ON STEAM-BOILER-EXPLOSION LEGISLATION. 5 



boilers, and to add weight to the counsels of the Board)*. None of the 

 members of the Board to retain office longer than four years without re- 

 election, one-fourth retiring every year, so that every four years the Board 

 would be entirely recruited, either with new members or re-elected ones. 

 The Board to be appointed in such a way as to secure the fair representation 

 of the general body of steam-users, and to merit their confidence, the 

 appointment being effected either by popular election, every steam-user 

 having a vote for each of his boilers, or by any other appropriate method. If 

 preferred, there might be a number of district steam-boards with geographical 

 limits assigned to each, instead of a single national one ; and it is weU worthy 

 of consideration which would be the better plan of the two. If the plan of 

 district boards were adopted, it would then be well for an annual conference 

 to be held, composed of deputies from each of the district boards, in order 

 that the results of the working of each district might be compared ; and this, 

 it is thought, would promote a wholesome rivalry. 



The following are set forth as some of the distinctive features and advan- 

 tages of this system of administration, and as equally applicable whether the 

 central Steam Board or the district ones are adopted. 



No. 1. This system would throw no administrative responsibility on the 

 Government, whether of a financial or engineering character. 



No. 2. It would secure the integrity and efficiency of the inspections, 

 inasmuch as the work would not be undertaken for profit, and the Board or 

 Boards would be established on too wide a basis to be influenced by local or 

 private interests. At the same time the boiler-owners would be protected 

 from arbitrary interference, inasmuch as the inspections in each case would 

 be controlled by a Board or Boards composed principally of steam-users, and 

 appointed by themselves. 



No. 3. This plan would secure to the country a large amount of valuable 

 engineering information. It would afford the opportunity of ascertaining 

 how many boilers there are in the kingdom, how many varieties of con- 

 struction, and how many boilers to each class, as well as the various pressures 

 at which they are worked. Also it would afford the opportunity of ascer- 

 taining the approximate horse-power throughout the whole lungdom, as well 

 as the consumption of fuel for boiler-purposes. Added to this it would afford 

 the means, at a perfectly nominal outlay per boiler, of establishing a fund for 

 scientific research on any doubtful questions with regard to the safety and 

 economical working of steam-boilers and engines. 



The above is but a very brief outline of the fourth plan^ proposed for 

 carrying out compulsory inspection ; and it is found impossible in the compass 

 of this Report to enter upon it in detail. The sketch given, however,^ may 

 be sufficient to afford a general idea. It wiU be seen that this plan is inde- 

 pendent of Governmental interference further than the passing of an act, in 

 the first instance, to enforce the inspection of every boiler in the kingdom, 

 and to empower the Steam Board or Boards to carry out these inspections 

 and adjust the rates, &c. Thus the steam-users would be left to govern 

 themselves, a responsibility with which it is thought they might be intrusted, 

 since they have a strong desire to avoid Governmental interference, and they 

 would know that, unless they succeeded, the Government would take the 

 matter into its own hands. The Committee consider this plan calculated to 

 guard the inspections against being las and contradictory on the one hand, 



* It might be desirable that clauses should be introduced to prevent parties with special 

 and private interests having a seat at the Board ; but details of this character are purposely 

 avoided in this sketch. 



