REPORTS 



ON dlS 



THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



Report of the Committee appointed to consider and report on the 

 various Plans prropwsed for Legislating on the subject of Steam- 

 Boiler Explosions, ivith a view to their Prevention, — the Committee 

 consisting of Sir William Fairbairn, Bart., C.E., LL.D., F.R.S., 

 &;c.. Sir Joseph Whitworth, Bart., C.E., F.R.S., John Penn, C.E., 

 F.R.S., Frederick J. Bramwell, C.E., Hugh Mason, Samuel 

 RiGBY, Thomas Schofield, Charles F. Beyer, C.E., Thomas 

 Webster, Q.C, and Lavington E. Fletcher, C.E. 



To the frequent occurrence of steam-boiler explosions, with the loss of life 

 and property caused thereby, attention was called in a Keport read before the 

 Mechanical Section of the British Association last year at Exeter, and in a 

 Paper read the year before that, at Norwich. These sad catastrophes still 

 continue with unabated frequency. In the interval between the Norwich 

 and Exeter Meetings, 46 explosions occurred, killing 78 persons and injuring 

 114 others. Since then 57 more explosions have occurred, killing 99 more 

 persons and injuring 96 others. So great is the regularity with which these 

 catastrophes occiu:, that it was stated at Exeter that it was to be feared that as 

 many lives would be lost by explosions before the next Meeting as had been 

 lost since the last. This, it will be seen from the figures just given, has been 

 more than fulfilled. Taking the average of a number of years, it appears that 

 about 50 explosions occur every year, killing about 75 persons and injuring 

 as many others. 



It is not intended in this Eeport to enter on a consideration of the causes 

 of steam-boiler explosions. That has already been done on other occasions. 

 It need, therefore, merely be stated in passing that the experience of another 

 year only confirms the Committee in their opinion, previously expressed, that 

 explosions are not accidental, that they are not mysterious, but that they 

 arise from the simplest causes, and may be prevented by the exercise of 

 common knowledge and common care. Boilers burst simply from weakness, 

 that weakness arising in some cases from original maleonstruction, in others 

 from defective condition consequent on wear and tear, and in others again 

 from neglect of attendants (through allowing the plates over the furnace 

 to become overheated from shortness of water &c.). Competent inspection 



1870. B 



