The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-07-13
Kerosene Oils.
HONOLULU, July 8th, 1873.

". c. PARKE, Esq,
Marshal of the Hawaiian Islands, &c.
DEAR SIR Enclosed please find the report of the
aGaiysis of different samples of kerosene oil, which
received from you, at the hands of Captain Fehlbehr
of the Honolulu Police.
The result of this investigation is somewhat start.
ling, for there is not one specimen among them al
that caR be called safe, excepting the one marked
No. 1. which was derived, as you will perceive, from
a different source, and which is said TO have been
imported directly from the manufacturer IN Boston
A number of years ago, when l examined speci-
mems of the kerosene oils found in our market the
case was very different, and the results obtained at
that time were so satisfactory that L came to the con-
cIusiou that none but the very best oils were import
| ed into these Islands by our merchants, and that our
community was comparatively safe from exposure TO
III ose fearful accidents of which we read SO frequent
" in the newspapers from abroad.
Rut il seems that with increasing demand for the
article in question, eupidity has stepped in to lower
the standard of quality to such an alarming extent
that we are no longer safe. And in. looking over
the list. containing specimens marked "a danger
ous article " Not q safe oil to use" highly
dangerous specimCu," &c, 1t appears strange that
we have not had many more serious accidents and
has been in daily use in this community.
Some of these, particularly NO: and NO. J.
sbould be made harmless at once, and for humanity's
sake they should not even be allowed to be exported
again, to prevent their dong miscniel IN other
places. Every effort should be maze 10 ascertaih the
source whence they were derived
The speci6c gravity of all these samples has been
carefully taken by the balance and properly correct
ed for temperature. No. 3 and No. Z, the two most
dangerous samples on the list, show really o greater
density (apparently) than the best specimen, No. l..
But on careful examination Of both samples, l. re-
gard them as a willful fraud, having been mixed on
purpose to suit the requirements OF the speeihc gra-
yity apparatus, and being simply made up by adding
a portion of the heavy oils to the more volatile and
dangerous Gasoline and Naphtha, OF which they are
largely composed. q,
"A some of our merchants have lately received
cHers from California to supply Kerosene Oils at low
prices for our market, stamped and marked Uth ANY
nqnufacturer'S name they might choose to haze put
upon the same it shows US plainly the danger to
which we are exposed, and that 1t VIII no longer
avail to place confidence in the firm name under
which the article may be sold. To prevent disaster
in the future great vigilance and care should be eX-
ercised, and all doubtful and spurious oils should be
prohibited from being imported into this Kingdom.
Hoping the above report will be found satisfactory,
T have the honour to remain,
Very respectfully yours,
HUGO S~TANGENwALD, NJ. d.
The following is the draft Of a bill introduced
during the present week by the Hon. w. o. Smith ::
An ACT to amend an Act approved on the 18th
day of May, a. D., 1868, providing For the protec-
ton of life and property against explosive substances
other than gu%npowder."
Be it enacted, &C., That the Act entitled An
Act &C., is hereby amended by adding the following
section, TO be designated Section 3 a Section
a. 1t shall not be lawful for any person or per-
sons to import into this Kingdom, or sell within this
Kingdom, benzole, petroleum, kerosene oil, or any
oils of which the component part is ~naphtha. gaso-
line, or spirits of turpentine, which gives of an in
~fammable vapor at a temperature Of less than ITO
degrees Fahrenheit; and whoever shall import, sell,
give or furnish to any persons in this Kingdom ben
zoIe, petroleum, kerosene oil, or any oils OF which
the component part is naphtha, gasoline. or spirits
of turpentiHe, which gives off an vapor
at q temperature of less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit,
shall be deemed guilty. of q m~isdemeanor, and on
conviction before a police magistrate, or any district
Justice, shall be punished by a fine not less than
fifty dollars. nor more than five hundred dollars, or
by imprisonment at hard labor not more than one
year, or by both fine and imprisonment, in the dis
erection of the Court.
Sec. 2. This Act shall become a law from and
after thirty days from the date Of its passage.