The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-04-11
Che elf6 4 e I Is
Kerosene.

- Kerosene.
The Boston IFaUeuer saws. ssyVa have
made it rule to publish all burnine
fluid accidents, as warnings. But they
are becoming so:numerous as almost to
discourage the continnance of the pracz
tice."
We hope the practice will be contin-
ued, and that those who furnish the
Information to the papers. will be more
PaEticuloF to state the kind OF burnISx-
huisd that explOdes and produces the
sad results in each case. We suspect
that there is very great degree Of ig-
norance upon this subject among the
people. and that the people Reperallv
do not understand the dangers to which
they are exposed, nor the means of
avoiding them. 80 :
Since the high price OF alcohol and
turpentine, nearly all the burning
nutds in common use, of whatever
name, are composed of the distilled pro-
ducts of petroleum. oEthese products
a certain portion to which the name Of
Kerosene has been applied, II distilled
carefully, will not catch FIRE from
lighted taper at a lower temperature
than Ito degrees, and is perfectly safe,
with ordinary care, as burning fluid.
Atordinary temperatures, a lighted tn
per put into 1t will be extinguished as
quickly as when put into water.
But there ara other products of the
distillation OF petroleum, of which
HGphthG is the most important, which
are Of light specific gravity, will catch
hre from blaze at ordinary tempern-
lures, and of (which the vapor is highly
explosive when mixed, in certain pro.
portions, with atmospheric air. Naph-
tina is far more dangerous than gum
powder because It's yapor viii take FIRE
at some distance from the liquid, while
gunPowder will not ignite unless
brought in contact with fire.
Unfortunately naptha will burn
with clear handsome light, and when
mixed with kerosene it seems to im-
prove it for Illuminating purposes.
Besides this, naptha is produced in
large quantities in the distilIation Of
petroleum, and no extensive use of it
has been found, so that it's market val
ue Is very low. Hence the great tempt
alton to mix it with kerosene, and to
use 1t for patent burning fluids, and
hence the great Importance of protect
ing the community from the sale of
those fluids, and also from the sale OF
kerosene that will not stand the fire
test, as it Is called. There is no doubt
that ninety. nine one-hundredthso of all
the loss of lives, amounting to hun
dreds every year, and OF property
amounting to millions every year, in
this country from explosion of burning
fluids, are caused by this use of naptha
or of kerosene adulterated with nap
tina.
This important subject has engaged
the attention of the national as well as
of the local authorities. An act of
Congress, approved MOrch ., 1867, pro-
vides severe penalties for mixing for
sale naptha with kerosene, and for
selling, keeping for sale, or Offering for
sale any oil made from petroleum
which is inAammable at less than ITO
degrees Fahrenheit. This law is now
In force throughout the country, and is
so important, and SC. little known that
we quote it in full, as follows:
Public Law-No. SO. Approved March
2, 1867. SECTION %. "And be It 6.IrkEe7.
enacted, That no person shall mix for
sale naptha and Illuminating oils, or
shall knowingly sell or keep for sale,
or offer for sale such mixture, or shall
sell or offer for sale oil made from PEE
troleum for Illuminating purposes, in
hammable at less temperature or fire
test than one hundred and ten degrees
Fahrenheit and any person so doing
shall be held to be guilty OF misde.
meanor, and on conviction thereof by
indictment or presentment in any court
Of the United States having competent
jurisdiction, shall be punished BY a
hne of not less than one hundred dol
lars nor more than i've dollars, and
imprisonment for term of not less
than six months nor more than three
years."
The TeleRnanb ana fP,o EB,..r,