The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-19
II Is Away Below the Standard and
Is Dangerous Both to Life
and Property.
OF Twelve Samples Tested, But
One of Them Proves to be
Honest Goods.
a Dumping Ground for Poor Oil--Lsws
Needed for the Protection Of Msr-
chant and Consumer.

HAS BE;oME, AZ SHOWN By THE CHARACTER Oy
THIS OILS EXAMINED, THE DUMPING GROUND
sOR DANGEROUS AND WORTHLESS OILS, WHICH
COULD Nor BE HOLD EIsgwHERE.''
such is the deliberate opinion OF Prof.
Frank W. Traphsgen. head Of the qusnti-
tative laboratory Of the College OF Mon
tana. after thorough test Of Twelve Sam.
pies of coal oil, sold by as many different
dealers in Helena. For number of
months complaints have come to The IsDE-
PENDENT from different sections of the poor
quality of the burning fluids furnished the
public. Investigation demonstrated that
the complains were probably Just, as there
are no laws, either state or municipal, ~
quirinR an inspection Of oils, such ss obtain
union, in order TO protect the pub
lie from the dangers arising from
the use Of burning fuiss not up to
safety point. Knowing the difficulty Of
| having laws enacted for the protection Of
the public unless the necessity was shown
to actually exist. it Was determined to So
cure number OF samples of kerosene oil
from different deslers, and have. analyses
made TO demonstrate their good or bad
qualities. Acting on this discrimination q
representative Of THE INDEPENDENT first 80
cured seven pint bottles which were thor
ouRhly cieansed. Sticking bottle in his
overcoat pocket he called on = Fifth avenue
grocer, bought pint Of kerosene oil, end
returned to The INDEPENDENT office. This
bottle was labeled No. l, and on slip OF
paper was also put the same number VITA
| the name Of the dealer from whom it WIS
bought This same method was followei
being handled at time in order to prevent
the danger of crediting sample to
the wrong firm. After the first seven
were ready, the slip containing the numbers
and the names of the dealers was placed
under lock and key. and the bottles secure
W. TraphaQen. OF the College Of Montana.
for analysis. Prof. Traphagen was selected
for this duty because Of the high reputation
he bears, not only in Montana, but else
where, as an able analyst. and also because
the laboratory OF the College OF Montana j.
thoroughly equipped for work Of this kind.
As the bottles sent Prof. Trsphagan had
only the numbers on them, there was moth
ing to indicate to the chemist from whom
! the oils came. These samples were obtained
from the following dealers: W +
No. 2-Jacobs, Sultan 4 Co., Rodney street.
No. 3-M. Reinig; Bridge street
Ne Ne sBssIs, cSiI S;| g CO.. asin street.
No. WIN. Weinstein & 90. Main street.
It will be noticed that the samples COM
mence with No. 2 and that there are only
six Of them. This is occasioned by the fact
that sample No. was broken, and but six
of the seven obtained were sent, No. l being
erased from the list.
Under date of Jan. Prof. Traphagen
sent the following to the editor Of The In
DEPENDENT:
Dear Sir-With this also mail you =
report of the examination Of the samples OF
kerosene oil you submitted to me.
''The flashing point of an illuminating
oil ls the Temperature at which 1t FIRST gives
of indammable vapor in sufficient quantity
to yield blue flash of light when . lighted
taper is brought near it. This yapor mixed
with air is explosive.
''The burning point is reached when the
vapor is given of so rapidly as TO continue
to burn when once iRnited.
The flashing point is of most importance
and ought to be above any temperature
which the oil could attain in the lamp. and
least ITO degrees Fahrenheit and preferably
12O degrees.
Most states require By legislation the
flashing point to be above no degrees and
some require much higher point. You will
notice that only one OF the six samples you
"Dr. Chss. f. Chandler, probably the
best authority on the subject Of illuminat-
ing oils in the world, in his celebrated Re
1
Nothing but the most stringent laws, max
ing it state prison offence to mix naphtha
and kerosene oil, or to sell any product OF
petroleum as an illuminating oil or fluid to
be used In lamps, or to be burned except in
air gas machines, that will evolve an in
fammabie vapor below 100 degrees Fahren-
heit, or better ITO degrees Fahrenheit, will
be efectual in remedyinR the evil.'
Il might cite other authorities in this
same line, but this, think. will be suf6-
cient."
The report of the examination of the oil
sent is as follows.
The QUANTITATIvE LABORATORY }
OF THE COLLEGE OF MON rASA.
DEER LODGE. Mont. Jan. D. 1851. }
Report of analysis of samples Of kerosene oils.
from Helena. Mont, msrkei Number two"
"Number three" Number for" Number
five." Number six" and Number seven"
Submitted TO me for examination January 1.
1891
Sample drawn by The HELENA INDEPENDENT.
Flashing Point. Burning Point.
No 2.......- 20 deg. Fahr. as deg. Fshr.
No. s.,.... ...... 10 deg. fahr. o. deg. fahr.
No. 4...... ...... 1i0 deg Fair. 1Ss deg Fahr.
No. 3d.. ...... 80 deg. fAhr. ej deg. fahr.
No. u. -. ........ 10 deg. Fair. 93 deg. Fahr.
No. 7.......... :. 1S deg. Fair. l2l deg. fahs.
To the edito. Of The HELENA INDEPENDENT.
FRANK w. TRArHaosS. ph. D.. y. G. s..
Analyst.
II will be seen that but one of the SAM
al 4 xt.o