Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-09
THE COAL OIL TEST.
The Need for n Uniform Fire Test
Throughout the state.

To the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, April S.-The coal oil Law
now being enforced through practice brings
/ 20 light mary inconsistencies, and a word
/ or two on the subject might not be amissi
| for unless something reliable, systematic
and standard be agreed upon in making the
/ tests, lawsuits, claims for damages, and risk
Of losing reputation, etc, etc, will drive
away a good oil out of a State where every
town has 4 mode Of its own, and where
some inspectors think benzine runs from
some particular tree, like sap in spring
time. Suppose for instance, in all good
faith, a barrel Of oil passes an inspection of
$50 degrees, fire test, in Pennsylvania, as
per the formula and test machine governing
the vast transactions in coal oil in New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston
the export markets of the wOrld-alsO in
Europe, and recognized by all courts in the
decision Of oil cases; suppose, L say, this
barrel of $50 degrees, fire test, goes to Nash
vile, where it comes up to 159 degrees, and
is at once shipped to some small town
where the inspector prOnOunces it but 119
degrees and rejects it, who is to suffer from
the many tales that hang thereby
ciLe the foregoing as but one Of several
such, and real transactions brought to my
notice. It will cost the reiner nearly as
much as the oil is worth to get it back to
his refinery, and in future he viii steer
clear of all such bungling. And if the
same bungling tends to make a good oil
appear bad, 50 will it be just as likely 70
send bad oil among the people branded
high.
Inspectors in Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Pittsburg, and in the places before named,
all agree, because using the same formula
and instruments, Then why should not
ours?
With such modes Of irreguiarity, one
need not wonder some day 10 see $50 de-
gree oil going Off at so degrees, aud at an
other time holding on till 800 or 400 de-
grees is arrived at, and if it had good air
brake on some man might get fortune by
having his barrel branded 1000 degrees.
The following gfOrmula-"LOckWOOd' 81
is the one herein spoken Of as authority
Oger all others, and section Of the Penn
sylvania State Law reads
The said fire test shall be determined by
an Inspector appointed under the provisions
of this act, who shall use "TagliabSies" or
such other well defined instrument as may
be used by the inspectors Of export oil ac-
cording to the following formula: Heat
with alcohol small fame; when thernOme-
ter indicates ninety degrees remove lamp;
at ninety-five try for fash with small bead
Of fire on end OF string held within a quar-
ter of an inch Of surface Of oil. Replace
lamp and work oil up gradually from this
point until the burning point Is reached,
removing lamp every four degrees, and al
lowing oil to run up three degrees before
replacing lamp, flashing the oil each time
Just before lamp is replaced, until result is
attained.
This is the principle recognized by the
oil receiving markets of Europe and Amer
lea, and said inspection formula must be
accepted and adopted by the inspectors Of
our State, or no manufacturer OF oil will
be content to ship here at the risk Of con-
fiscation and fine. If an inspector, through
want Of practice, declare a dollar not a
dollar, then the dollars would seek some
place where they would be more appreCI-
ated, as just now they seem doing.
"a. HEAP OIL