Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-01-11

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
In reading the report of the investiga-
ton of the recent boiler explosion, and
which clearly conveys the idea that 1t was
a steam boiler that exploded and not hot
water heater, as has been subsequently
developed, 1 was astounded at the state
ment that Mr.. Zellers, who put in the
boiler, testified or remarked that safe
ty valves are not generally used on
furnaces tboifers) of low pressure" Hav-
ing had considerable experience in the
use Of such boilers, and with at least
two of the principal manufacturers Of
/ boilers for heating dwellings, I want
to say that these two concerns, and pre-
|. sumo all others, provide their boilers with
both safety valves and steam gauge, and
that never saw or before heard of a boiler
being set without safety valve. l have
had four boilers for steam heating put in
| buildings, and each Of them was provided
with a safety valve. OF course, the party
who puts in the boiler may neglect omit
to put on the safety valve in order to save
few dollars in the cost of the job, but
such a practice should not be permitted.
1 would as quick think of filling boiler
with nitroglycerine as to think of running
1t without safety valve, the great danger
Of which is abundantly shown by this very
case: for while the jury places the respon-
sibtiity on the dead man, who, 1t is claim
ed, did not open the valve to permit the
steam to pass from the boiler (of which 1
have seen no proof, Mr.. Zellers and the
jury agree that if safety valves had been
put on the explosion would not have &C.
CURED. .,gt.
Mr.. Zellers is also reported as testfying
that when the apparatus was put in the
owner left the whole matter to him, and
that he did not put on any safety valve,
and under the circumstances it seems to
me that he was equally responsible with
the dead man who attended the boilers.
Two of my boilers have been in use twenty
years. and are still, and another fifteen
years. and not fnfrequently their safety
valves have proven of great benefit, and
no doubt prevented just such a catastrophe
by permitting the escape of steam and no
tifying the family, when the attendant was
absent and had left the draft open, thereby
creating an excess of steam.
And here 1t may be proper to say that the
public generally labor under a misappre-
henson in supposng that 1t is necessary to
carry large pressure-ten pounds or more
to heat their houses. AS in the low pres
sure system, the pipes which convey the
steam to the radiators where 1t is con-
densed by parting with its heat, and the
pipes which return the condensed water to
the boiler are all connected with the boiler,
it is obvious that the pressure must be the
same in both sets of pipes. The only thing
that causes the steam to flow to the radi-
ators and the condensed water to flow back
to the boiler is the difference in gravity of
the steam and the water, and as water eX-
pands in volume 1920 times when converted
into steam it follows, of course, that the
water is 1920 times as heavy the same
volume of steam, and both being under the
same pressure from the boiler, the lighter
steam will readily ascend and the water de-
scend. Consequently all that Is required Is
that enough steam shall be formed to keep
the radiators supplied in whole or in part.
In my own house the pressure Is never al
lowed to exceed one pound except in eX-
two, urno how. nd hnp n
or three pounds. 1t is therefore clear that
there is no need Of the excessive pressure
ordinarily carried, and that it is waste OF
fuel.
This applies to ordinary dwellings. In
large buildings where the steam has to
travel long distances and to be conveyed
to distant rooms, and especially where
there are many elbows or turns In the
pipes, more pressure is required, as each
elbow retards the flow of both the steam
and the water. As proof of this fact L
may add that in Massachusetts some years
ago a boiler having pressure of seventy
five pounds had attached to it an open
ended pipe having twenty right-angled ell
bows to ascertain what effect they had on
the flow of the steam. The elbows with
short pieces of pipe were added one after
another and a gauge applied SUCCESSFULLY
to each, and it was found that when the
twentieth had been added the steam barely
oozed from the open end In one of my
own buildings We found that after few
hours there was no circulation, and on the
removal of two elbows from the return
pipe the circulation was perfect, and has
so remained for the twenty years it has
been in use.
On the other hand, it is a fact that even
when the water in the boiler does not boil
sufficient yapor will rise from it to fill a
nearby radiator and keep it warm. That,
of course, is when the water is near the
boiling point just we see vapor rise
from Kettle on stove some time before
the water begins to boil This yapor is
n11an loo Of
bottom or hottest portion of the kettle or
boiler, and being lighter than the water
rises through the water and passes off at
the surface.
The putting in Of a steam-heatine anna
ratus is an important matter, recurring
much skill and experience; and it would
seem that for the public safety it should
not be intrusted to any without an
examination by suitable board to show
that he Is properly qualified, the same as
those who run steam boilers and engines
are. One thing is clear, and that is that
the Commissioners should at once adopt
a regulation requiring all steam boilers to
be provided with safety valves, and that
whoever sets one without should thereafter
pc prohibited from carrying on the business
1t would also be good thing to have all
steam boilers examined by the inspector
or other competent person before fires are
started in the fan, and see that they are
in proper condition, and especially that the
safety valve is in working order That
is very simple matter, which every owner
himself should do or have done and not
leave 1t to an ignorant unqualified house
servant I always do it myself
L notice also that it stated that the
iron safety valves became rrsted and
stuck fast, and were a cause of danger
No valve for house boilers having a seat of
iron should be made of iron. In all that i
have, and all that have seen. one or the
other Of these parts is made Of bronze or
brass, which will not rust like iron; and In
the last that ] put in it is all of brass
The only precaution required is to see that
thH valve and Its seat are clean and free
from rust or any foreign matter. that the
valve is perfectly free to move and the
weight properly adjusted on its lever.
w. c. DODGE
Sensitive Children.
From Womans Home Companion.