Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-23
a New Theory.
ELECTRCTTY IN STEAM BOILERS. - From
the Philadelphia Bulletin we extract the fol-
lowing:

ELECrRICrTY IN STEAM BOILERS. - From
the Philadelphia Bulletin we extract the fol-
lowing:
Every investigation into the causes of
steam boiler explosion that meets our eye,
shows the helpless ignorance that exists every
where. The most elaborate inquiry can
scarcely enable jury TO do more than offer
conjecture as TO the causes, and an intima-
ton that the disaster may have been the re-
suit Of somebody's carelessness. The days
| mail brings us Southern papers containing an
elaborate report from the Louisiana Grand
Jury on the terrible explosion of the steamer
Princess. 1t tells nothing except that ''opin
ions" agree in aScrlbing il to II deficiency Of
water, and then they proceed, for the purpose
of satisfying the public mind, to censure va
rions persons Tor the lack of vigilance and
caution. But this is all the report amonts TO.
The real cause of the phenomenon which led
to the calamity is not binted at
A communication in Saturdays Bulletin,
signed II. ID. b." placed clearly before the
public the results of certain experiments made
! by Messrs X. l.. Lloyd and George T. Parry,
of this city, in illustration of theory first
suggested 10y Mr.. Lloyd, and after his death
developed by Mr.. Parry. Our readers need
not have the story told over again. The idea
is that electricity, generated in boilers, as 1t
is in the atmosphere. may explode under GER
tain circumstances, rs II does in the atmus-
phrre, and that by Introducing permanently
into the boiler an insulated metallic rod, this
electricity may constantly be carried oil harm
less. The experiments made by Mr.. Lloyd, to
test an instrument of this kind in boiler
| that had already been some years in use,
seem TO have been very faithfully made, and
! the fact that Mr.. Parry and those assisting
| him exposed themselves TO the dangers OF
| boil .r, with all It's water gradually boiled
out, heated to reduess. and then suddenly
supplied with cold water, is proof of their
coniidency in the discovery. A boiler thus
| treated ought TO have exploded. That this
one did not must have been owing TO some
PECULIARLY, and the only peculiarly was the
insulated metallic rod.
Ii this discovery should stand the test OF
continued experiments, it will be OF incOu-
C ivabie benefit To the world. Ii is peri, city
Franklins great idea of the lightning-rod,
and il will he ofiniiniiely more use than that;
Tor the loss of life and property by steam l.
far greater than 1t ever was 10y lightning 1.
will make steam perfectly safe aud control
liable agent, and who can estimate tue adyan-
tage OF thus deprivIng such an agent Oi lis
dangerous qualities! We hear that u nuni-
Der Of parties who have examined the article
! of " II. ID. h., )" are Determined To apply the
insulated metallic rod TO their boilers. the eX-
pcriments reported entirely satisfying their
minds. Others. who are not altogether con
vinced, think the theory plausible, aud a. the
continuance Is not v. ~ costly. are going Ia
have it because they think it may be right.
and, at all events, it can do no harm.