The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-01-18

Right in our midst exists a danger that
may, any evening, produce ruinous con-
flagration. While all dwellings, SIS well
as business places, are lighted by kerosene
lamps, it is highly imp ortant that pure
oil be used. The kerosene now in use at
this place is highly inflammable, and IRE
parable loss is inevitable if prompt meas
ures are not taken to avert impending
danger, The city does not permit the
storage of gunpowder within its limits,
yet nearly every barrel of kerosene is ca
pable of far more damage than key of
powder. OF five samples Of oil tested, NOT
one comes up to the legal standard. Bar
rels are branded no, while their contents
ignite at IS.
Pure kerosene is as safe IS q taIloW can
die. The legal standard IL Ito deg's. r.
II the oil inflames at lower temperature
| it is unsafe. Last week tested five sam
pies from different firms in the city, with
the following result: No. ignited at no.
105, and 100 deg's: No. ? at no, los, 100
and 81 deg's; No. at ITO. 1O3, 100, 81, 90,
90, and 80 deg's; No. at ITO, 102, SO. 80
and 80 deg's; No. at 10, 100, 80, IS, 80,
75- 20, and S. deg's. No. . was the worst
| 6pOSlACA SAdAAlAcus anu Is dlIOS6B1SE LOO
dangerous to have about house. No. 1
is probably the best oil in our market
though it does not come up to the stand
ard. A specimen OF "headIight' oil from
the same firm does not ignite below 14O
deg's, and is wholly safe.
DR.. Nichols, OF the Boston Journal OF
Chemistry, gives very simple method OF
testing kerosene. Partially I'LL q vessel
with hot water, place a Thermometer in
the vessel, and then add cold water till
the mercury stands at ITO. Pour q spoon
full of the oil to be tested into the water
, and apply a match; if the oil ignites it is
dangerous. Any one can make this test
, and 1t should be applied to every new
purchase. If the oil inflames take it back
in this way we can very soon rio ourselve.
of menacIng evil.
1t might prove interesting to state few
, facts respecting the composition Of Detro
Ieum and the proper care of Tampa.
Crude oil is mainly composed of thre
: substances; naptha, kerosene and machinr
oil. The refining process is one of distil
:. lation. in which the naptha passes 4 frs
and afterwards the kerosene, the machine
~ Gil remaining in the retort as residue
o II is the duty Of rehners TO remove thu
r naptha and collect only the kerosene for
Illuminating purposes. As kerosene com.
!, mands better price than naptha, dishen
), est refiners barrel all together.
e Naptha is volatile oil, and the vapo
e is highly inaamable. At ordinary ten
o perature the gas fills the upper part o
:. the lamp bowl. In the absence of air, it i
e inaammable bur not explosive, but the il
= slant air is admitted it Il. both infammabl
s. and explosive Carrying a lamp from
warm room to cod one, the vapor coz
denses In volume, the air Tushes in. an
Of the lighted lamp is the torch read to Xii
die 8 CONGREGATION, or, the mixed Vap,
Id may not infiame till the light is extiI
T, guished by the dangerous practice
. blowing down the chimney. The bowl
ir lamp may contain this gas during .
nj evening. After extinguishIng the Iigh
70 the lamp cools, and AIR mixes with the v
r BoT. EeFt evening, filling the lamp ne
Is another light, or even lighting IL, an excl
"a sion Rsy occur. IL is safe rule 20 ado
- that whenever lamp misbehaYes, &
"a OIL is at fault. Burners elogged with ps
les ticies Of wick agsrd poor light By D,
q venting the oxygen OF the air from IN
NJ ing WITH the elements Of the fame, b
nd unsafe OIL frequently produces a sinnI
ed CT Whenever fame puGs or ackel