The morning call., 1893-06-17
COAL OIL PIPES.
Fire Marshal ToWe Makes
a Discovery.
PATENT LIGHTING MACHINE.
The Fire Commissioners Ask the In
surance Union to Raise the
Rate 10 Per Cent.

Chief Sullivan and Fire Marshal Towe
had yesterday one of the most curious ex
periences they ever met with In all their
long connection with the Fire Department
For some time the Chief has heard
rumors of some patent coal-oil arrange
ment for lighting purposes having been In
serted 10 new houss in this city, but he
was unable to locate the premises.
Yesterday he received information that
the new coal-oii apparatus had been placed
in the new building on The corner of Sutter
and Stockton streets. The Chief sent Fire
Marshal Towe to investigate tho matter,
and the latter related the result of his trip
in the afternoon at the New City Hall
"The building in which the new cosl-oil
apparatus is placed is the fve-story build
ing erected on the site of the old Vienna
Gardens and original Tivoll. The struc-
ture is designed FOR store and lodging
house purposes.
the corner store is occupied by Searby
u Zele as drugstore, and it is In this
place where the coal-Oil arrangement is
located. The idea is to light the store and
building with coal oil. because it Is cheaper
than gas. A tank OF coal oil is placed on
the top Of the building. 1t connects with
pipes which circulate through the building
down to the drugstore. The chandeliers
contain lamps with wicks, and the oil by
force of gravity flows into the lamp. A
patent arrangement allows only so much
oil to flow as is necessary to supply the
wick.
'The pipes circulate in all directions and
the elbows are of lead and soldered. Sup
pose fire should break out and melt these
joints. The oil would flow all over the
building. and the pipes would explode. 1t
would make the conflagration a terrible
one. The danger to surrounding buildings
would be great just think Of it'll Pipes
of coal oil running all over a house TO
supply light. Why. / should think
propeTty-owner would not take any such
risk as that.
The Fire Commissioners have author
lied me to communicate with the Pacific
Insurance Union, and ask that body 70
Immediately raise the rate of insurance on
the building and its contents at least 10
per cent. Ten per cent would pay for the
building in at least five years.
I'm the meanwhile we are looking ND
the law on the subject. and think the case
is covered by section SS of the fire ordi-
nance, which gives the Commissioners
power to order the removal of all 'ap-
purtenanceS' which in their Judgment are
dangerous 10 property or life. The Com
mlssioners are given discretion in the
matter. Before the pipes of oil are ordered
removed we will get legal advice to see
tHeb w hoNo lLio law Du OuI sue HC
people who put the coal-oil apparatus in
the building did not even apply for per-
mission, ana we had no idea OF the thing
being IN existence until our attention was
called to it by private parties.
Il took some Of the oil out of the tank"
continued ths Fire Marshal, land have
just submitted it 10 a test Tho oil is of
good grads and burns at 159 degrees. This
does not lessen the danger in the least.
what can prevent the owner of the patent
coal oil lighting machine from putting a
bad grade Of oil in the tank in the future?
Even IL the grade is good the coal oil is
most dangerous. In fire the oil would
explode on account of the heat and the
pouring of this inhammable liquid all over
the building would result disAstrously.
"Evenii we have no lesal right to remove
this coal oil business we will make it very
dear for the owners of the property and
the residents therein by having the insur-
ance companies raise the rate to such an
cxtentas to make gas or electricity appear
very cheap indeed. The Board of Under
writer's has also been notified and Will
take some action in the matter"