The Washington herald., 1921-08-23
The Herald
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TUESDAY. AUGUST ., 1871.
MILLIONS LOST BY
LACK OF BOILER CODE.

MILLIONS LOST BY
LACK OF BOILER CODE.
Failure TO regulate the steam
boiler has cost the nation thou
sands Of lives and millions in money.
says a statement issued by the
American Society OF Mechanical
Engineers. which, through its boiler
code committee. is seeking TO bring
about uniform standards in this
country.
The statement, made by r. r.
Low, chairman OF the society's
power test codes committee. reveals =
that twenty States are joining a
nationwide movement to lessen in
dustrial accidents by doing away
with the dangers that lie hidden
in the steam boiler. called by en-
gineers more dangerous than dyna-
mite.
The States include New York,
New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Ohio.
Washington, Tennessee, Illinois,
Missouri, Wisconsin, Arkansas. CAL
ifornia, Indiana, Massachusetts,,
Michigan. Minnesota. Oklahoma.
NAN6Oh' RuOuS AeldhuB -Nt" 1OEhs
and Ohio.
There are still those who resent
any supervision by the government
OF the design, construction and
operation of steam boilers as un-
warranted interference with private
initiative and enterprise and prop
erty rights said the society's
statement. Their Interpretation
Of less government in business
would be the unrestricted right TO
build boilers out Of any material
and in any way that they please.
and to put them In charge OF the
husky who would shovel coal under
them for the least money. This at
titude has given this country an
unenvisble place in the statistics OF
industrial accidents.
When once the desirabilitv of
regulation is admitted, however.
there is no difference OF opinion as
TO the fact that 81 would be uni
form in its requirements and en-
forcement
a Federal law with inspection
Of oi, boilers under one department
as are those used in interstate and
foreign commerce, Is not possible.
3
istratiCn WAS not yrs Of the fdn"-
tions delegated 10 the central gov
ernment by the Constitution The
best that We can do at present rs
To strive for uniformity in the
standard TO which boilers must
conform. as adopted by the several
States. and for a universally con-
cordant understanding Of that stan
- 80
compel boiler users to comply
with it
In the boiler code Of the inner
can Society OF MechanIcp. Engi-
reers the country has Z standsri
worthy Of general acceptance:
formulated At a cost Of hiCh-price'l
time and expert labor which would
have staggered enterprise or lesir-
lativo :,prropriatiOn.. embodyInE
the best experience cf the boiler
makers art and the applied science
Of the technician. with tolerant
consideration Of the practical ron
dItions surrounding the production
Of the material. its fabrication. an
the eNigsnCies of powe--p'ant serv-
ice. if all boilers were mad. in AZ
CordanCe with this code ana
watched and operated according -
well known principles. boiler eN-
plosions would be OF rare occur
renee
in an effort 10 secure the an
versaI adoption "f this code IN this
country. the Uniform Boiler Society
ha. been organized and has done
great deal OF work.
After the boiler code is adopted
by the States. II is proposed TO form
a National Board Of Boiler Rules
which. although having no real
power. would Corrclate the action
"f ihe different State boards. The
National Board Of Boiler and Press
ure Vessel Inspectors. formed last
February. - now working on saN-
eral problems that concern all the
States.
ono or these is n system Or In
spectOrs in the various boiler plants
that would eliminate tho cost hV
insn%ctors from each individual
State
Another problem which tho ma
tinnal board is sHekin TO solve -
that of stamping boilers with man
ufaCturer's namC or initials. his Sc
rial shop number and the s within
a four-leaf clover. siCnityinG that u
has heen built in accordance witt
the American Society Of Mechanical
Engineers code. Data sheets Of tho
boiler would he sent to tho seCr"-
tary Of the national board and en-
tered in a permanent file which he
comes record oC vital statistics
for steam h"iloTs.'