, 1866-03-13

that they are not more dangerous than
alcohol or turpentine, and might be stor-
ed with equal safety. The standard or
vaporlzing degree at which the refined
oils would ignite constituted a principal
feature Of these discussions. The deal
ers commended that refined oils, vaporising
at 100 degrees Fahrenheit would be mer-
charitable and perfectly safe. Others
Thought that 100 degrees would be sufi-
clent. ihis latter suggestion appears 10
Ine about reasonable, and would insure a
safe commodity.
An apprehension was expressed bv
the dealers that, should the standard be
fixed too high, the immense business now
being transacted ia these oils would be
monopoIised by the neighbouring cities.
L do not think there is any w~ell-founded
ground for this anticipation. There is
no fear, in my opinion, of the business
being driven from New York. The fix
ing of a standard for refined oils would,
on the contrary establish New York as
the principal depot, and impart a higher
character to the article more especially for
expectation. If these assumptions be cor
yect, and there is no reason to doubt them.
The object OF this Inquiry, which as AL
derman Mitchell explained, is simply to
prevent the ]eapOrdizing of life and pro-
perty, should meet with as general sup
port from the dealers as from the public.
From statistics quoted in the course of
these discussions it was shown that the
business operations in these oils was We
ry extensive; that during the past year
the sales amounted to upwards of a mil
lion OF dollars, and were still on the in
crease. This rapid augmentation on last
years transactions has keen caused by
the great scarcity of spirits of turpentine.
these oils not only serving for iIluminat-
ing purposes, hut supplying through tho
process of disiilIation, the benZoin and
naptha which is now used so exte nsivelv
by painters, as a substitute for tarpen-
tine.
The fact can not now be disputed that
the refined oils of this class, or such as
are termed refined oils Qess than 100 de-
greeS) when stored in large quantities
are liable to leakages that evolve a
yapour which, if not carried away by
ventilation, will collect and ignite by
contact with an exposed light. This is
more particular the case in cellars, where
- itSS CIdLCc Ol the VapOur being
carried off or dissipated by the introduc-
ton of fresh air. An exposed light taken
into such places is liable to produce an
instantaneous explosion, and the destruc-
ton of the premises by fire. Hence the
necessity Of storing these oils ia we'll
ventilated places, but, at the same time,
they should never be placed above the
first story of a building When stored
in lofts the leakage from the barrels will
penetrate through the cracks Of the
floors, rendering the building generally
unsafe. [ was called upon to examine a
warehouse in which this was the case, /
found not only the floors thoroughly satu-
rated with the oil, but that it was actu-
ally dropping on the hot s~tove-pipe.
All these facts and representations will
have their due weight with the Commit
tee, and its action will no doubt insure
full protection to the public from the
daily increasing dangers arising from the
careless storage of these oils. The pre-
else character of the recommendations of
the Committee, / am unable to state, as
no ordinance has been presented up TO the
issuing of this report.