New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-07
NVRSTNG 4 FIEND.

Ncw-YOrll is sadly in need of great
disaster. Minor casualties are so common
now -a-days that they no longer convey a
moral; and only great fires, or widespread
plaques, or unexpected tcrrors, carry warnings
TO the busy multitude. The almost daily an
nouncement of fires and deaths caused by lamp
explosions has lost its force from its very fire.
quency, and the statistics of a year or a
month. however terrible in their aggregate,
have no longer anything more than a passing
interest; they are not even important. Posi-
bly, if the two hundred and eighty-threc fires
and thirty-nine deaths caused by explosive
burning fluids in this city last year had been
combined in one general and appalling diSas
ter, public indignation might have been called
to the subject, and the protective laws might
be now enforced by delinquent officials. But
instead there were two hundred and eighty-thrce
separate fires and thirty-nine isolated DEATHS
and the terrible story, repeated from day to
day, became at last too commonplace for re-
mark.
The consequence of this Indifference on the
part of the public Is, naturally enough, neglect
by officials and greater caIclcssness by the
manufacturers and sellers of the dangerous
and the officials somewhat INSTRUCTED in their
duties by the decision of Judge whose reck
lessness in such matters is notorious but
this excuses neither the inactiOn of the officials
nor the criminal industry of the dealers who
supply an article which will not bear the fire
test. The result of that false decision protect
ing this Illegal traffic is plainly visible in the
great increase in the number of fires resulting
from explosions of the fluid whose sale was
thereby authorized. Whereas the fires per
month before the decision was made lin OctO-
Der LAST averaged about fifteen, they have since
increased to twenty-five. In January, 1871,
there were thirteen fires from this cause,
while in January of this year there were
thirty eight, or more than one a day. Fur
Their, the sale has greatly augmented, and
dealers everywhere sell the worst and cheap
est articles without the slightest thought or
conjunction as to the consequences that must
ensue to the public, or may fall upon them
selves.
TIE TRIBUNE this morning takes the liberty
it will always claim in the public interest to
expose alike delinquent officials and illegal
dealers in these dangerous compounds. The
black lst,-and it is a long One,-of the dealers
in naphtha (for much of this burning fluid is
nothing more nor less than the explosive
element of petroleum, and "more dangerous
than nitro-g lycerine'O embraces merchants in
all parts OF the city, many of whom, doubtless,
distribute the articles without knowing the
law or the nature of their ollense. To such,
this publication is enough to lead to a cOrrec-
ton of the evil. As to those who are corrupt
enough to continue such traffic after its ex-
posurc, we recommend the immediate atten-
ton of the proper authorities and the avoid
ance in future of customers. AS for the officers
who have this duty in charge, no decision will
justify them in longer neglect of the plain
duty of suppressing the sale of dangerous
kerosene.