The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-06-06
spoxrAsEous COMBUSTION.

All substances that are liable to take
fire spontaneously do so more readily whom
covered up 50 as to confne the heat gener-
ated or when subjected to artificial heat,
either from steam or hot-air fues or that
Of the sun. Oily rags are liable to burn
spontaneously, and are doubtless often the
cause Of fires in factories, junk shops, or
paper mills which are supposed to be of in
cendiary origin.
Canvas when painted with OIL paiut and
rolled up Or packed closely in a cor.in.d
place is petty sure TO burn. Ordinary
oiled clothing, such as is worn by sailors
when piled in heaps on shelves or else :
"here, is very subject to spontaneous igni-
tion. Such goods should always be hung
up, 50 as to admit of a free circulation of
air around them. Spent lan-bafk will
ignite spontaneously when stacked up in
heaps. 1t is for bis reason often used in
White lead works to generate carbon diox-
idc by its fermenting in the corroding
beds.
The mOistening of such Fl brous u INSTANCES
as cotton, hair, or wool is always attends,
with slight heat. Wet ron filings generate
heat rapidly, a sdoes also rustinga iron. Very
fine fragments OF iron and steel, by their
rapid oxidation, i'll become rcd hot, and
some English scientists declare that the
fires known to be caused by steam pipes
constantly in contact with wood originate
frnp1 tha rY,Ct lf tE. fr-x A. E.f;t -.
thority says:
"When oxide of iron is placed in contact
with wood excluded from the atmosphere.
and aided by a slightly increased tsmpera-
ture, the oxide parts with its oxygen, and is
convefttd into finely divided particles Of
metallic iron having such an affinity for
oxygen that, when afterward exposed to the
action of the atmosphere from any cause,
oxygen is absorbed SO rapidly that these
PARTICLES become red hot, and if in sufi-
eient quantity will produce a temperature
far beyond the ignitable point of dry tim
Der.
w heneyer iron pipes are employed for
the circulation Of any heated medium
whether hot wafer, hot air, or st6am),
and Whenever the pipes are allowed to be-
come rusty and are also in close contact
With wood, 1t is only necessary to suppose
that under these circumstances the finely
divided particles OF metallic iron become
exposed to the action of the atmosphere
(and this may occur from the mere ex-
pansion or contraction of the pipes) in
order to account for NAM of the fires
which periodically take place at the CON-
menceInents Of the winter season.
1t is difficult to get persons to belive
that there is any danger from fire arising
from the contact of steam pipes with wood,
notw outstanding that there has been WELL
attes ted cases of fire originating from this
cause.
Iron scraps or filings, or little chips, al
ways found ON The floors of machine shops,
and usually more or less oily. are liable to
heat If they become rusty, and particularly
SO when sa"dust is used, as is often the
case in bolt works. There is an instance
on record v here a large machine shop was
hoodfd by a sudden freshct, wetting heaps
of iron filing on the floor, which become
heated Immediately after the water had
suhsided.-Ioronto Monetary Times.