224 Steam Boiler Legislation. [April, 



tion universal ; it would be administered by the steam-users 

 themselves to prevent its becoming arbitrary ; and, finally, 

 it would be founded on a national basis to secure its accom- 

 plishment.* 



Such are the conclusions at which the Manchester Steam 

 Users' Association has arrived after mature consideration. 

 It will be understood that the district Boards proposed, are 

 to cover, in their operations, the entire country. Also, that 

 they are to be of mixed constitution, most of the members being 

 men of commerce, i.e., employing steam power for mer- 

 cantile purposes, and others, men of science, i.e., engineers, 

 chemists, and others, competent to advise on matters 

 affecting the inspection of boilers, or the interests of steam 

 users generally, to assist at the counsels of the Board, and 

 to add weight to their decisions. These Boards to be 

 empowered to impose such a boiler-rate as might be found 

 necessary to ensure competent and thorough inspection. 

 Monthly Reports very similar to those of the Manchester 

 Steam Users' Association to be issued, these reports giving 

 the number of inspections, the state of the boilers, &c. It 

 is further proposed that the monthly reports, or the 

 substance of them, should form the basis of an annual 

 report, to be presented to the members of both Houses of 

 Parliament. 



On this plan, it is thought that a system of periodical in- 

 spection would be insured, which would be competent to 

 prevent steam boiler explosions, and thus save the lives 

 now sacrificed, without in any way incurring unnecessary 

 interference with the steam user, but protect alike the 

 interests of manufacturers and the public. Ultimately it 

 would prove a help and not a hindrance to scientific and 

 commercial progress. 



On further inquiry, other suggestions and improvements 

 will no doubt present themselves which might be adopted 

 without detriment to the fundamental principles of the 

 system proposed, which are, firstly — that steam boiler in- 

 spection should be rendered compulsory, and, secondly, that 

 it be allowed to be administered by a national series of 

 district Steam Boards, appointed in the main, if not entirely, 

 by steam users themselves. 



It may be interesting to append, in illustration of the 

 foregoing remarks, an engraved photographic view of the 



*For somewhat fuller details of the proposed National Steam Boards, see 

 Report on " Steam Boiler Explosion Legislation," presented to the last 

 meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. 



