260 EXPLOSIONS, BOILER. 



EXPOSITION, ATLANTA. 



ficient rapidity to produce a concussive effect 

 at least equal to gunpowder, and this is much 

 in excess of what would bo required to rend 

 the strongest boiler ever constructed. 



The experiment was conducted at Munhall 

 Farm, near Pittsburg, where the later experi- 

 ments of the Government commission were 

 carried out. The boiler was a plain cylindrical 

 one, six feet long and thirty inches in diameter, 

 constructed of a quality of iron having a tensile 

 strength estimated at 700 pounds to the square 

 inch. The shell was three sixteenths of an 

 in -h and the flanged heads three eighths of 

 an inch thick. It was at first intended to 

 make the test by condensing the steam above 

 the water, but, fearing that this could not be 

 done quickly enough, it was decided to use a 

 cylinder. This was connected with the boiler 

 by a two-inch pipe, in which was placed a 

 quick -lifting valve, operated by a cord from 

 the bomb-proof in which the experimenter 

 conducted the test. A steam-gauge, connected 

 with the boiler by forty feet of one-fourth-inch 

 pipe, was also placed in the bomb-proof. The 

 boiler was set up horizontally, and filled with 

 water to within six inches of the top. The 

 fire was fed with petroleum, the supply of 

 which could be controlled from the bomb- 

 proof. A preliminary experiment on June 7th, 

 when the thread was stripped off the bolts of 

 the cylinder-head and the gasket blown out, 

 showed that the steam-pipe to the cylinder was 

 much too small, and a considerably higher 

 pressure than anticipated would be required to 

 secure an explosion. It was decided, however, 

 not to make any alterations, and the repairs 

 being effected, the final and successful experi- 

 ment was made on the 16th. At 260 pounds' 

 pressure the steam-valve was lifted, with no 

 other result than to cause a violent oscillation 

 of the gauge. This was repeated at 300, 335, 

 and 365 pounds' pressure, with similar results. 

 At 380 pounds, however, there was a loud 

 report, and the boiler was found to be blown 

 to fragments, the air in its vicinity being filled 

 with condensing steam and falling debris. 

 There appeared to be no initial point, the boil- 

 er going to pieces all at once, as would be the 

 case if subjected to a powerful concussion. 

 The pieces of the boiler found showed that 

 the plates were rent transversely at least four 

 times and torn open their entire length. One 

 of the heads, which were thought to be the 

 weakest parts, was found intact, with a portion 

 of the shell adhering. At the point where 

 the boiler stood, nothing was found except a 

 few broken grate-bars, and the sunken stone 

 foundations. With the experience gained by 

 this trial, Mr. Lwson hopes to be able to ex- 

 plode a boiler of the same strength at a press- 

 ,nre not greater than what would be considered 

 a safe working one, and thus show that the 

 conditions necessary to an explosion by his 

 theory are all present in actual practice. Mr. 

 Lawson has devised a boiler in which the 

 steam compartment is separated from the wa- 



ter by a perforated partition, which he claims 

 can not be exploded. This claim he proposes 

 to subject to the test of experiment ofur con- 

 cluding his experiments with ordinary boilers. 

 Whether this test proves successful or not, tlio 

 experiments so far have been of very great 

 value in showing that the conditions common ly 

 assumed to secure complete safety are fraught 

 with danger, and the need of a reconsideration 

 of the current theories on the subject. 



EXPOSITION, INTERNATIONAL COTTON, AT 

 ATLANTA, GEORGIA. In an article written by 

 Mr. Edward Atkinson, of Boston, and published 

 in the " New York Herald," in the autumn of 

 1880, attention was directed to the serious de- 

 fects in the existing mode of picking, ginning, 

 cleaning, and general preparation of raw cot- 

 ton for market ; and the suggestion was made 

 that an exhibition of colton and cotton ma- 

 chinery be held during the ensuing year, at 

 some convenient place, for the purpose of 

 bringing together those interested in the pro- 

 duction of cotton and in the manufacture of 

 cottqn goods, that they might consult together 

 and devise practical remedies for the defects 

 indicated. Appreciating the importance of Mr. 

 Atkinson's statements and suggestion, a num- 

 ber of citizens of Georgia invited him to visit 

 Atlanta, and make a public address on the 

 matters referred to in his communication to 

 the "New York Herald." Mr. Atkinson ac- 

 cepted the invitation, and, on October 19, 1880, 

 addressed a large meeting in the Senate-cham- 

 ber, in which he set forth, at considerable 

 length and with minuteness of detail, the pres- 

 ent defective manipulation of raw cotton by 

 the producers, how it might be profitably im- 

 proved, and the great advantages to both pro- 

 ducer and manufacturer which would result 

 from the proposed improvements. He recom- 

 mended that the suggested exhibition should re- 

 present everything relating l.To the growth, 

 fertilization, and cultivation of the cotton-crop ; 

 2. To the manipulation of the staple in every 

 stage of its preparation for market; and, 3. To 

 its manufacture, including all the implements, 

 machinery, mills, fertilizers, etc., requisite for 

 the cultivation, preparation, and manufacture 

 of cotton, and the best and most economical 

 nse of power. He further recommended that 

 the exhibition should show the cotton plants 

 and fibers of all countries, and all the varied 

 cotton fabrics, presenting comparisons of the 

 primitive and improved processes employed in 

 cotton manufacture. 



On December 2, 1880, preliminary steps were 

 taken by some of the business-men of Atlanta, 

 and other places, to give practical effect to Mr. 

 Atkinson's suggestions; a temporary associa- 

 tion was formed, and, in February, 1881, at 

 the instance of a few of the members of that 

 association, Mr. H. I. Kimball, of Atlanta, was 

 requested to visit the principal commercial and 

 manufacturing cities of the North and West, 

 with a view to bring the matter to the atten- 

 tion of the business-men of those localities, 





