on Steam-Boats. 331 
iron, as it is difficult to make them of cast iron. Although no 
friend to high pressure engines in vessels, nor to cast-iron boilers, 
on account of the danger of explosion, yet 1 conceive the chief 
danger of that kind is likely to arise from working low pressure 
boilers at a higher pressure than they were intended for ; and I 
conceive that the principal improvement to be looked for-here- 
after in steam vessels, is, to simplify the machinery, and put it 
in less room, which the high pressure engine and cast-iron boiler 
afford us the means of effecting, and the other does not. I will 
state another thing as of consequence, viz. as to preventing a 
vessel taking fire; it is advisable that the furnace and flues, if 
not entirely above the deck, should at least be inclosed in a case 
of water or other non-inflanmable matter, until they arrive above 
the deck. This precaution I strongly recommend to be adopted, 
Mr. Artuur Wootr’s Evidence. 
What are you ?—I am a civil-engineer in the village of Pool, 
in the parish of Illogan, in the county of Cornwall. 
Are you conversant at all with steam packets ?>—No ; I never 
had any thing to do with steam packets; they are out of my 
line. 
You have been long acquainted with steam-engines ?—Yes. 
You invented the one that goes by your name ?—Yes ; I got 
a patent for that steam-engine. 
Have you any thing to communicate to this Committee, as to 
the object upon which we are met, which is, the safety of steam- 
engines and boilers on board steam-packets ?—With the boilers 
I have heen in the habit of using for fourteen years, we never 
have had any accident at all. 
Of what are they constructed ?—Of cast iron. 
Are your boilers in general made of wrought or cast iron ?— 
Of cast iron wholly; I approve of the cast-iron boilers in pre- 
ference to any mixture of metals. 
Do you consider that the cast-iron boiler, upon the common 
construction, is equally safe with a wrought-iron one ?>—Not 
upon the common construction that I have seen; some I should 
have doubted very much; I have seen some that are rather 
dangerous; my patent consists of one composed of a number of 
tubes. 
What is the difference between your construction of the boiler 
and the common construction, which, in your opinion, renders 
yours so much safer than the other ?—It is always necessary in 
boilers to. have a certain quantity of surface exposed to the ac- 
tion of the fire, to contain heat and steam ; and if that be done 
in one vessel, of course it must be of considerable size, greater 
in 
