better quality Of American iron
remarkable for its strength and tenacy, and therefore is
peculiarly adapted for boilers. The difference in strength
readily apparent after the iron manufactured into boiler
plates Then the only test experience, which has proved
fatal thousands of citizens and will be to many thou
sands mo unless stringent law be ntepesed for their
defence. The existing laws for the inspection Of boilers
board of steamboats, have utility The law should provide
competent inspection of the iron used to make them and
satisfactory evidence should accompany all boiler plates and
boilers to show that they made Of good number two
American iron. Every plate should be stamped, and penal
be inflicted for couneeing the stamps otherwise evad
ing the law. In making iron of good quality, due propor
ton ofgood ore COAL and limestone is necessary By adding
alone, without any increase Of coal ne iron will
be produced less for excepting the the materials
and the price Of labor the same, but the iron will be nfe
o furnace that produce seventyve tons per week
of the best iron, will with the addition Of make ninety
tons Of second quality and with it will make
hundred and of third quality, and with still
one hundred and twenty-five tons of fourth quality and
brittle az glass; while oft will be greatly diminished
In the last few years there has been much competition
among makers Of iron home and abroad that they any
and every means reduce the COST and feowczens
the sufferers by the bad quality Of the iron. The differ
ence price between good and bad iron in boiler of COM
mon size would amount to than twenty dollars and
for this insignificant the lives and property of our citizens
are sacrificed. "E
The number two American iron is the strongest known,
and some of it is tough that hardly be fractured
The numbers do not with accuracy indicate the qualities
Iron that would be classed number two at furnace
might scarcely be ranked number three at another but
generally number indicates good grey cystazed iron,
aud is the strongest Number is shade darker, with
larger crystals and is not strong but is preferred in
foundes for fine moulding because it becomes very liquid
when melted The Scotch number one iron is the best ohe
imported bu, is weak and tender. 1t used to mix with
very inferior and cheap American iron, and The two together
make good looking iron, but not strong
Much Of the wrought iron imported from England is very
bad is said to be made from hard scraps found among old
cnder piles that were thought of when iron command
ed fair price, and il is made for expectation only 1t is
readily detected by any person acquainted with iron, for
breaks easy and cannot be welded and the fracture exhibits
numerous little cells in the interior like cast iron whereas
good wrought iron is always in bes like threads compaced
Many disasters occur from the Of this bad iron. The
writer had escape from the tongue bolt of his car
riage breaking when going down hill and it was found that
all the work Of the carriage wasmade Of this iron, which
cost but two and-aha cents per pound at RETAIL Such iron
should not be admitted into this country at any price.