Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-14
INSPECTION OF OILS.
TmpOrtant Information on h Sub
tecfZObjectiOns Answered I'm Detail
why our New Law Ought 20, and
x-srs - Enforaah-

-
WIZ. ne Enforced.
To the Union and Americans:
The article appearing in your paper of
the 9th inst, signed "a Heap OIL would
have been noticed sooner but for constant
engagements-trying to separate the good
from the bad oil in this market.
As soon as 1 was commissioned Coal Oil
Inspector for Nashville, L set about to get
the most improved and approved instru-
ments to be found in the country, and after
carefully comparing the promoters obtain
ed from New York ~(Tagliabros), Pittsburg
(Arnold's), Louisville, and twoI had made
in this city, 1 found they fully agreed for
all practical purposes under the Kentucky
law for taking the fire test of burning fluids.
This mode l have adopted, and have been
in correspondence with the newly appoint
ed inspectors for the purpose Of establishing
a systematic and uniform plan Of inspection
throughout the State.
The following is the Kentucky law on
the manner of taking the fire test:
l. The water cup should have sufficient
water in it toIise twO-thirds up the sides
Of the oil cup.
2. Fill the Of cup with oil to be tested
to within one-eighth Of an inch Of the top.
3. Suspend the thermometer so the bulb
is Just under the surface Of the oil.
4. Use an alchOhol lamp to heat the water
bath, and before placing the light under
the water cup, test the oil by bringing a
lighted match in contact with the surface
Of the oil. If it does not ignite, place the
lamp under the water cup and slowly heat
the oil. not slower than one degree Of the
thermometer nor faster than TWO degrees
Of the thermometer per minute, moving a
lighted match across the surface Of the oil
at each degree the thermometer rises, not
more than three-eighths Of an inch from
the surface of the oil. If the oil should
flash, that is, a little Gas burn on the sur
face and 20 out again, remove The lamp and
as soon as the thermometer ceases 10 rise,
| test the oil. Should it not ignite, replace
the lamp and test the oil each degree the
thermometer rises till the Gil ignites or
permanently burns. The degree indicated
by the thermometer is the fire test Of the
oil. The flame moved across the surface
| of the oil should not exceed that of an or
binary match.
As soon as the oil permanently ignites
| blow it out with a puff Of the breath.
As will be perceived, the Of tax
| inc the fire test of coal oil is not cOmpli.
Gated, dangerous or difficult, with the
proper instruments, which car be made by
any expert timer or can be had IN the city
at a reasonable price, and any u can be
taught TO use the instrument in a few min
utes.
The difficulty arising from coal oil being
reieeted here that has been tested and brand.
ed $50 fire test in other States, is not from
the use Of different instruments, or for the
want of a uniform and standard mode Of
testing, but lies with the operator or in.
speCtOr, who is frequently careless OF reck,
less as TO the performance of his duty. J
] have often tested lots of oil branded Will
the same inspectors name and fire test a
$50. when a few barrels would reach fully
$50. while others fell far below that test
and sometimes had to be rejected, as they
came under our low standard Of 10 fire
test; and a car load Of oil branded by al
inspector Of another city with 80 hre test
was carefully tested by me, and a part o
The car load reached fully 80, when tn
other part dropped down to los. This Ger
tainly shows q recklesSness N the part o
foreign inspectors or fraudulent alteration
Of the oil after Inspection, that should b
guarded against.
PENNSYLVANIA fre-test is $50, OhiO's 10
Kentucky's 80, and now when ours is onl.
40, / don't see that any injustice or hard
ship IS done cur merchants or the reiueI!
Of coal oil when 1 demand a strict cOmpli
ance with tie law, and require all burLIn.
fuid TO come up fully and squarely 70 l20
and I am determined, if there should bt
any doubt about the test reaching 100, &
Give tue benefit of the doubt to the con
sumer Of the fluid and reject IL. Il laTg
rpfner Of petroleum informs me that then
is only about q half cent difference on tn
gallon between 10 and $50 oil, and
seems TO ne that merchants would consul
their own interests by insisting that no OF
should be sent them that falls below th
latter grade. Our standard is quite low.
too low in fact, in the opinion Of most per
persons who have the safety Of the puDlI
at heart. and consumers VIII appreciate tn
efforts Of those who prefer to keep abov
the marx rather than to cut as close to 1t a
can possibly be done, without mourning III
penalties Of the law.
Another troubles 10 is general,
known amongst business men that some O
the manufacturers VIII put any kind q
coal oil in barrels and brand them With an.
name or fire test desired. Ii might be we.
| Tor some palIeS u4LuLLIe LG Plo4AN- U
petroleum 10 look more into the natur
and quality Of their oil and hunt less ate
the possible Inconsistencies that Nigh
arise under the enforcement Of the laws
and they will surely find that "benzine-
whether it "hows as sap from a tree il
spring time" or comes from the clouds, o
is drawn from the earth, cannot pass thi
market under the name Of "c0al OIL M
matter whose brand or what fire test is on II
If an inspector should declare a dolla
not a dollar, then the dollars would seel
some other place where they are more ap
p7aciateI, rs inst now they seem doing,
If the dollar should prove a bad dollar, J
might make 10 particular difference viii
some people: so, if coal oil should COM
here branded $50, when in reality 1t wa
only 50 OF 90, this might prove Of no con
sequence to some parties; but, if any in
spector should step in and say that oil Ia
been falsely branded and must be sent t
some other market where il might be NOR
appreciated, as Just now IS being done
car load or more Of the rejected oil her
has been sent to New Orleans-Our peOpl
would certainly not object. We want -
Heap Oil" but good oil.
JNO. W. MORTON, JR,
L#H e IL