Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-19
EXTENSIVE BOILER TESTS.
The Experiments To be Made at sand
Houk and pEstsburG.


The Experiments to be Made at sandy
HouI and pEstsburg.
The New York Tribune contains the
following relative to this most impor-
tant work
The preparations for the extensive
series Of experiments IN the explosion
of steamboats, at Sandy Hook and at
Pitts burg have been proceeding with
great vigor during the past few weeks.
During the past month Supervising In
spector Low has made frequent visits
to the scenes of the coming tests, and
on several occasions has been accom-
panied by eminent engineers, manu-
facturers, and scientists. In response
to the request issued by the commits
sloners appointed by the United States,
numerous suggestions have been made
at various times, which have materially
aided the commissioners in their eff
forts, and will unquestionably lead to
the achievement II a greater success.
It is the purpose of the commission
to institute experiments to test the
truth or fallacy Of the various theories
as to the cause of steam boiler explo-
sions-theories which are briefly emu
merated as follows:
First-Explosions caused by the
gradual increase of steam pressure.
Second-Those caused by low water
and over heating of the plates Of the
boiler
Third-Those caused by deposit OF
sediment, or incrustation Oh the inner
surface exposed to the fire.
FoUrth-Those caused by the gener-
alton of explosive gasses within the
boiler.
Fifth--Those caused by electrical
action.
Sixth-Those caused by the percus-
sive ;ction of the water in case OF
rupture Of boiler in the steam chamber
CLARK & Colburn theory.
Seventh-Those caused by the water
being deprived Of it's air.
igLth-Those caused by the sphe-
roidal condition Of the water.
Ninth-Those caused by the repnl-
sion of the water from the fre-surfaces
OF plates.
The commission appointed by the
government to carry forward the work,
consists of the following named gentle
men: Supervising Inspector Addison
Low, of New York; G. W. Copeland,
of New York ; j. Ell. Robinson, of Bos-
ton; Supervising Inspector John Men
shaw, OF Baltimore; J. Y. Holmes, OF
Ohio; Benjamin Crawford and Super
vising Inspector John S. Devinney, OF
Pittsburg. AS has been announced,
100000 has been appropriated by the
I'M nd tot ~ L. L,
pended on the experiments at Sandy
Hook and Pittsburg. The tests were
expected Originally to occur in Sep
TENDER, or at the latest in October.
The preparations, however, have been
SO much more extensive, and the time
consumed SO much longer than was at
fist deemed Decessary, that the delay
of two months has been unavoidable
It has now been determined, however.
that the experiment shall begin at
once, and Wednesday next has
been fixed as the opening
day. A force of twenty men has
been constantly employed at Sandy
Hook during the past few days, and
ten boilers have been placed in posi-.
ton. These boilers, upon which the
first experiments are to be made, are
constructed of the best material, are in
a perfectly sound condition, and are to
be placed in the position naturally oc
cupied by them on the vessel. Self
regulating gauges of high-pressure are
to be buried in the earth near the boil
ers, and all necessary instruments, in
Guiding pyrometers, thermometers,
ETC., will be in readiness before the
opening day. At a distance of $50 feet
from the boilers is huge bomb-proof,
the place OF safety, and at present the
storehouse of large portion of the in
struments employed. The experiments
at Sandy Hook will consume several
days. The Plttsburg tests are to be-
gin on Wednesday, November II, and
the committee Will proceed from Sardy
Hook direct to Pittsburg. A large
number of experim ehts with safety
valves will also bemade at Sandy Hook
at the conclusion Of the Pittsburg tests.