The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-07
The Catastrophe.

noon. with its appalling loss of life, full par
ticulars of which we publish to-day, forces
public attention once more to the important
question of how the use Of steam may De
rendered more safe There are hundreds OF
boilers in use in this city, generally in con-
neotion with establishments where large
number of persons are employed as operatives,
and where an explosion would be followed Dy
results as shockingly destructive to human
lifa nc in the instance now before us. Still
mora there are boilers in use along our most
crowded thoroughfares, which are as liable
IN explode as the one that blew up yesterday.
It is but short time since this subject was
before the authorities, and some measures
were then taken looking towards securing
more thorough and careful supervision OF the
steam boilers in use in this city. Nothing
definite, however, we believe was done. The
present appalling calamity should quicken
public action upon this vitally important topic.
Every steam boiler used in this city should be
subject to official inspection and supervision.
The character and qualifications of engineers
and others employed in the care of boilers
should be a matter of special care.
In many instances, at present,
incompetent persons have charge of
these terrible engines of destruction, hazard
ing daily the lives of thousands. Many pro-
prietors are too penurious to pay sufficient
wages to secure the services of competent en-
eineers. All this should be a matter for
official supervision. By a system of rigid
inspection and careful superintendent, the
danger from explosions might be reduced to
is minimum, and far below what it is now.
But still terrible hazards remain. There are
explosions which occur which seem to defy all
explanation. There seem to be occult pro-
perties of steam, which occasionally manifest
themselves in the most extraordinary and in
comprehensive manner, developing forces of
the most terrific character. 1t is to the re-
proach of science that we really know so little
about an agent which we have so long and so
extensively used.
Precautions against boiler explosions are
generally directed towards the matter of care
in their use. This is well; but it is also pro-
per to inquire whether mechanical science has
done its best in giving us the safest form of
boilers for the generation of the steam. Ex-
plosions occur even when the greatest care is
used. Boilers may be fatally defective in con-
structiOn, and yet their dangerous character
never reveals itself until some terrible disaster
occurs. The minds of thinking men should
be directed towards the invention, if possible,
of some form of boiler which, in itself, should
be incapable of explosion, and which should
be comparatively independent of the negligence
and Ignorance of those having them in charge.
We cannot discard the use of steam in civil
lized life. We must continue to use it, and to
use it more extensively even at the hourly
hazard of these hfe-destroying disasters. He
would therefore be great public benstactor
who should give to us some form OF boiler
which, while giving all the practical advan-
tages of the use of steam, should at the same
time relieve us from the tremendous risks OF
explosion. We believe that distinguished
citizen of our city claims to have, at least in a
good measure succeeded in this matter. We
are not competent to judge in the case, but
such events as those of yesterday must GER
tainly turn the public attention with renewed
interest to the entire subject of steam boilers.
1t should also stir up our city authorities to
renewed diligence in exercising vigilant
supervision over the boilers now in use; and,
what is still more practical, the explosion Of
yesterday should be warning to all engineers
to exercise greater care in the line of their
special duties. No amount of official super
vision can compensate for or guard against the
faithlessness or recklessness of the men who
have the constant care of these machines.
Proprietors, too should learn the lesson OF
greater watchfulness. In this case, not the
operatives alone, but one of the proprietors
himself has met with an awful death.
There is a higher moral, which we an might
lay to heart, that in the midst of life we are
in the presence of death Amid the terrible
forces of nature which we evoke to do our bid
ding, we are every moment at their mercy
He who in health and strength leaves wife anG
children in the morning. may be borne bacl
to his home disfgured and lifeless mass err
the evening Our hearts should be touched
with oommiseration for the families in oul
midst that have been so suddenly plunged into
the deepest distress, and deeds of generou:
charity should do what they can to relieve the
wants Of the widow and the fatberless.
The Trustees of C;.ova 90,