The Cxub of Boilers. 225 



be faulty and trouble arises. Let our boilers fail at 

 a critical time and disaster and loss are sure to follow. 



But I find an ans^Yer to the question, as to what is 

 the best treatment to accord them during their period 

 of rest, a difficult one to give; for like many others it 

 is one on which doctors disagree. 



I have interviewed several parties, persons promi- 

 nent either in the erection or care of these structures 

 and find each has a theory or practice of his own. 

 Doubtless we all have our views upon the best methods, 

 as well as our own ways of caring for our boilers, but I am 

 afraid that in the majority of instances they are left to 

 care for themselves. A. tells me to empty the boilers 

 and let them stand dry — good advice if they can be 

 kept so; B. says keep them full; while C. tells me to 

 empty, take off the doors, take out the grates, carefully 

 remove all ashes adhering to the fire-box, and see that 

 there is a free circulation of air through the flues all 

 the time. There are good points in each of these 

 methods, but it must be remembered that in four 

 cases ovit of five, — and I might safely say, I think, 

 nine out of ten,— boilers are in situations damp of 

 themselves, and this dampness is largely increased by 

 every rainfall, causing a continual corrosion of the ex- 

 posed surface. My own way would be this : Leave 

 the boilers full of water, carefully remove from and 

 about them everything of a nature to retain moisture, 

 thoroughly cleanse the flues, remove as far as possible 



