The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-03

of these materials is from the ignition Of
the gas or vapor which arises from them
at ordinary temperatures, hence the use Of
heat oropen lights in rooms containing such
material should be strictly prohibited
Clean, dry sand should be used to Absorb
the drippings and prevent occurrence Of
spontaneous combustion, which is liable to
take place if the use of sawdust is persisted
in for such purposes. The room should
also be freely ventilated, in order to carry
off such gases as may be evolved.
Friction OF MACHINERY.-To avoid
accidents from this cause high grade oils
should be used, with self-oiling bearings
The shafting should be kept true and in
line. All accumulations of dust, dirt, fly
ings, &C., should be frequently removed
from bearings, to prevent undue friction,
as the heat thus generated may remain
latent for some hours after the machinery
has ceased running. and burst into fame
when least expected; hence all important
bearings should be frequently inspected
during the first three hours after shutting
down, in order to prevent disaster from this
cause.
FURNACEs.-To insure even ordinary
safety in the use of furnaces, whether hot
air, hot water or steam, they should be
placed on a solid foundation of brick or
stone, with brick, stone or metal not less
than 36 inches wide in front of the ash-pit.
The dome or top of the furnace and its
smoke-pipe should not be less than Is or
20 inches from unprotected woodwork, or
lath and plaster; its side walls at least II
inches and its hot air fues not less than
or 10 inches from unprotected combus-
tible material Hot air hues should be
constructed of TX bright tin, and where
they pass within wooden or lath and plaster
partitions, they should be double, with an
air space of at least one-half inch between
the inner and outer Aues. All registers
should be set in soapstone frames not less
than two inches wide, well bedded in plaster
of Paris.
Register boxes passing through floors
should be made of TX tin, with joist or
floor timbers framed around them to leave
a space of from 2 to 81 inches, according
to size of the register, the exposed wood
work to be covered with tin on all sides,
extending from under the soapstone frame
to and under the ceiling below, The cold
air trunk or inlet should be of metal, having
wire net or grating at its outer opening,
TO prevent the entrance of inhammable mat
ter. The use of wooden trunks for air
inlets is extremely dangerous, as a reversal
of the draft is liable to occur in some stages
of the weather, in which case sparks might
be carried into the trunk and fire ensue
An accident of this kind is more liable to
occur when, from forcing fire in the fur
mace, its lining has become burned through,
leaving holes through which live Goals may
fall into the surrounding air chamber, and
ignite any infammable matter or dust which
may have accumulated there. In addition
to the aforementioned trouble from burn
ed-out lining, fire may be readily communica-
ted through the hot air hues and registers un-
der the conditions above mentioned. Under
any system of heating using registers, at
least one of the registers should be contin-
ually kept open, either by removal of the
valve or by securely wiring it so as to pre-
vent its being closed. Be careful to exam
inc the smoke-pipe for defects and the
chimney for undue heat near woodwork.
OIL STovEs-The points of danger
from the use of these stoves are similar to
those pointed out under the caption of lamp
explosions, except that each of the faults
mentioned are proportionately aggravated
on account of the larger quantity of oil
used and the greater heating of the metal
surfaces from combining the flame. Under
the best of conditions they are dangerous
appliances, and their use should invariably
be discouraged.
STEAM PIPEs.-To avoid danger of fire
from this source, steam pipes should never
be allowed to come into contact with wood
or other infammable material. When pas
sing through floors or other woodwork they
should be provided with metal collars, hav
ing radial points or arms extending from
the inside, so as to form an air space around
the pipe. When hung on the side walls
of an apartment, they should be supported
on iron brackets, and be kept free from all
accumulation of infammable material.
When laid near the floor, as In dry rooms,
the floor should be covered with metal and
the pipes be raised above itat lest 8 inches,
and be laid in sections, resting on pieces of
piping of or1 inches diameter, thus CIV
ing free passage of air under the pipes
at the points ofeontact with their supports;
there should be sufficient space between
each section to allow ready access for re.
moval of waste, dust, etc, The safest aud
at the same time the most satisfactory
method of heating by steam pipes, is to
suspend them in iron stirrups at point
some two feet below the ceiling. When
so arranged the heating capacity is not in
the least diminished, while cleanliness is
conserved, and the danger of fire from an
accumulation of combustible material on
the pipes is almost entirely eliminated.
The occurrence of fires from this cause
is too well known to admit of doubt at the
present time, and any tendency to careless.
ness in the arrangement or management of
such apparatus should be severely criticised
and amendment insisted upon at once.