The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-07
c o A L O I 1o
Law Defed and Life Imperilled.
Only One Specimen in Six Found Non
Explosive-How the Oil In
spector Takes Care of
Himself


the question OF an appointment OF an Inspector OF
Kerosene OIL, in consequence of the many amenta-
BILE accidents constantly resulting from the explo-
sions Of kerosene and other so-called coal oils In
seven months, hfty-6ve accidents have occurred in
that city from such explosions resulting in twenty
three deaths, eighteen serious INJURIES twelve slight
injuries, and pecuniary loss of s4s425. In Phila-
dephia such sad occurrences are so frequent .as to
be starting but in the absence OF accessible data
even the approximate numbers cannot be obtained.
Where deaths are not Immediately resultant upon
such accidents, no coroners investigation is had,
and no Official record is made; also in the case of
the vast majority Of minor injuries, the facts never
reach the general public at all. To ascertain the
of such constant accidents In Philadelphia,
where an official inspector exists, careful investi
CATION has been made solely to promote the Dest IN
terests of the community. Great difficulty has been
experienced in obtaining reliable material and the
opposition of portion of the trade to communicate
the soughtfor facts been evident as to excite
suspicion The facts presented are reliable, and by
no means sensational
As we propose to press our Investigations further,
the cooperation Of private citizens is earnestly re-
uuested Let every one acquainted with the facts
Of anv explosions of such burning oils communicate
at once their knowledge to the office of THE EVEN
ING TELEGRAPH that the fullest reliable statistics of
the actual accidents thus occasioned In Philadelphia
during the past year may be prepared and submitted
TO his Excellency the Governor. In thus acting,
such deplorabe massacres, and will also conscien-
tously discharge the duties OF law-abiding citizens
to see the laws honestly and faithfully executed.
Nature of the Oils.
The constituents that go to make up illuminating
oils, commonly called coal OILS, are SO numerous ana
the marketable products are so obscurely described
even In scientific works. that Few words OF explana
ton NAV be of use in regard to the articles on sale.
Petroleum, or rock Oil, the liquid, inflammable BIZ
luminous substance that is furnished by the wells in
Western Pennsylvania, is known to all. 1t is liquid,
onanue and black, and its obnoxious odor makes its
storage O nuisance in any neighborhood. The dread
fnI CONTAMINATION that occurred at Ninth and Wash
ingtOn streets some years since, when the streets
ran streams of flaming oil and many persons were
burned to DEATH testified SO undenably to the dan
ger of storing large quantities Of this oil in built-up
districts that the Legislature next session wisely
banished it to the suburbs. This crude petroleum is
hot fit for burning in lamps, but from 1t Is extracted
illuminating fluids that are the cheapest known.
Our re6ners by the use OF s9phuric acids etc, re-
fine and deodorlze it, thus fitting it for home use by
the removal of its fetid odOr.
The first product that passes the still in distilla
ton is gasoline. 1t is SO volatile, lts particles are
but very slight application OF heat will free it.
Consequently some OF its practical uses are most
dangerous when careful precautions are taken;
vet 1t is sold as an article of fuel, to be used in
stoves for burning coal oil. only Few days since,
young girl seventeen years of age, Lizzie Kessler,
living at No. iiS5 JEFFERSON street, while making
fire with gasoline in stove manufactured for burn
ing coal oil, was so severely burned by her dress
taking fire that her life is despaired of. This acci
dent was caused by the oil giving Off vapor at the
ordinary temperature of the air. and the inevitable
Benzine is the second product, flowing after the
first at higher heat 1t is thin transparent, and of
pale color. Its odor is pungent and 1etd, and will
not be forgotten by any of the careful housewives
who vainy hope to remove grease stains by rubbing
this in 1t is very infammable, burning with
smoky hame; so inflammabe, indeed, is 1t that
when current OF hydrogen gas is passed through
the fluid, or through sponge moisened with 1t, it
will burn with an intensely white light. 1t gives OF
vapor at very low temperatures, and the ordinary
air charged with it will explode and burn brightly on
the application OF fire.
Theoretically. gasoline and benZne he oh
tanned separately on the lrst distllatiOn; but in
actual refining they are almost invariably run off
together in one compound. This combination is
classed under the general name of benzine and it is
evident to all that its use is even dangerous
than when the extremely volatile properties
OF gasoline have been eliminated. This compound
is "cut or or run off from the still when the hy-
drometer indicates gravity from 6S to 20 degrees
Beaume. Gasoline by itself would be ''cut Off" at
about 70 degrees and benZine proper at about IS
degrees; refined petroleum burning at the standard
point, 11O degrees Fahrenheit would be 'cut of" at
from 60 to 62 degrees Beaume. Sometimes the
eliminated benzne is sold to other re6ners, who
move the gasoline by second dstillation, as to
obtain it for the manufacture of gas in small guam
titles for families distant from city gas works. while
in other cases the benzne, containing all the dam
gerously explosive qualities, is sold at RETAIL is
used to adulterate the standard oil. Gasoline is
worth at wholesale about twenty-five cents per gal
lon, while either class OF benzine is generally "a
drug in the market at an average price OF eleven
cents per gallon
The next product of the continued distillatlon all
the water having now passed of, is refined petro-
leum, which is commonly bought under the name OF
coal OIL. very many OF Jne trade give IL Jle name
OF Kerosene, but that article is properly trade oil,
distilled from btuminous coal, and Of 1t we have
nothing now to say, as the first almost monopozes
the market by selling at twO-thrds the price. This
coal OIL so called II honestly freed of all its volatile
properties in the manner described is perfectly safe
as burning OIL 1t has been scientifically deter
mined that If an oil will not burn until sufficient heat
has been applied to raise 1t to temperature OF 1lO
degrees Fahrenheit it may be used without danger
OF an explosions but If the Oil will burn at any point
below ITO degrees its use is fraught with danger to
property and life. Refners can furnish this as much
above or below par they please and oils are often
sold at l2O, $780, and 14O degrees, and higher. The
higher the standard the greater the price, as the ben
zine and other volatile substances thrown out are
made in quantities so much beyond the demand thai
they are at times sold below cost The lower tht
standard the lower the price to the consumer, the
greater the aduteraton with benzine, and the pro
liability of accidents increased in frightful ratio
The wholesale price OF standard oil is about thirty
1--WE cents per gallon With the products from TN
residuum Of parafine, and parane oil used for lubr
eating machinery this article has nothing to do.
Scientific Test of Coal Oils,
In order to fairly test the character of the rehne
petroleum retailed for home consumption in tht
CITY six sample pints were bought at random by TN
writer from as many different stores, In the SAM
manner as the poorer classes who do not use ga
buy the OIL from time to time. These were bough
at the following times and paces:-
/ e e. Thomas, No. LOG Market street Agg.s s.
SaS oqdon NCTRsoR 5 sbdSoasS aaS MaGlRS0sa8s stSs
I'd Bepna1fg h na1g No. 2S SSS Sirard avenue, " y b
Cd Parker, Eleventh and Market, 80 SC
THESE samples We're at once offered for examina
Hon 10 Messrs y w. q ]. NJ Lockwood, No. 10
walnut stIeet. These gentlemen are inspectors an
CANCERS OF oil, and their commercial reputation 10
exactness is unquestioned by the entire trade. Al
gravties were Obtained by APnabodts bVdromete,
and the Others were obtained by Tagabues nstru
inenI rms instrument, which Is universally In us
ior lestlng the marketable standard OF these oils
CONSISTS OF small metal vessel having an unde
plate 10 support spirit lamp, and an Overhangin
fora faa