POWER OF ATTORNEY                        Exhibit (24)


We, the  undersigned  directors of The  Hartford  Steam  Boiler  Inspection  and
Insurance Company,  hereby individually  appoint Robert C. Walker and Roberta A.
O'Brien,  and each of them singly,  with full power of substitution to each, our
true and lawful  attorneys  with full power to them and each of them singly,  to
sign for us in our names in the  capacities  stated below the Form 10-K,  Annual
Report  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
for the fiscal  year ended  December  31,  1996 for The  Hartford  Steam  Boiler
Inspection and Insurance Company,  and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K,
and  generally  to do all  such  things  in our name  and on our  behalf  in our
capacities  as  directors  that will  enable  the  Company  to  comply  with the
provisions  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  and  all
requirements  of the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,  which relate to said
Form 10-K and the filing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures
as they may be signed by our said attorneys or any one of them to said Form 10-K
and any and all amendments thereto.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this Power
of Attorney has been signed by the following  persons in the  capacities  and on
the date indicated.

(Signature)                         (Title)                    (Date)



/s/ Gordon W. Kreh                  President, Chief          March  24, 1997
Gordon W. Kreh                      Executive Officer
                                    and Director

/s/ Joel B. Alvord
Joel B. Alvord                      Director                  March  24, 1997


/s/ Richard H. Booth
Richard H. Booth                    Director                  March 24, 1997


/s/ Colin G. Campbell
Colin G. Campbell                   Director                  March  24, 1997


/s/ Richard G. Dooley
Richard G. Dooley                   Director                  March  24, 1997


(Signature)                         (Title)                        (Date)


/s/ William B. Ellis
William B. Ellis                    Director                  March  24, 1997


/s/ E. James Ferland
E. James Ferland                    Director                  March  24, 1997


/s/ John A. Powers
John A. Powers                      Director                  March  24, 1997


/s/ Lois Dickson Rice
Lois Dickson Rice                   Director                  March  24, 1997


/s/ John M. Washburn, Jr.
John M. Washburn, Jr.               Director                  March  24, 1997


/s/ Wilson Wilde
Wilson Wilde                        Director                  March  24, 1997