54 REPORT — 1869. 



user, and a barrier to progress. Such a system, it is thought, must soon 

 prove a system of limitation. Inspectors armed with Govornmcntal powers 

 must be guided by a code of rules laid down by some higher and central 

 authority. They must be instructed what diameter of boiler and what 

 thickness of plate to allow for certain pressiires of steam, also what area 

 and description of safety-valves, and what number and description of fittings 

 generally. Thus the responsibility of construction would be removed from 

 the boiler-makers to the Government, and the Board of Trade would become 

 the national boiler constructors. However wisely and liberally such a system 

 might be worked, and however carefully its code of rules might be devised, it 

 is feared it would shortly prove an irksome limitation, and that serious em- 

 barrassment would result. "Whether any milder measures could be intro- 

 duced to extend the operations of private associations, is a question on which 

 the Committee are not in a position to pronounce an "opinion at present ; 

 but the subject ajjpears to them to be one of considerable importance, and 

 the more public attention is called to it, and the more it is ventilated and 

 discussed, the better. 



The Committee would venture, however, to submit to consideration, 

 Avhethcr it woi^ld not be worth while to try the effect of more searching 

 coroners' investigations, and plain-speaking verchcts, before any other steps 

 are taken. Were the course recommended herein with regard to coroners 

 adopted, such a mass of well-authenticated information would soon be accu- 

 mulated that it would be shortly apparent whctlier this measure were of 

 itself sufficient to arrest the course of boiler explosions, or whctlier the reck- 

 lessness of steam-users was so great that more stringent measures were 

 absolutely necessary ; while, supposing that the latter unfortunately proved 

 to be the case, the amount of authentic information obtained would form a 

 sure basis for legislative enactment. The Committee therefore venture to 

 urge that the plan proposed in this Eeport be fairly tried before any further 

 steps be taken, and they recommend this subject to the best consideration of 

 this Meeting of the British Association. 



It should not be omitted to mention that since the subject was brouglit 

 under the consideration of the Mechanical Section of the British Association 

 last year, the Manchester Steam-users' Association memorialized the Home 

 Secretary with regard to the improvement of coroners' inquiries in the 

 manner referred to in this Report. The deputation was favourably received, 

 and the Home Secretary stated, in his place in the House of Commons, only a 

 few days since, that he should endeavour, during the Eecess, to prepare a 

 measure for the prevention of steam-boiler explosions. Thus considerable 

 attention has been drawn to this subject during the past year, and consider- 

 able progress has been made in educating public opinion with regard to it. 

 The Committee think that this affords ground for congratulation, and that, 

 from the interest now aroused i)i connexion with this subject, the attainment 

 of the prevention of steam-boiler explosions is not far distant. 



(Signed on behalf of the Committee) 



William Fairbaien, Chairman. 



August 18, 1SG9. 



