The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-09
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
Iron ADDIrIoNAL local 1rEMs SEE EIETM PAon.

Iron ADDITIONAL LOCAL ITEMS SEE FIFTH PAeR,l
@
STEAM BOILERS AND LRaIsLATIoN-In Select
Council chamber was last evening held meeting
of the Council COMMITTEES 10 prepare legislation for
the prevention OF boiler explosions. Mr.. Robert
M Evans of Common Council, presided There
were present some fifty persons, including the
est practical machinlsts ana manufacturing en-
VIM. Sellers and Mr.. Blanchard, Examiner for
the United States Patent-ofice, Dr. o. M. Oresson,
Henry Howson and Mr. Birkinbine were examined
From j. f. wootten Engineer of Machinery of
the Philadelphia and Reading road' was read
The act Of May :, 1864, authorizing the appoint
ment of Inspector Of Boilers is sufficient for the
purpose desired If the provisions of the third sec
ton were fully taken advantage Of by establishing
proper regulations, and by setting forth explicitly
rules for the government of the Inspector while
examining. For whilst under the act equally
competent engineers may differ after examining
the same boilers, and whilst there may be cases in
which no specific rule can be gwen for action,
there WILL in most instances, be a decided advan-
tage in establishing such general regulations az
That boilers or boiler ues of a certain da meter
and length shall have given thickness OF iron in
the sheets of which they are composed; that safety
valves shall bear a certain proportionate relation
in and number 10 the boilers; that all gauge
cocks, or other water gauges, shall bs in a certain
prescribed condition; that a prescribed test be
made of steam pressure gauges that when two or
more boilers are connected in one gang, certain
conditions shall be observed, tending toward the
maintenance Of strict water level throughout the
gang.
boiler and its attendant fixtures to be referred to
committee appointed by the Franklin Institute.
The communication advocated inspection o
boilers oftener than once year.
Mr.. Birkinbine reported that in Philadelphia
there are receiving water from the department;
Horse power 10000
Boilers, 995
There are not receiving water from the depart
ment
In Manayunk, boilers, so
b'tsI In RTGnEtord Tnzto q; ot,v no,,sr. ,aS aS
Total, boilers, Ills
MT H. b. Lyons recommended the appointment
of chief engineer and four assistants for the in
specon of boilers for the city, to keep record of
boilers in use, makers, use, age power of pressure
average pressure, and other data 10 make eXami-
nations semi-annually, testing the boilers by n.y.
drauic pressure, and note at each examination the
thickness of the iron ana the corrosion by rust to
examine engineers and report their fitness, and
make it criminal for firm TO employ an engineer
after being cautioned.
Another recommendation was for the appoint
ment of three inspectors by the Mayor. The tenure
of office of the inspectors TO be during good be-
havior, or for two years.
From a number Of engineers of the city was
ceived document expressing gratthcaton that
system was about 10 be inauguraed by which
competent engineers would be employed. The
appointment of board of examiners is urged,
whose diploma shall be the prerequisite of en-
Mr.. Sellers suggested that Chief Inspector and
two assistants examine every boiler at least once
year, and test each by water pressure fifty per
cent above that usually applied, and that no boiler
should be set for use without the inspection and
permission OF the examiners. In case q boiler is
declared dangerous 1t should be criminal to con-
tinue its use. Each boiler should be placed sepa
! rately, and provided with safety valve, two
gauges and float, and have q fixed water appa-
ratus. When boilers are set over each other the
valves pipe and all other apparatus should be ap
Mr.. Evans said that from New York he had re-
ceived statement of the operations under the
New York law In that city there have been
boilers examined, 4,2O7 defects corrected, 715 boil
tested ENTHUSIASTICALLY, 30s6; boilers repaired
12l gauges repaired, 254; safety valves repaired
1876; boilers removed, 0.
Mr.. Evans submitted ordinance, as basis
for the action of the committee, providing that
Councils shall organize a department for inspect
ing stationary steam engines and boilers The
head of the department to be chiet inspector Oh
Mayor; the Inspector having been employed in
the building ana management OF steam engines LOT
ten years. The Chiet Inspector TO appoint, with
the Mayors approval, four first and four second
assistants, of and five years experience res
The Chief Inspector to keep a record of each
boiler and engine inspected, their location and use
and all particulars relating TO them; 10 see that
each engine and boiler is inspected at least once
year by first assistant the boilers being examined
Internally and externally, and subjected to n.y.
! drostatic pressure of at least twenty per cent.
above the highest working pressure that the boiler
will be allowed to use to that the boiler has at
least good and sufficient safety valve and three
inch gauge cocks, and that each boiler or pair OF
boilers shall have good pressure gauge; to cause
a written report OF the inspected boilers 60 be de-
| livered to the owners. When repairs are needed,
! the f1rst assistant to direct them.
The owner of every steam boiler in the city, ex-
| cept fire engines, steamboat and railroad locomo-
tive boilers shall report its location TO the Chiei
Inspector, and the boilers shall then be inspected
certificate of the good condition OF boiler shall
be issued by the Onief Inspector, stating the maxi
mum pressure of steam II shall carry. No one
| shall be employed to take charge of an engine or
| boiler unless holding certificate issued by the
Chief Inspector. The salary of the Chiet lnspec-
tor to be S30U0i First Assistant $500; Second AS
sistant $9OO The Chief TO report quarterly to the
Mayor the number of boilers examined, and their
condition. Penalties are provided for neglect OF
the ordinance
The Committee held the ordinance under consId-
Grafton
DIR. Cresson submitted as the most frequent
causes of explosion: Improper form of consLruc-
tion and staying defective or thin materials; wear
from use, including coating with scale, low water
hot fuel too near the SHE'LL expulsion OF water be-
tween fines; galvanic waste from the introduction
of metals in the water; cleaning; use of corrosive
materials TO prevent the formation of scale; low
water and injection OF feed water upon highly
heated plates; low water and sudden starting o
engine; sudden removal of scale by starting engine
and valve, presenting fresh hot service TO the wa
| feed water. All these, the doctor thought, could
| be remedied by educated engineers.
The committee at late hour adjourned.
A BOLD THIRF-A bold robbery was per
| petrated last evening, between the hours of
| and o'clock at the store of MIR. John Miller
| Eighth and Chesnut streets. few minutes
| after Mr. Miller had temporarily left the store,
negro came in and handed a note to the young
lady lett in charge, worded as follows:-
"Send me what money you have in the
drawer to change twenty-dollar note for thi
young man. JOHN MILLER
The young lady, not suspecting that anything
was wrong proceeded to the drawer, and taking
ten dollars therefrom, held the same in one o
her hands, while with the other she was search
ing for more. At this moment the fellow sud
denly seized the notes, and, quick as a flash
- ,l,o Inn and hoEo tE