The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-07
An Inspection of Burning Oils.

In view Of the meeting Of COunCII ~ "
evenings hence, we venture to renew INC
suggestion made some days ago that, IN
the absence Of State enactment, there
should be city regulation to prevent the
sale of dangerous burning fluids. There
has been no recent accident in this city tc
call attention to the necessity for such
regulation; yet fatal accidents have occur
red within the fresh recollection OF our
readers that ought long since to have led
to some precaution against their recur-
renee. The oil sold in this city isgener-
ally better than much sold in other parH
OF the country, being mostly the produc'
of our own refneries; but frequent acci-
dents have shown that from some source
dangerous oil does find its way into the
houses of our citizens; and against an ever
Dresent danger from this source there Is
no security except in rigid official in
snectIOn. In the absence Of 1t no one
knows what day or night there may be
shocking loss Of life or property from ex'
nIosiyc oil. It's better 20 take precautions
now than to wait for such reminder OF
the need Of them.
Though our news columns almost daily
report casualties from the explosion OF
carbon oil, il is doubtless true that but q
smsl portion of such accidents are re.
por;cI; and few realize the aggregate loss
orlilo and property by this agency. In
the CITY Of New York alone, in 1869 fifty
two deaths and Afty.six injuries from the
.xpIosion Of carbon oil were reported; in
1870, the deaths were eighty-iOur aud the
injuries sixty-onc. The number OF fires
there having this origin in 1869 were
eleven per cent. and in 1870 eighteen per
cent. Of the whole If statistics were col
lected Tor other periods and elsewhere,
there is no reason to doubt that the pro-
portion OF damage from the same cause
would be found equal to this throughout
the country, and the aggregate would be
enormous and alarming. What bad car
bon oil cost Chicago and the country,
through the agency OF Mistress OLEARYs
unruIy COW all the world knows; but its
lesson is not always needed.
Yet pure carbon oil is US safe for pur-
noses Of illumination rs tallow candle.
And why is 1t not always purer Because
II ia not to the interest OF the refner or
seller TO have it so. One Of the elements
in the crude oil is naplha, liquid as ex-
plosive as gunpowder and more danger
GUS. While oil is worth IRON 20 to %
cents per gallon, naptha is worth but 8;
and hence there is constant temptation
for the reliucr to leave all the nHptha he
dare in tho oil, and for q dishonest retail.
er to mix it into the original package.
Experiment has shown that one per cent
OF naptha added to perfectly safe oil will
render it unsafe while two TO five per cent
will make it highly dangerous. 1t might
DO supposed that q knowledge OF this
would deter persons OF ordinary human
ity from manufacturing or vending a CON-
pound so dangerous, but that it does not
is shown by the following facts. An en-
animation Of GIG specimens Of oil collect.
ed in the city OF New York in 1860, by
Prof CHANDLER, chemist, resulted in
finding but 81 safe oils evolving no in-
tlammablc vapors below 1904 egrees Fab
renheit In an examination OF 100 sam
pies made in 1871 by the same gentleman,
he found but seven safe oils. No oil is
considered safe by Prof. c. that flashes
upon application OF taper at temper
aturO below 100 degrees Fahr. The stat.
ute of the United States and the laws OF
some States require the flashing point to
be as high as 10 degrees Fahr, some even
higher. Experiment has shown that the
temperature Of oil in lamps burning in
rooms where the temperature ranges from
20 to 90 degrees varies from &c to 800 de.
grees, temperature Of 100 degrees being
sometimes reached in an atmosphere OF
only 70 degrees. In view Of these facts
the mischief that may, and often does,
result from the use OF oil whose flashing
point is even as high us 100 degrees, Is
apparent. When we rCileCt, further, that in
the opinion OF well informed observers
not fourth of the oils in the market
have so high flashing point as 100 dc.
greeS, it is only strange that accidents
from their use are not more numerous.
Very dangerous oil may be used without
accident so long as there is extreme and
constant caution, and so may gunpowder
or nItro.glycerinG; but upon the first IN.
favorable conjunction of circumstances
resulting from accident or Carelessness,
mischief follows. Thousands who use
carbon oil do sOin complete ignorance of
It's character. Servant girls or children
who pour it on the fire to kindle, do not |
know of course, that it is at the risk OF |
their lives. 1t is Tor the protection of
such people more especially that official
regulations are needed to keep iBflAm.
ma6lo oils out Of the market.
There is an obvious necessity for judi.
cious State legislation on the subject
There being none Ss yet, the towns and
cities Of the State should make regulations
for their own protection. An ordinance
should be at once passed by our Council
We suggest, embodying at least these fen.
lures; 1st, Forbidding under severe pen.