New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-09
AN ExcEss RATHER THAN A DEFICIENCY OF

AN ENtE-S RATHER THAN DEFICIENCY or
WATER ~ BOILER, CAUSES EXPLOSIONS -
RECOMMENDATIONS OF Az EXPERT.
70 ne Editor OF me Tribune.
SIR. II Justice TO the men whose reputation
and liberty are placed in jeopardy by the explosion Of
the We DE- boiler must tho law now stands, Ell
arly exoue te them al responsibility. The boiler
inspector tested tn boiler under higher hydraulic pres
tuau that foI which he gave his certificate; the
engineer properly GCHc-driyer) was directed TO see
that he had plenty o. waite. in the boiler. That he had
altogether toC much was In his Judgment additional Sc
eunty The Ovuer- q the boat complied with the law,
which tie certificate proves and have done nothing
OF les than a other owners OF steamers ana iery
TIE laic A W. Williams the celebrated engineer Of
LyerIoor makes tie following statements 1-t I!sh
deNpoon greatly increased by me increase OF water
In the lo every cubic foot Of which beyond what II
absolutely necessary FOR tie generation OF steam being
liberation o the steam which 1t contains into the re
dGoed space t. 10 king, tucn 10 the lact % the
existence 81 the 10 lies Of the water uncer tne
influence u the greater density OF that medium ana us
Sudden liberation the inference Is that The danger j. IN
when mo, is a dcdcieucv Many proofs Of this might
here be gwen. EXplo ons IaIty taAe pace IA marine
30 much smaller tan hat appropriated To Inc S'ea as
adopted in land boilers .
biler Of Wcstf,ld ~ OF the class called re-
turB-nue boilers an ilidcsiSncd Dadly-cOnstructed
vretchcd- looking III Ir judged the boiler TO weigh
sonethlEg Ike A. tus tudinS the wafer covering te
fourth cock calculated the boiler 70 contain y tls oil
water may nave been several inches feet higher in
boiler and consequently might nave contained sew
era tuus Ia ,Als enormous storage o. compressed
.ean IA so large an amount OF water aud in the IeduC-
ton of the space proper, hes the whole danger. II
tbs compressed steam by sudden opening OF the safety
wave OF engine valves, j. lu-hIdheousy rtlcFed from
IL Imprisonment, 10 ascends into the steam space
fectu,ly selling no the valve orihces for the
Doisent, causing rupture Of the boiler IN It's
ved OF an explosion II the relief be not faster than
W. aerum-latei pressure In boilers constructed OF
" same capacity that Of the Westheld only seven
ans OF water used, the steamsPaoe having double
NE capacity OF the water-space. In Tue WestneldS
boiler, - was constructed and handled, the steam
wac va pIv1at not 10 OF the capacity Oi the water
:pset Amy opinion is perfectly unnecessary to go
Iuhei into Jut uyc-tgatiOu OF the W,stned disaster
hatera whether the boiler could have sustained o. n,
II ~ ~ pressure. 0lch MAE tilH ar Vl no ' ooi.'
, -'' been nearly tu OF wafer lWch Il al ,
a. az D-I Tie euguc-drlvcr abd the fireman testned
vro,1 ~, Iiu i'4I co'hs oi rouu "a.ol 'o %
e.nailj nave eNpOied, even II ~ hId DeeH aDIe
sustain G OF A. pounds pressure IN ordinary use, pro
ed ha the requirement IOrau explosion was fulfilled
vbsSs ny ,i'A oitALt OF u VANc ~ Va. iug ~ @ -
-NlHuL " compressed steam was stored up i'll
&c ely latgC amount OF water.
shfL lnc tuai the legislature should make West
49, catastrophe aud, indeed, all boiler EXPLOSIONS,
pt hI OIL land or sea impossible. With 10000 boilers
BToti ,' ~. fHd 10 Easements IN Ne"-1ork anu
gL, qua 1000 AarDJr boilers, we are, a. matters
~ slsud INNING fearful risk. Lei this be remedied
ana ., .aO.Lei "esthrll huIlH us, our IainlIl .
T., guo no eternity Without moments warning
49,, 49, tAe lo!JHug requirements be iniOrced: J. Every
'c e space float TO be Inserted IL each boiler to
.st iet "a'. 90 certain glt IN the boiler from
Of - N'H u.ac4 pressure 9. Three safely waves
easieL. capacity o. be applied 10 each boiler, one
az Slo,h' valve, ualJctcd aud stamped before use
Is 70 c tested Ia the boiler SHOP TO double the
sgI ~ pr -lIc ny Llllug the boiler with water and
fn!HS ht O. AL bOcr- 20 oe tested every siN months
LoS eal-, manner G All boilers in CITIES OF hdrDOrs
n ~ eolu- L.e'td. O. Dru pins or cdklug irons not
i4 10 boiler construction under penalty OF con
- ue boiler, when finished. T. Al stean-g gauges
- Gsculi! syplUI-, Inspected and stamped before
.fy,, T. cry DOLL plate ana all iron used III the con
I a.l % boiler 70 be Inspected ..an stamped by an
drS,.W DtIpfe the boiler J.. pat together 10 Engine
Pre- ~ l. examined and licensed by Board Oi TX
a., a. engineer. HENRY GEKNEK.
i'ft' 30 - HQyca-st, Aug g, 1871.