1871-] Steam Boiler Legislation. 217 



It has been stated, and that correctly, that boiler ex- 

 plosions may be reduced to a minimum, if not entirely 

 prevented, by competent periodical inspection ; and since 

 steam users neglect so simple a precaution, and persist in 

 sacrificing 75 lives every year, it must clearly be the duty 

 of the Government to interfere on behalf of those whose 

 lives are jeopardised, and to enact that no boiler shall be 

 worked unless periodically examined and certified. To 

 arrive at the best plan, however, of administering this in- 

 spection so as to prevent explosions on the one hand, without 

 unduly interfering with the liberty of the steam user on the 

 other, is a problem of some difficulty. It received the most 

 careful attention of the Committee of the Manchester Steam 

 Users' Association, and after much consideration they drew 

 up a report on the subject, giving the conclusions at which 

 the Association had arrived after fifteen years' experience. 

 These conclusions are as follows : — 



Proposition No. 1. 



That the use of steam, &c, as at present conducted, entails 

 great suffering from the destruction of life and property 

 occasioned by the constant recurrence of boiler explosions. 



That boilers are now to be found under the pavements 

 over which the public walk, behind walls close to which they 

 pass, in the basement of buildings crowded with busy work- 

 people; and, that, in short, they are to be found everywhere. 

 That many of such boilers have given rise to the most 

 disastrous explosions, so that the lives of all those living near 

 so dangerous an instrument as a boiler, or even casually 

 passing by, are seriously jeopardised unless suitable pre- 

 cautions are adopted to ascertain whether the boiler be safe 

 and trustworthy ; and, if not, to render it so. That most 

 of those who have suffered from these explosions have had 

 no voice in the management of the boilers, and thus were 

 helplessly victimised, some being women in their own houses, 

 and others, children at play. Further, that in the generality 

 of cases, those injured by the explosions of boilers at the 

 works at which they earn their livelihood are in a similarly 

 helpless position. 



That the subject, therefore, becomes one of general and 

 public interest demanding immediate investigation, more 

 especially since the use of steam is daily on the increase, 



cylinder, air pump, length of stroke, &c. They also in some cases stipulate for the 

 dimension, form, and construction of boilers; but it must be admitted that in 

 many instances their knowledge is not inferior, and in some cases superior, to 

 the engineer they employ. 



VOL. VIII. (O.S.) — VOL. I. (N.S.) 2 F 



