Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-09-05
SpontaneOus Ignition of sawdust.

The number for August of the Journal of the
franklin Institute, contains report on the sponta-
neous ignition of a wooden box containing sawdust.
Ii occurred in The factory OF Joseph 5. ELLINGTON
& Sons, Philadelphia. A mass of sawdust which had
been confined for nine months in wooden box around
tank for rendering grease was observed to be heat
ed like mass of live COAL ready to burst into flames,
although it was 40 feet from any fire. The tank
which it surrounded was of boiler iron, heated by
steam at so lbs. pressure, and was $500 Fab. The
heat was applied from TO hours in succession, and
the apparatus used two three times per week.
When the fire first discovered, an inch board
forming part of the box burned through In
1853 the factory of Mr.. ELLINGTON burned down,
and this discovery has led to the inference that the
cause OF that fire the spontaneous combustion Of
such box
The Committee of the franklin Institute, in their
report on this case mention several Well-knOWn in
stances of spontaneous combustion of wool, kept in
! long contact with surfaces heated by hot water
| In 1848, Days Martins Backing Factory in Lon
don being burned down by the spontaneous
Ignition OF wooden casing surrounding tubes con-
tanning hot water and it was also found, On examna.
ton that wherever these tubes touched the flooring
! the latter was charred.
The following extract from the report recon-
mend 10 the general attention of all concerned il
deserves wide circulation =
'There can be but little doubt that the sawdust in
the case before the Committee, exposed intervals
for nine months TO temperature of about $500 Fah
became charred by the gradual distillaton of the
| wafer and volatile matters of the wool. Charcoal
thus formed at low temperature is much more in.
fammable and hygrometric than that made at higher
temperatures.
i Whether such charcoal will absolutely infame
under 1900, the Committee is not able to say; is
possible that the rapid absorption of large quantities
of oxygen by it would produce sufficient elevation OF
temperature to cause actual combustion: The TACT
however, is established, that such combustion will
occur under the circumstances Indicated, and is Of
importance, from the liability to recurrence of the
accident under like circumstances, as IN the cases Of
joists running near ues through hot chambers
woodwork on steamboats, near the boiler, steam
drum or smoke stack acketing of boilers in ordinary
situations, &c
+ "The Committee believe that the attention o
builders and others should be called to the fact, will
the object of avoiding the risk, and thus diminishing
! the causes of fire, already TOO numerous"
Sawdust boiled for Is minutes in liquor contain
ing one pound of plaster of paris to the bushe thel
dried in the sun, will be rendered perfectly proc
against spontaneous combustion, like the above cite
, case. This would be a cheap and simple method G
" treating all sawdust designed for non. conduc;in
packing around hot water or steam pipes
Extract from letter written by an influential K
u N to gentleman of the same party in Boston, date
: PHILADELPHIA, Aug. IL, 1856.
Y am at last forced to acknowledge that Buchana
IS will carry the State by Is or 80, 900 majority. Fill
more will lead Fremont TO- 900. In fact, the Blac
K Republicans are dying off. In many counties tn
name of Fremont is laughed at when 1t Is mentlone
r for the Presidency. How will the Bay State go? !
there is chance for Fillmore in that State go
for Buck. Anything but Black Republican"