The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-02-08
ABOUT COAL OIL.

HANNIBAL, Mo. JAN. %, 1878.

EDITORS NEWS: Without Intending
to reflect upon the motive which
prompted the article from Professor
Delap's pen, in the NEWS of the 18th
inst, we desire to call attention to sew
eral errors which are apparent, and
which are doubtless owing to his want
OF practical familiarity with the branch
OF chemistry about which he writes.
The Professor is evidently actuated
by a belief that the community is be-
ing imposed upon, and the safety and
property OF the citizens jeopardtzed, by
designing persons whose desire for
gain exceeds their honesty, and con-
siders it his duty to bring the hidden
crookedness to light, and the perpe-
traitors thereof TO justice.
This Is emlnently proper, and the
legitimate work of those who, for their
superior learning and consequent fit
ness for scientific research, are quail
fled for such investigation. But a man
who publicly arraigns as possible as
sassains a half dozen persons who are
presumably honest, should, before COM
uniting himself to paper, familiarize
himself thoroughly with his subject,
else the people are misled and lose con-
fidence In their teachers.
In defense of ourselves and of others
whose business integrity has been i'm
pugned by Professor Delap, we will
ask the favor ola little of your space
and, without entering into dIsserta-
ton upon the chemistry of oil, will no.
tice some of the statements contained
in the communication, and present a
few facts IN regard to our method of
handling and preparing oil for market,
and the care that is taken to prevent
fraud.
He says "the kerosene now in use at
this place Is highly lnfammable. This
Is an automatic and incontrovertable
statement, and we have no objection to
offer to such a trite remark, as 1t Is
pretty generally accepted AS an indis-
putable fact that all kerosene Is highly
inflammable.
''Of five samples of oil tested, not
one comes up To the legal standard.
Barrels are branded ITO, while their
contents ignite at %.
This we will not admit without bet
ter proof than the bIre assertion of one
VIII" ascertains the test by setting the
oil on fire, land assert our belief that II
the Professors samples will ignite at
60 degrees, under n proper test, they
were adulrerated AT EmpJrit.
The method of testing oil mentioned
by DIR. Nichols is obsolete, and of but
little value. 1t is another instance of
want OF practical familiarity with a
subject upon which a man of
rec 'gnized ability in his pro-
fessiIn presumes to advise Others.
While the method under some condi-
tlons will give an approximate result,
1t not u sufficiently accurate test
upon which to base charge like that
We have quoted above.
The "iacts respecting the compost
tion of petroleum, and the proper care
of lamps" are a mixture of fact and
error, and may be considered the pro-
duction OF one who has gathered the
materials for his essay with undue
haste. Some OF the suggestions are
sound and practical; for instance, the
danger of blowing down a chimney.
But the same may be said of gun
barrel.
Respecting the anxiety of the deal
ers to procure a safe and good oil we
can but say that the opportunity to do
so is within the reach of every
one.
All the coal oil sold at Emporia,
whether branded Standard, Diamond =,
Mcdonald, Parkersburg or LOOMS &
Snively, Is from one establishments,
and that the Standard oil company. 1t
is all inspected In the huge tanks of
the company, by an officer who was
formally appointed by the govern
ment, and is thence drawn into rail-
road tanks for shipment in all direc-
tions.
A concise statement of the method
of handling 1t at our establishment
will give an idea of the care that is
used 70 insure ourselves and our Gus
toners against mistakes or wlllful
fraud.
The railroad tanks, which hold about
1000 gallons each, are, Immediately
upon their arrival, examined by US,
and samples of their contents taken.
They are then emptied into stationary
tanks which hold about 40 900 gallons
and from the latter the State lnspec tor
personally takes samples for examina-
ton and test, and repeats these trials
as often as oil Is put into the tanks.
cumbent has held the office, has he
found the oil to tall below the standard
test required by Law, and being a gen.
tleman of high culture, a chemist of
great excellence, holding his office by
reason of his especial fitness tor 1t, and
possessing the apparatus necessary for
the most delicate and thorough test, (
is absurd for anyone not thoroughly
conversant with the details of the worh
to pronounce him, even by Implication
a bungler or a charlatan, no matter
how proper or sincere that person:
motives may be.
In addition TO this we are in tn,
habit of testing for ourselves all the
oil that we receive With the bes
apparatus procurable and knowl.
edge of the subject sufficient, 1--WE
say it modestly,) To enable us to judge
correctly of the quality of our wares
we cndeavor to always send our Gus
toners just what they uy,and judging
by the fact that we have meyer found
the Standard company's oil below the
proof required, We must conclude
that our competitors are also supplying
to the trade oil that will stand the tes
whenever properly applied.
Regretting the necessity which com
pels US to trespass 50 much upon YOU
space, we are
Respectfully yours,
LOOMS s. SNIvELY.