Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-26
"Justice," Tom. C. Wilson and the In
spectors.
Correspondence Of the Register.

WHEELING, September %, 1879.
Having in a recent issue OF the REGIS
TER read Justice and Tom G. Wilson
on steam boiler explosion, | am ready to
admit that both are as void OF lniOrma-
ton on the subject as an oyster IS OF
brains. The former while ClamOring
for more evidence in the case OF the
Iron Valley explosion, assigned no other
reason for the same other than that con-
tanned i'm the local Inspectors report.
While Mr.. Wilson is SO indefinite as To
really leave one in doubt, whether there
might not be lurking in boilers some
mighty power capable OF hurting them
hithrr and thither. SAYS he can name
the power, but is able 10 keep 1t out;
by what process he does not inform us.
Saws engineers can be deceived about
water i'm the boilers, is not yet prepared
TO believe, i'm view of the fact that cngl-
nccrs think as much OF their own lives
as do other people, that CarelcssncsS or
ignorance is the cause, and further says,
# an engineer is attending 10 his duties,
seeing that his boilers are kept in good
order, clear of all defect, properly clean
ed and cared for, he fully believes there
will be little danger and very few, II any
explosions. Here, then, is an admission
that with all the attention that 1t Is pos
sible for engineers TO- beStOw upon boil
erS, explosions may occur. just now
Mr.. Wilson proposes To reconcile these
views with the report OF the Iron Valley
disaster, over his own signature, ! leave
him to determine. NOw;it | read cor
rectlv, the local inspectors in their re-
port, assume and base their action on
the same that an explosion mot bursungl
is priRia fucie evidence OF want OF water,
notwithstanding Mr.. Davis, the engl-
neer, states that the gauge cocks showed
water. This is really what seems To
stagger Justice, MISUNDERSTANDING
have been plenty of water in the boilers
because the engineer said 50. Can JUS
tice point to one single instance OF boiler
explosions, either on land or water,
where the engineer in charge, should
he be so lucky as 10 escape with his lie,
was not anxious and ready to testify 10
the superabundancc OF water at the
time. | reckon not. Engineers, like
other people, are not 50 foolish as to
commit themselves, unless done while
making dying confession, as has been
the case.
When explosions, not bursting, occur,
| understand il to be the duty OF
the local inspectors 10 ascertain and re-
port their true cause, Independent OF
the statement of the engineer or
the evidence he is usually able to bring
to his support. Otherwise, | imagine,
boiler explosions might be OF common
occurrence and nobody responsible or
punished, leaving life and property at
the.mercy of inattcntion and reckless
ness. In support of his theory, II in
deed he has any, Justice with an
air of seeming triumph, points the in
spectors to instances where boilers have
exploded with sutiiCiency OF water
In two of the boilersit was never doubt
ed.and Think it would be quite as diff
cult to prove they were not, rs that
they were really explosions. As to the
Centre Foundry boiler, now
had the question, which
end should the engineer be at, been
propounded To me instead of the in
spectors, i would anSwer,a boiler capable
OF emitting up such antics would not re-
uuire an engineer at all. Again, Jus
tice" saws when water is dropped on a
hot plate of iron il assumes a spheroid-
al condition, dancing about in
drops and evaporates slowly. This eX-
pertinent furnished amusement for me
when a mere boy, and consider It a
harmless practice to this day for chill.
dren to indulge in. Now, II Justice
really means business, for one am
willing ne shall receive the full benefit
of its practical application. Let him, IN
stead of referring to theories, heat a
boiler red hot, and, after placing him
self in position to watch the operation Of
the safety valve. commence pumping in
cold water. Should he not 20 off with
the boiler. I will ask him to communi-
cate the result to me, where | may be
found at least one mile distant. Final
", If Justice can demonstrate that
explosions, not burstings, can and do
occur with a supply Of water, then in
deed we are at the end OF the string;
and the question will be, not how they
are to be averted, but why are they so
rare. JUSTICE NO -