White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-11-23
Msefnl aud Curious.


AoBK HUBDEDs III KRRosgNB.
Il = : daily rsproach to the suthshties lbr the
indinerence they manifest in not putting q inn
mediate stop to the - Of kerosene rs an illumi-
Mating agent. Can nothing be done to prevent
this incessant sacrice Of life by the explosion OF
kerosene lampsf Within the past week i've or
six eases have been reported Of men and women
who have been terribly burned by snch accidents.
In one ease the victim, woman, wss dragged to
hydrant In tho street, and the water turned up
ON her. Every part Of the bedy q the poor wo.
man v.s 50 terribly burned thas large pieces OF
According to the Fire Msrshars report there
were sixty -four fires in New York during the
month u AuRtst, and Of this number seven were
cauaea ~ &eesese: Out Of one hundred samples
of oil tsstsd in the laboratory Of the Board of
Health, ely oas attained The Nquirsments of
thu law. In ssverl instances nspths was sold as
. SAFETY Gl~ Not only do the manufacturers
sell oil below the standard, but the retailers adul
tefate this with naptha.
Granted that the fluid gives an excellent light,
but It the same time it emits an unpleasant odor.
Il 10 undoubtedly the most dangerous snd destruc-
tive article in domestic use and has been the
occasion of more loss of life and property than any
Of those eombustibles that have been banished
from populOus localities for fear of explosions,
and are only permitted to be kept in cities in very
limited quantities. II there was method of sat
isfactorily MISUNDERSTANDING kerosene, that it
might be used without the fearful risks which
attend its consumption, the public would be lib
eral in their gratitude to the inventor Of such q
process. Chemists have admitted that there is no
mode Of accomplishing that desirable end, and the
sooner, therefore, that its can be discontinued
the greater will be the saving of human life.
In England heavy restrictions are imposed on
the traffic and transportation Of dangerous COM
bustibes. To be sure kerosene is not largely used
for illumination, for English caution will not per-
NIT the indulgence in luxury which carries so
much danger. They restrict themselves to the
the absence Of gas; and if they allow themselves
to be 80 reckless as to burn kerosene, they are
careful that the lamp shall lie of the strongest
metal, and shall be placed in spot where il can
not possibly be upset. Had kerosene been an ar
ticle of common use in England as il is in this
country, (Which seems proud of having first ush-
cred it into destructive existence, and sticks to
it with the same courage and persistence with
which it would cling to an American volcano be-
cause it was domestic eruption), and one four
hundredth part of the accidents resulted from its
use there that have occurred here, some member
of the opposition in the House of COmmOns would
no doubt, long ago have inquired of the Home
Secretary for information relative to the mortality
DESTROYS to know what course the ministry intend
ed to take on the subject. No doubt if we were
to pursue a similar course here, these dreadful
murders by kerosene would soon cease.
In most other countries, as we are informed an
oil called "Colsa oil" species of vegetable oil,
is used for lamps II gives a light quite clear
as that of kerosene, and not trying to the eyes.
1t is, moreover, absolutely inexpl0sive, and free
from every kind of danger, and if little more
care was taken in the manufacture of oils for illu-
minatiOn, they would be quite as safe as COlsa.
But people will not take the trouble to ask any
questions on the subject. They buy what comes
first, and thus expose themselves 20 dangers against
which the slightest forethought would effectually
secure them.
The Legislature should enact a law making
n NJ az "a Of In he