The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-08
HOW THE COAL OIL INSPECTOR
NEGLECTlS HIS DUTIES

HOW THE COAL OIL INSPECTOR
NBGLBO7}S HIS DUTIES
The startling facts published in The TELE-
GRAPH yesterday exposed the negligent and
careless manner in which refined petroleum is
inspected in this city, and the freedom with
which oils that fall far below the legal stan
dard are offered for sale. Petroleum is one
of the greatest staples of the State; it forms
the most important export from this city, and
as its peculiar properties are well understood
here, there can be no valid excuse for the
criminal neglect which daily jeopardizes pro-
perty and life. Coal oil, properly prepared,
is one of the most harmless of illuminating
compounds, but when it is adulterated or
suffered to fall below the legal standard,
it is as inflammable as gunpowder and
as dangerous as nitro-glycerine. A very COM
plete test of its condition has been devised,
which will enable any honest and efficient In
spector to protect the public. If it does not
explode or ignite when subjected to a tenn
perature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it is as
safe as tallow candles or fish oil; if it ignites
or explodes below that temperature, it con-
stantly endangers the lives of those who use
it, unless they are extremely vigilant and eau
tious. To adulterate a material like this, or
to sanction such adulteration, is an offense
but a few degrees less heinous, morally,
than downright arson and murder, and in this
city it is properly prohibited by a law i'm
posing the penalty of imprisonment as well
as fine. When Robert NJ. Evans advocated
the passage of this law, his heart seemed to
be filed with tender regard for the welfare
of the community, and no tongue discoursed
more eloquently than his on the dangers from
which he proposed to rescue the public. More
fortunate than many other benefactors of the
human race, he not only secured the passage
of the bill conceived in his philanthropic
brain, but Governor Geary made him the
agent to give practical force to his noble con-
ception. But after he got the Office, the
public good soon ceased to be an object of soli-
citude. How he has discharged his duty we
told at length yesterday. 1t is unnecessary
to recapitulate the overwhelming evidence
that he has used his important officeas mere
convenience. Instead of possessing increased
protection, those who burn oil are now sub
jected to greater dangers than ever.
They have been taught to trust to the
spirited Evans, and to console themselv es
with the belief that the oil must be all right
because Fighting Bob" has examined and
approved it. But it now turns out that while
he has suffered his official brands to lie around
loose at some of the refneries, five out of six
lots purchased at random in city stores are so
far below the legal standard that their use is
fraught with constant peril House after
house burns down, family after family are
either killed or manned for life, but as a few
cents extra profit are made on each quart Of
explosive oil that is sold, the Inspector re-
mains in blissful state of ignorance of the
facts which are painfully apparent to the COM
munity. He is empowered to enter any of
the stores where oils are sold to Philadelphians
and to condemn those which are found to be
deficient. 1t is only through the palpable
neglect of this duty that the continued sale Of
the dangerous compounds can become posi-
BILE, and yet it seems that but one pint out of
six is fit for use.
By far too many offices have already been
created for the benefit of officials rather than
the promotion of the welfare of the people,
but the extension of this system to an inspec-
torship which may, on the one hand, save
many lives and much property, or, on the
other, grant free license to the worst of
fraudulent adulteratons, is more than an
overburdened community can be expected to
bear with equanimity. If citizens are to be
robbed with impunity, let some little regard
be at least paid to their lives; and Governor
Geary cannot be too prompt in finding COM
petent and faithful successor for the present
untrustworthy inspector Of refined petroleum
and burning oils in Philadelphia.