New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-30

|
70 the Editor ollie Gesceat-The newspapers
report that tubular Ioilors are being removed and
those of the fue order substituted on some Of the
steamboats, plying on Western rivers, on account
of the late explosions having occurred on boats
having this kind of boilers. ...
Compared with the fiue boiler, the tubular has
advantages and disadvantages that about balance
each other and under good management, in point
of safety, are much he same as the lue boiler AS
an economiser of fuel, quick generator of steam,
an equalizer or distributor of heat "a main point
in boiler for safety,) weight or lghtness, and
space occupied, they surpass any boiler yet in
| troduCed.
| On the other hand, the less amount of water, lin
| consequence of the number of flues,) and steam
room they contain the greater liability to produce
foaming primeing, increased difficulty of clean
ing, require greater skill and care on the part OF
the engineer than the hue boiler.
Surely the numerous terrible disasters to steam
boats by coapsng of lueA jos explosions of tlue
boilers, since they were inSslssuced, are fresh in
the minds of all. And the several direful explo
sions of cylinder boilers, (Tricoor, for instance
at Wheeling, Va, 1881 when they were common
on boats, is not entirely forgotten. Were this
last description of boiler admitted to be the safest
of all boilers subjected to the various objection
able expedents, now frequently used and attached
to fiue and tubular boilers, such as combustible
fuel (freely used,) deep furnaces, high bridge
walls, jet blowers, etc. to increase the quantity of
steam, they would be dangerous only in less
degree. In brief, it is not so much the kind of
boiler, as the manner they are used that produces
explosions. -,-=-a-7.
In view of the facts, to reject the tubular and
| Cd tI,a fun bpi1n 10
frying pan into the fire 10 use an old say -
avoid burning.
There may, however, be objections to the tubu.
lar boiler that we are not aware of, having no
practical experience with them, as they have been
introduced on boats in these parts since we were
last engaged on water.
Public opnionis apparently adverse to them
but considering the haste in which it was formed
this opinion may be wrong. Truth is mighty and
will prevail More evidence against their adop
tion for the purpose intended, is wanting, ere we
| condemn the tubular boiler.
, A Observation-Disclosures Dryer-in your issue
of the 2sd does us injustice VIXEN he says Safety
speaks of red hot iron generating steam, in man
ner to indicate his belief that it did SO in adegree
! greater or more rapidly than hot iron at lower
temperature, and he speaks of explosive steam,
|
In the article referred to, we distinctly stated
that iron at about 400 degrees of heat, the max
, imum point, (Which is about 200 degrees below
redness,) was the temperature to produce steam
most rapidly. This is the case under atmospheric
pressure; but it is fair to suppose that increased
+ pressure particularly such pressure as is common
8 in steam boilers) will change the maximum poin
to higher temperature.
Of he Fran titIyta in tboi
report, page 48, say" Pressure, tending to coun
= teract the effect of the repusion between beatet
metal and water, would probably raise the TEN
perature of most rapid vaporization."
AS to explosive steam,' our understanding is
, in other words, the vapor of water (steam) ST
: highly heated that it is uncomfortable like gun
powder Webster's definition of the word L" ex
, pIosive " is, driving or bursting out with VIC
lence and noise, causing explosions as the explo
sve force of gunpowder."
Lumber Dryer does US great injustice whel
i, he says s the public mind and that of even prac
teal and theoretical engineers, is unnecessaril,
, befogged in ali the discussions that have takel
q place with respect to the subject"
Lumber Dryer" may rest assured that nothing
is further from our purpose than to attempt bcfog
ging the public mind, or that of individuals, teve
o
feeble pen being to check, if in our power, th0s
"cataclysms Of explosions " which render desc
late more hearths than disease, and consume mort
y property than all other destructive elements com
, bined"
"Lumber Dryer " is evidently befogged him
self when he further says 81 venture to sa.
. that If I had command of Safety and the in
"A spectur referred to- and a few other good engi
. neer5 (thanls tor our part Of the compliment.)
i could name, could suggest such an arrangement
of their own ideas as would lead to the production
. of boiier that would be safe absolutely, end a
. economical nearly as have said But engineers
# in their zeal to become commanders on boar
= ships wide late act of Congress- would scorn til
). idea in all probability" y >
We have not yet seen this " act of Congress-
o and it is new to US that " engineers" were amb
r. tious Of becoming commanders on ships.
o D" Lumber Dryer" doubtless, means steamboats,
). also, We can only say that the imputation doe
. not apply to ourself, notwithstanding We hay
been part owner Of at least one steamboat. True
we once had command of steam ferry boat
!. few weeks, in consequence of the captains fgh
~ from an epidemic Having, in the days of GU
n youth, chosen our avocaton, the pursuing 0
. which is our pleasure and delight we are conten
, to follow it when health permits, believing tina
Honor and fame from condition rise;
- AIT well your part there all the honor lies
C We had thought of adding few remarks re
e specting the advantages of working steam at
higher pressure-known, we suppose, to mos
enginoeTs--without increased danger of expo
sion, than the law allows, and safety-valyes; also
y respecting Incorporate engineers and " fancy
g captains or owners of steamboats,, together wit
C few incidents in our experience with the stear
!, engine and boiler, that you'd give additional gh
if on explosions; but time and fear of intrudin
" on your columns forbid for the present.
II