The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-08-18
me DsadIx Kerosene

1t has become q common occurrence,
as we are forcibly reminded by the sad
accident of Wednesday night last week
for coal oil lamps to explode. Within a
few months past there have been scores
of such cases IN Emporia, none of them,
however, proving specially disastrous,
we believe, but this last one. But the
list is long one, and that there have
been no fatal results in the most of
the cases is due alone to fortuitous cir
cumstances. Powell's hotel has mar
rowly escaped confiagration
on more than one occasion from explod-
ing lamps, and it is notorious and fire.
quently commented upon fact that the
lamps at the Normal school are never
ali lighted but that the oil in one or
more of them becomes ignited inside the
lamp. And these are only single in
stances out of a multitude of similar
cases. Fortunately in most of the cases
the flames have been subdued before any
serious damage has been done. But there
is nothing more fearfully dangerous than
burning oil. Wherever it strikes it burns,
and it almost never fails to cause a most
excrutiatingly agonizing death whenever
il strikes human being.
In view of these facts it is of exceed
ingly great importance that the most
careful provisions should be made
against such accidents But there is
nothing about which the people generally
are more careless. It Is known that
burners should be kept clean
and not be used till all
burned out; but almost nobody profits
by the knowledge. 1t is known that all
oil is inspected and tested, and that the
high test oil is not so likely to explode
Is the common low test, but in the
face of this knowledge there are three
barrels of low test oil sold to one OF
high test.
The law in Kansas makes it a crime to
sell oil of less than 10 degrees proof
test; but that is too low. Almost all
the common oil used here is
marked 112; and many of the
states require the oil to be up to
$50. We think the law in this state
should be changed so that no oil should
be offered for sale Of less than $50 proof
test.
Meanwhile it would be a wise move
TO have an inspector Of oil in this city
The Kansas law makes PROVISION thai
an inspector may be appointed by the
mayor and council of any city upon
the presentation OF petition for the
same signed by five or more inhabitants
There never has been an inspector Of
oil here that We know Of It is possible
and the possibility is worth inVesti
cation. that some of the oil branded
1l2 would generate gas and explode at q
lower rate OF temperature than thai, and
we regard oil of a lower proof test than
los as almost as dangerous as powder.
II is claimed that lamps will not ex.
plode if the burner is kept well cleaned,
no matter what oil il used, and others
clam that If good OIL is used il makes
little differences what kind Of lamp II
Is in. Our advice is TO keep the lamp
well cleaned and the wick carefully
trimmed. and use only,the very highest
proof sest oil available.
For those who would always buy
the cheapest oil, and who neglect
70 clean the lamps. we are in favor Of
more protection by the enactment Of a
law to prohibit the sale of low test oils,
1 and TO provide for the appointment Of
state OF district coal oil inspectors whose
duty il shall be 70 make tour At least
annually, and see that all oil offered for
sale Is sufficiently refined to not be in
danger Of exploding from the heat
thrown out by the sun.