632 



DESTRUCTIVE EXPLOSION. 



On Wednesday, April 21, at 1.30 

 p.m., a terrific explosion occurred at 

 the greenhouses of F. C. Miller & Sons. 

 Bracoudale, Ont., wrecking practically 

 the entire tour acres of glass houses, 

 the boiler house and smoke stack, 

 ruining the stock and entailing a loss 

 estimated at $50,000 to $60,000 on 

 which there is, of cour.se, no insurance. 



Only one boiler exploded but it did 

 the work of a dozen. The boiler that 

 exploded was fi ft. 6 in. in diameter and 

 16 ft. long. Each section of a plate 

 was torn (although half inch in thick- 

 ness) like a sheet of paper; one sec- 

 tion weighing probably 1% tons was 

 hurled about 400 yards in(o an adjoin- 

 ing field, another section, same size 

 and weight about half that distance, 

 and the remaining section is missing. 

 The tubes from this boiler were scat- 

 tered over an area about 600 yards in 

 diameter. One small pump boiler 

 weighing over three tons was hurled 

 by the force of the explosion fully 100 

 yards from where it was set, not a 

 pipe connection intact. A chimney SO 

 feet high, 4 feet in diameter, was razed. 

 The debris, bricks, mortar and frag- 

 ments of boiler fittings were hurled in 

 all directions, showered over houses, 

 breaking bars and glass and completely 

 demolishing the houses. The debris 

 dropped on plants, cutting and break- 

 ing stuff on benches. Two new King 

 houses 28 ft. wide, 300 ft long, only 

 completed last fall and furthest from 

 the explosion had two 4 in. boiler tubes 

 dropped on lidge, smashing all the 

 supports, bars, glass, etc., for a space 

 25 ft. in length and about half the 

 glass of these new houses was broken 

 by flying missiles. The complete de- 

 struction of everything was pitiable, 

 but considering the seriousness and 

 completeness of the wreck, it is a 

 cause for thankfulness that although 

 all the employees were at work just 

 after dinner not one was injured be- 

 yond a few cuts from the flying glass. 

 It is marvellous that nothing in the 

 way of a more serious nature to human 

 life occurred. Several of the local 

 florists as soon as they learned of the 

 wreck proceeded as quickly as possible 

 with men and tools to try to render 

 assistance, but there was too much of 

 it to do anything, except protect what 

 stock could be removed to neighbor- 

 ing greenhouses, which was done as ex- 

 peditiously as possible. The two new 

 houses are being reglazed and these 

 will be filled with stock. 



One small boiler is being installed 

 for pumping water and another tem- 

 porary for heat. Frosty nights have 

 prevailed since and additional damage 

 is feared until some heating is in- 

 stalled. 



Further comment upon the disaster, 

 its cause and its lesson, wtll be found 

 in another column. 



HOKTl CULTURE 



May 1, 1S09 



REFLECTIONS ON THE TORONTO 



CATASTROPHE. 

 Editor HORTICULTURE: 



1 have received clipping from To- 

 ronto papers describing the explosion 

 of boiler and consequent wreckage of 

 the Miller Greenhouses at Bracondale. 



I just here wish to call the atten- 

 tion of your readers to the lesson 

 taught by this catastrophe. In all ef- 

 fects of this nature those who are or 

 may be interested, at first blush ask 

 "What was the cause?" The effect all 

 can see; deplorable as it was in loss 



of properly, still the absence of loss 

 of life to those who were in jeopardy 

 cannot but be looked upon as exceed- 

 ingly fortunate, to say the least. 



It appears to be the old, old story 

 of a boiler installed in an improper 

 manner, operated unskilfully or of such 

 condition generally as made it a men- 

 ace to life and property. .lust what the 

 boiler was there is nothing to show, 

 but judging from experience, should be 

 inclined to guess it was either a second- 

 hand article or worn out in service for 

 which it was originally intended. Too 

 valuable for the junk heap (as is gen- 

 erally the case) it may have been pur- 

 chased with the understanding that it 

 would be just the article for the green- 

 house man to op'erate at not to exceed 

 one-fifth of the pressure designed for. 

 and at a price very greatly reduced 

 from what one of the same size, etc., 

 would cost newly constructed and in- 

 stalled. 



This is an old story to me. In an 

 experience of some years past I have 

 run across scores of boilers which were 

 a menace every moment. Bought with 

 an idea that they were cheap, they 

 were fit only for a scrap heap, but 

 the purchaser w-as advised that they 

 were all right, having been in use, 

 the seller don't trouble to say how 

 long or how hard, but will magnifi- 

 cently do greenhouse duty for many 

 years, "having been operated upon a 

 pressure of 90 to 150 pounds, not a 

 leak, not a bit of trouble for years, it 

 will just fill your necessities at the 

 duty you ask for (25 to 35 pounds) for 

 an indefinite period, — and just think, 

 you can get it into your place all ready 

 for operation at one-fifth or less of 

 what a new one would cost you; — we 

 have got to put one In its place of larger 

 capacity, which is our only reason for 

 taking it out, etc.," ad libitum, ad 

 nauseam. Many times I have heard 

 this story from the innocent pur- 

 chasers; many times I have been told 

 by purveyors of this stuff, "Why, it is 

 good enough to heat up a little green- 

 house shack; what are you 'butting 

 in' for; — you know the boiler inspec- 

 tor won't let us run it any longer, and 

 a penny saved is two earned; are you 

 trying to rob us?" — generally supple- 

 menting the whole by a proposition of 

 "There will be 5 per cent, in it if you 

 will place it." 



I do not say, tor I do not know that 

 this 115 H. P. exploded boiler was of 

 this class, but "I have notions" on that 

 line, simply from the fact that I have 

 run against scores of greenhouses fitted 

 for steam heating with this junk heap 

 stuff. Why more do not go up as 

 forcibly as this one in Toronto did is 

 almost inexplicable; possibly, as in 

 some I have seen, they give out gradu- 

 ally rather than suddenly and there- 

 by the calamity is averted. Why, but 

 yesterday a large grower equipped with 

 steam heating said. "There is a heap 

 of truth in what you say, for only last 

 summer I took out one of my boilers, 

 and I tell you I could punch a hole in 

 it with a tack hammer anywhere 

 on the line of the brick setting." 

 When asked what he took it out for, 

 the answer was "Well, she leaked some 

 for a couple of seasons and bran 

 wouldn't tighten her, so 1 pulled her 

 out; didn't cost me much anyway." 

 At the suggestion "If it had blown up 

 and killed some one, do you apprehend 

 you were responsible;" a shoulder 

 shrug was the answer; at another. 



"Suppose it had gone up and blown 

 your house into smithereens," the 

 reply, "That would have been tough 

 luck;" apparently filled his conceptions 

 of loss or gain. All disasters have an 

 element of instruction to the thought- 

 ful, and this one it might be well to 

 heed. Many "don'ts" may well be 

 considered. 



To any who desire to use steam, 

 either high or low: 



Don't run any risks by installing 

 second-hand boilers, particularly un- 

 less they have been carefully inspected 

 by qualified experts and determined to 

 be unquestionably safe for the duty 

 called for. 



Don't, if the inspector reports a cer- 

 tain limit not to be exceeded in the 

 operation of a steam boiler, assume 

 that he was "fussy and theoretical" 

 and take any chances by exceeding 

 that limit. 



Don't neglect, even though it may 

 cost something, to have your boilers 

 inspected yearly or oftener. 



Don't place the operating of a steam 

 plant in the hands of any one not fully 

 qualified to give you positive certainty 

 from injury to the boilers or their 

 surroundings. 



Don't deceive yourself that because 

 an employee is strong and able to keep 

 up heat by shovelling fuel that he is 

 competent to give j^ou best results in 

 economy of operation. 



Don't be deluded by the idea that 

 because you see water in the water 

 column that the boiler has the same 

 level; the water column may be 

 plugged by mud and dangerously un- 

 reliable. All columns are, or should 

 be, fitted with pet cocks and should be 

 tried at least twice a da:y. 



Don't assure yourself that because a 

 boiler is fitted with a safety valve it 

 of necessity renders your boiler safe 

 with no attention. It may get stuck 

 fast and be unable to operate. Raise 

 the valve once a day to be sure it is 

 all right. 



Don't neglect to have blow-off cocks 

 tested each day, and be sure your 

 boiler pump or steam trap is in proper 

 condition. The blow-off may be leak- 

 ing, draining the water from the 

 boiler or your pump or trap not de- 

 livering water. 



Don't use steam boilers for heating 

 purposes if you can possible place a 

 hot-water system. A properly in- 

 stalled force-circulation hot-water sys- 

 tem is the most flexible, reliable and 

 economical in existence and entirely 

 free from destructive collapse. 



The old hackneyed remark "What 

 caused the explosion will never be 

 known" is in this as in many similar 

 cases used. Prom the reports of the 

 disaster there can be no doubt to my 

 mind; viz, too much fire; little, if any, 

 water at fiist in the boiler; or a sud- 

 den infiux of the same on heated 

 crown sheet. Report says 'Fireman 

 had only been in charge two days." 

 ilust have therefore been unfamiliar 

 with the boiler and its fittings. "Fire 

 was started up but one-half hour be- 

 fore the explosion." Probably a quick 

 kindling one, heating the plates to an 

 extent that an ordinary supply of 

 water would flash into steam instan- 

 taneously and produce a pressure equal 

 to a heavy charge of dynamite. 



If the "Don'ts" enumerated had been 

 in mind and followed out, the disaster 

 would have been averted. 



"WILLIAM W. CASTLE. 



