, 1861-11-26
About Coal 6ns-Statementa OF Inter-
est TO the Pubf1es
AZ ri1,.

est TO the fop1es !
Editors ofthe Chicago Tribune:
In 3 late article in your paper attention has
been drawn 10 the darger attending tbs exten-
EiTe nee now made OF the 50 called Kerosene,
Cosl, OF Carbon Oils. As tho subject il one Of
intcleEt to many OF your readers, e statement
Of ecne Of the properties Of these oils mag be
Ct 15e to item. Until within year OF tWo,
these oils aheve named we're obtained only |
from TIE deairuetive aistulation of varieties Of
Car1eli ccal, varying from the rich "Boghead
mineral" COZ .ainirg but little earthly matter,
to the poor "Bu:nmious siales," in some OF
which, the eartty matter exceeds 70 per cent,
Ihe Introduction izto commerce within the
past eighteen ncn:hs Of the natural "Rock
oil or Petroleum." yielded in such immense
quantities by the oil E:ells Of Western Penn
sylyania, and ather localities, has led to the
almost complete abandonment Of the coa1s
before named, and the e1cinsiye use Of Petro-
leum for the F.oau -tion Of tie oils lest Hi:h
In market, under the abeve z2d other names.
The composition OF these natural ana artificial !
oils, although differing materially in the na;1re
and amount Of the foreign substances Or in
pu1ities preeent, Is Jet almost identical in |
their chemical constitution Of those p,rts,
valuable for Aluminasing purposes. Leaving
the impurities out 81 the question, |
they both consist Of compounds of
h3 drogen and carbon without oxygen. |
These are called hydro casbons., 4 nun
OF these oils, i'll consisting Of the same ele. |
mente, but sone continuing more and others |
less carbon united with the same quantity of |
hydrogen. This difference in tae compost
tion causes corresponding difference in the |
specific gravity, balling Pointa,. and temper
amount Of ca-hon increases the liquid be-
cames heavier, bells at a higher Temperature,
and requires greater heat before it can be set |
Oh FIRE. In the crude coal oils the extremes
are not quite so great az in Petroleum, bu: In
both q portion Of the heaviest and Of tha
lightest oils have to be removed to constitute
q safe and good burning oil. Since Petroleum
is now oEly reed ;,r making refined oils it is
uaL ecessaT3 to ce:' furissr to coal oils,
The process @; reiaing Petroleum consists
not only in separating BY disti11atlon the vsla-
tile portions from TIE tarry and earthly nat
tera contained in the Grade, and then re.iov
fBg by ch6nfeal treatment the foreign sub
stances that would give color to the finished
product; a far more important point Is to
Separate sud remove bath the heavier and
lighter portions, using only those that CON-
bine the most perfect Illuminating prop:rtie.
with the entire abaence Of danger Tor acci-
dental ignition or explosion.
Too many manufacturers aim only to obtaf3
an oil of white or light color, aad this Is
comparatively eaay. Proper regard is seldom
paid to ealety, or to the burning qualities.
The heavy oil alone, whatever may be- its col
or, il utterl y worthless for burning. Alamp
filed with 1t will 60 cut IN few momez!s,
and the flame, while burning, will be dnn and
emoky. When mixed with lighter oil this
| effect Is eomewhat 1esseaed; but, o1ing to
| the Imperfect capillary attraction Of the wick
| for this oil, the light, after short time flick
erF, putIs, the wick becomes crusted Or
| charred, and the fame grows smaller and
smaller, or goes entirely out. A dissgreeable
smell usually accompanies this oil thus pre-
pared, and often il disseminated through the
| room in burning. The use Of, the lighter oil
Is still more Objectionable None Of the dAE
| ficulues in burning before alluded to apply to
this. Whether used alone or mixed with the
heavier oil, it burns with clear, bright fame,
but is as dangerous as burning fluid or cam
| pke7se, IN TACT even more SO, since the lamps
used for these oils are not constructed for
aafety, and the liability to accidentA therefore
greater.
The crude oil, when heated begins usually to
boil at about 1G0 deg. F., the Temperature
gradually enrising ss the distillatioa proceeds,
until towards the LAT the boiling psint e:
cseds the melting point OF lead, or over 700
deg. fahr. The portions that should enter
into the composition Of good burning oil ara
only those 1hat distil1 between the tempe1a-
TUE Of $50 deg. tahr. and Of $50 deg. F.
Ths f1st RortlSo;ats S;as+ of The the dntillats are
50 deg. Baume, l06O and gradually in.
crease IN density IS the heas risea in the still,
until specific gravity Of 50 deg. Baume 769j
Is reached, when 1t becomes safe to mix the
; further portions together to make the burn
isg oil. Although the boiling point Of tha
light portion is Considerably aoeTe 212 deg.
F., jet its yapor lrises readily At common
temperatures, even ~ low 50 the freezing
point. A burning oil containing any amount
Of It, will therefore evolve from its surface
Ing with the atmosphere, mill catch fire. OF
the application of 8 lighted match, burn,
but Causing =. terrific eIplosios i
il close vessel, with only narrow opening
No opinion cxn se formed OF the safety Of :
; sample by tr,irE the density alone. Az /
lArge portion Of the heary distllate that should
be rejected has density Of 80 deg. B. {S75)
, Fhi!ss ths lighter portion, OF oe1znle ~ i,
10 generally c4ilee, AID scheh is stN more o1jec
fio7sdbe from It's DANCER, has an Average oen
ntJ Of Is deg. B. CHS, it il evident thEi I
,, mixture Of the TWO liquids in different prs
: : portieIt, will furnish liquid Of any desirt6
!. , density, but which would be as dangerous n
: the benzone alole, although presenting
AZ the appearance Of 3 good m.rcoaut
: able article. Thus, by mixing the Wholl
Of the heavier portion with part, szl
onehalf or threeqrarters Of benzule,
;. mixture may be had that will s.anaat 40, 4lo
42o or any other desired d. gree that may b.
: utterly unit to sell, from its explosive quail
: ties, while it will prove also m inferior burn
= ing oil, from the large amount Of WORTHLESS
4 htayy oil it contains. When it is borne i,
: mind that Many Of the crude oils yield almos
: 25 per cent. Of this light, bepzu1e, it il avi
y dent how important It Is for the renaer Il
: eEdeavor to make 1t sa!eab1e by mixing witt
! tho heavy oil, which is also to prove 8 loss In
atesd of profit, without regard to tbs worth
y 1ees and dangerous character Of the m1xsuz
thus formed.
!, Manufacturer is to obtain AZ oil perfectly fre
trcm the dangerous and explosive benzula
- aDd also from the injurious heavy oll-thu
u aferdiug fluid Of light specific gravity
= nearly uniform IN composition, ant yielding
T. steady, clear, brilIiRHt light, free from snaeN
SMOKE e71.stlng The Dlck or other imperfectionl
= and incapable ol being set on fire nuless hca
" ed tc 1900 F. at 1e2st. A. the increased yiel
made by mixing the whole products Of disti
lat1op, Is 80 much greater than when the prt
y per plan, pointed out above, Is pursued, it ca
. be no wonder that the cupiaity Of many +,
- Of danger, aAd by mixing in the heaTy O
q nlih1eaa tie purchaser by The supposed safet
= cut to the low specific gravity.
!! Fc1tuI ate1y, the check and sxfegus-d ls .
9 simple As to be Eifhin every ones resca-
- il simply Necessary to pour small qa71u'
Is into ekuces, aud attempt to light it With
" burning match. Should il catch FIRE essil
II CT btfurc the oil becomes hot, not mere
"a Ha1n, DO net touch It st any price; should
4. / worthless it Is. Tbs best Oil il RaVs1 und
"a 40 or 45o and esnpot be lCaited one-.ea
q st EASILY Is the worthless nuture above me
n tened sassdl7g st 43s OF 41o. 4 biui
10 shade indicates the preseRce Ct the he2yy Q
% and ehcpld be viewed with suspicion. P,
ts
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