Excerpt from Explosions of Steam Boilers: How They Are Caused, and How They May Be Prevented

While it is true that the condition of many boilers now in use is such that it is a matter of surprise that so few boiler explosions occur, having their origin in excessive press ure, overheating of the surfaces above the water, in defects of materials of construction, and in the presence of scale and sediment, it is also true that there have been so many explosions not attributable to either of these causes, as to point unmistakably to the existence and operation of a power not indicated by the pressure gauge. Many theories have been advanced to account for these explosions, but Without such a clearing up of the mystery as has resulted in the general adoption of means for their prevention. Many at tempts have been made to construct boilers of parts so small that the explosion of one of them Will not lead to very seri ous results but such boilers are so deficient in area of water level, and in steam room, and there are such difficulties in the way of maintaining the water at the same level in the different sections - With the necessary exposure of the sur faces in order to vaporize the water thrown up mechanically mixed With the steam - that there must be so much surface exposed to the action of the fire above the water, as to cause a dangerous superheating of the steam When but little water is thrown up, or the quantity of water so thrown up will at times be so great as to unfit the boiler'for use. And there are comparatively few waters so free from impurities, that such boilers Will not have their surfaces so coated with non.

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