New-York tribune., 1868-02-27
HON-EXPLOSIVE KEROSENR.

SO universally are lamps used outside the
city limits land to considerable extent within that
desire call attention 10 the materials usually burned
throughout the country for Illuminating purposes, with
Of urging upon every the exercise OF greater
vigilance providing their households with oil such as
they "a safe. That all may understand how to dis
crininae and select. will explain the difference
Kerosenei Ia the popular name for Refined Petroleum.
and is obtained by the distlaton OF Crude Petroleum.
which, from tho wells IN is natural state Ia
composed OF variety OF quids some OF which arc VIOLA
tile at low temperature others at higher To be pre-
pared the oil Is distilled, during which process
the different substances separated. when Gasoline
being the volatile passes of first OF course this Ia
the most dangerous aud innammabo. Next comes on
the Naphthh which, also. is very nflammable. and no
way h for in lamps although much is sold under the
name of Security" Commercial" or Light OILS" and
used "paoked lamps filled with cotton for the pur
pose OF absorbing the fluid 10 keep II from spreading
when burning after explosion. Refners throw away or
sell for almost nothing largo quantities of It, and II
affords great profit when sold by itself used 10 adu
erate good OIL In which largo business Is done by Job
bers and retailers. much So that II IA estimated by
scientific men that seveneighhs OF the kerosene In
mon use has been deprecated by odueratlon.
Next comes tho Refined Petroleum Kerosene. which.
when pure andwsll made will not ignite at less temper
ature than degrees The remainder is heavy oil
mixed with residuum and used for machinery. &c Whom
properly manufactured II IL as harmless ss
lard sperm OIL, and, with good burner and wick.
gives mellO steady light equal In every respect u
gas respects superior The writer OF tins 81
impaired his sight from writing steadily by gaS that
he was forced 10 got spectaces but using kerosene
lamp Instead tho sight restored as TO render the
glasses unnecessary.
While tho factS regarding tho various Installations OF
Petroleum are accessible and from daily observation
every ia OF the hazard attending the uso OF
bad OIL 1t Ia singular that should have repeated re-
of fires nlO
with loss OF life and property. all OF which might be-
avoided II the taken "a Ia exercised In the
selection Of Food Fuel and other household necessities
What still moro unaocouDtable IA that the law
passed last year by Congress aKng heavy penalties for
mixing or selling Illuminating oil that Will not stand the
test Of 40 degrees should not be enforced The penalty
for violation IL OF from 600 to 900, and imprson-
ment six months to three years thus coming under
that class OF crimes termed "misdemeanors." few
convictions under this law would prove benehcial but
most people not aware Of its enactment. and un-
prncped dealers take advantage Of their ignorance by
furpshnR them an article from which the naphtha has
not been extracted by adding the dangerous stun to
pure article that they may make profit Of from s0 10
sl5 barrel That moro explosions do not tako place
much owing TO the purity OF tho oil generally used
a. to the greater caution which so many accidents have
imposed II we could expect good oil TO be used by any
one certainly would be by Railroad Companies yet only
last week lamp exploded in car near this city, tho
FIRE consuming il 10 ashes and only little while before,
a macar with all its contents was destroyed from the
same cause question will arise how 10 distinguish
the good from the bad the safe from tho dangeroust
very simple and sure swsy Is TO half1 saucer with
hot water say 1l5 degrees by the Thermometer;
pour into tho water two spoonsu OF the oil 10 be
tested hold lighted match few inches above and
gradually lower 1t TO the oil. II the vapOr gas from
the oil flashes and the oil finally ignites and burns 1t
must be rejected bad and If it is poured into the lamp
when burning such stuff is used to start tho stove fro
with and d kerosene accident" is tho result don't
blame any but yourself. IT, however, tho match can
finally be left the oil to burn out utignng the OIL
it may be considered "nonexploslye." The remedy
against imposition in the bands Of the peoples let every
eopsumer demand OF his merchant tho oII-not oh
ectng TO the few cents gallon moro In prce-and ao
cept nothing else. Let all dealers establish for them
selves in their own vicinity the reputation Of selling only
genuine article absolutely harmless This oil can be
ordered from any part Of the country either by dealers
or families 1t is to hoped that whoever keeps the oil
for sale WILL hereafter perform duty they own to them
selves their nelghbors customers and tho country at
| large