The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-23

n . . ~ . . . = = . . %2
An investigation to determine the causes
of the boiler explosion at the Transit Com
pany's power-house. Geyer and Missouri
avenues. wifi be held at the office of Boiler
Inspector Joseph Branch in the City Hall
to-day at p. m. Mr.. Branch refuses to
express an opinion as to the cause of the
explosion until he and the three deputies
who are working on the case have finished
the investigation.
1t Is believed that the investigation will
show that incompetency or carelessness
on the part of an employe allowed the
water to run low in one of the boilers, and
that when the cold water was suddenly
pumped in the terrific steam force eX-
erted was more than the boiler could
stand.
The boilers were twelve years old. and
when last inspected were in good condi-
ton. Mr.. Branch says the age of the
boilers would not make them dangerous.
as many boilers now in use are thirty
years old. and that any boiler should re-
tain its usefulness for twenty years.
officials of the Transit Company and
engineers at the power-house say the boil
| ers were not carrying any unusual strain,
| being used by the Suburban Railway,
| whose plant was not In operation at the
| time of the explosion.
/
spectors they decide the amount of pres
sure the boiler IS capable of carrying. and
| set the safety valve. If more power is re-
CURED than can be produced at this pres
| sure the engineer can put the safety valve
| at a higher figure and carry more steam
| at the risk of an explosion.
| The boilers that exploded comprised
they produced being fed into on one large
main. When one boiler Of a battery bursts
the. others invariably follow.
3o-inch drums and I1s 3,,a-inch tubes. They
were adtudged capable of withstanding a
strain of 12o pounds per square inch.
| CARS SLIGHTLY AFFECTED.
The loss of power produced by this sta
ton affected the operation OF the Transi,
Company cars very slightly. At each sta
| tio1 certain reserve force is kept at al
times. The reserve at all stations was
called into action as soon as possible after
the accident, and. though nearly all lines
| schedules did not suffer to any great ex
| tent. Cars could not attain their usua
speed, and the interior lights were hardly
| visible.
| The principal call for extra current fel
| on the Central Station, at Park and Van
deventer avenues. although the two sta
lions in the North End, the northern sta
| ton at Broadway and Salisbury street
and the Cass avenue station at PRAIRIE
avenue and North Market street. pd
more machinery In operation to supply
the extra current required.
The substation at No. I'LL Locust. known
as the .'booster'' station. is not yet il
4 working condition 1t Is in emergencies
of this kind that the booster station il
| expected to be of most value. Its ortiinar,
purpose will be to help out whatever lint
is ir. need of current.
/ CLEARING THE DEBRIS.
A large force CT men was put to 'Sorl
clearing away the wreckage yesterda!
morning 1t was not known at that tiln'
how many bodies might be buried In tn
ruins.
Shortly after daylight. the body Of :
negro fireman, Joseph Dixon, of No. go
!. Papin street, was found. The body ha,
beer. blown more than fifty feet ant
death had probably resulted from tn
conclusion of the explosion. The bod.
was taken to the morgue.
| Those in charge of the work believ
that all the bodies have been taken from
A. B. Dupont. second vice president o
| the Transit Company, said that he ha,
been unable to decide as to the cause o
the explosion. He said he was certail
that the boilers were in good condition
| and that they were not carrying NOR
| than their ordinary pressure.
The theory that some explosive hal
been placed In the coal was advanced
but was declared to be absurd.