The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1882-01-19

Is needed than 1t any other. In rural
districts q large amount OF kerosene is
/ used. The use of tallow and whale oil
has nearly passed away. Tallow, oil
and kerosene are changed to gas before
they develop light. They are all
changed to gas by heat. The gas they
yield is hydrogen, combined with car
bon. hydrogen is the kindIng stuff,
carbon IS the Source Of Hight and heat.
The sparks that fly from burning gas,
whether the gas be made from tallow,
! whale oil or kerosene, are carbon. The
coal or wood we burn to warm our
homes yield light and heat by igniting
the hydrogen and carbon they contain.
Another element is needed to develop
light and heat, namely, oxygen. This
! whole process of producing heat and
| light are the same, whatever substances
we may employ. Kerosene contains
other elements than hydrogen and car
| bon, and so does common burning gas.
! A great objection to the latter for pro-
ducing light is that it flickers and pro-
duces an unsteady light and so harms
the eyes. Kerosene is more steady in
its burning, and SO is much healthier for
the eyes. 1t is rapidly gaining in pop
ularity among students and others, who
are compelled to use artificial light.
| Hydrogen and carbon combines read
lily with the oxygen of the air. In burn
ing they necessarily use and destroy the
oxygen any room contains. Oxygen, so
| absolutely necessary in sustaining ami
NAL life, in combining with the hydro
gen and carbon, forms new compound.
-. ~1.s,~ Il <l~k
must be constantly supplied, or inhala-
ton is soon impossible. Health, then,
demands not only that vitiated air
should be removed. but that fresh, pure
| air should be introduced into any room
occupied by any animals. Health de-
| mands proper amount of oxygen, or
| it requires ventilation or vitiated air 60
| ing out and pure air coming in. Kero-
sene yields given amount of light at a
much cheaper rate than oil or tallow, or
ordinary gas, at present rates. The
best way of burning kerosene is in the
students lamp. It is at once safer,
more economical and healthier than any
other. It is healthier, because the air
| of the room in which it is consumed is
purer and does not disturb the eyes.
Good and pure kerosene is not ex-
plosive. Plunge lighted taper into it
and it will not explode. A poor or i'm
pure article is sometimes sold and used.
1t may be well to tell our readers some
thing about its origin and way of puri-
flying. Coal oil from which kerosene is
made is found in the cavities of the
earth. 1t is not simple substance but
is composed of benzine, benzoline, gas
|.oline, kersoline and other light hydro
carbons, differing in their volatility.
Some of these are much more volatile
than others. Kerosene, when properly
prepared, is not very volatile, does not
easily inflame. and so does not explode.
If it is impure, or unsafe to burn, it
contains some one or more of the other
ingredients of coal oil. Plunging
burning taper into a dish of it ignites
the volatile impurities. The demand
for the very volatile ingredients is SO
small that the inducement to let them
remain mixed with kerosene is very
great. Coal oil is separated into several
distinct elements by distillation. The
oil is exposed to heat. The most vola-
tile elements pass into proper receiver
at the lowest temperature. Naphtha is
very volatile and yet may be allowed to
remain mingled with kerosene, and so
render the mixture explosive: Some
dealers in kerosene may, add ten to
twenty per cent. of naphtha and thus
render it inflammable, explosive and
highly dangerous.
Fill lamp with bad kerosene or with
its vapor, and it will not ignite unless
the oxygen mixes with it. A lamp full
of kerosene or vapor may be compare
lively safe. Lamps may not explode
when first lighted if they be entirely
full. Kerosene lamps, then, are never
so safe as when they are entirely full,
or are filed every day. if in use. Inn
pure kerosene may not explode when
the space above the oil is full of vapor.
When kerosene lamps are extin-
guished, and become cool, the vapor is
condensed, and so does not fill the
space above the oil, and leaves partial
vacuum; air gets in and mixes with the
vapor, and may explode when relighted,
without first refilling it with oil and
driving out the vapor. If the oil is
nearly all consumed and the space above
the small amount of oil that remains is
full of vapor, it will not explode if it
remains at rest upon the table. Agitat-
ing the lamp, or carrying it into cool
er room may so condense the vapor as
to admit the air and then the mixtures
may explode. 1t is always dangerous
to expose lamp of kerosene to the cool
outside air, because doing so condenses
the vapor and allows air to enter and
mix with it. Small lamps for carrying
about the house should always be ready
for immediate use, so that large lamps
may remain quiet upon the table. The
great fact, then, is that the oxygen of
the air should not be allowed to mix
with the vapor of kerosene. The
students lamp guards against this con-
tingency. But all persons can not have
this lamp, and so they should know how
to determine the safety of the kerosene
they burn. We now see the bearing of
kerosene upon health and life. Ex-
perience and observation show it gene
rates the best kind of light, the most
steady flame. Its use demands the
most complete ventilation as does the
use of any burning substance. We
have ordinary gas fixtures in our house,
but we rarely use them, because kero-
sene is much cheaper and produces a
better light.-C. II. Allen, NJ. d., in
Western Rural.
The Future Farm and Farmer.
Ex-President Paul A. Chadbourne in
a scholarly lecture gave excellent sug-
gestions about the future farm and farm
er. The home stands first in importance.
If building anew, let the dwelling be
placed on high land where the air is
clear and dry and the water pure. Fear
not little wind, when in trees judi
cor 1sS>,, bDx,o y,,oo nc rs l>,.ool