New-York tribune., 1896-01-10


INSTITUTE. ALSO DECLARES IT TOO
EXPENSIVE TO BE USED on
COMMERCIAL SCALE.
The ruinor that the Board of Underwriters of
New-Yort had refused to write insurance on build
ings where acetyiene was to be used, was con-
irme1 by interview with Mr.. w. A. Anderson
Superintendent OF the New-York Board OF Fire
Insurance Underwriters.
"You will he correct in stating" said Mr.. W. A.
Anderson. that have not approved of acetylene
gas. Of the apparatus which II is proposed 10
employ for manufacturing it. With regard to the
alternative plan suggested. OF putting 1t up In
cylnd ers, can only say that 1t is In this form
equally dangerous especially in case OF ransporta-
ton. The Board of Underwriters in Philadelphia
where the interest in acetylene started nave not
approved of the new gas from the insurance point
of view. and think If You will go to Philadelphia
you will find that they think the same as do.
IL was learned through other sources that the
Board of Underwriters had issued special clrcu-
lar TO the effect that they refuse insurance on
buildings using acetylcne gas. This action was
taken upon the report Of Professor Henry Morton,
Of stevens institute. authority on the subject.
Professor Morton on being interviewed In Hobo-
KEN stated for publication MS. grounds for an un-
favorable report
He explained that pure aretylene was not explo-
sve but when mixed with the air 1t was extremely
Plut~rn
ton while experimenting with acetylere gas had
an explosion which believe viii be repeated very
frequently under similar circumstances. 1ney
charged cylin!er with gas wiki only 80 lbs pres,
sure according to the gauge. suddenly the heal
blew ont ana crashed through the roof vent up
into the air, and tncn fell back, demo'Shlng
chimney. You can see for youri"f now uhsatiS-
factory any gauge must be- in case Of acety'ene'
for ~ iis. pressure could hardly cause such an "A-
piD..nn. However. ] 10 not believe that calcium
carbide from which acctylene gas IS made. can De
Manufactured at price wncn wound MAKE II
available. l. viii cost AT least 800 ton fVen
y t. can be- manufactured In such way As not to
boz exp.osive the cost must b" reduced To <lo ton
t. Dc used an enrcher. will not say that there
is aha1lu'cy 30 Use for N" NJ" gas Tor Ak pres
eni 4 Is wholly in the experimental stage. -
MIR Charles HcAImcr. Secretary ot the Phlla-
dcphla Fire Underwriters Association con-
Grm.d the statement of Mr.. Anderson, OF
the New ork Board that even In the home
Of acoyiene. tae Underwriters had not yet
accepted tho new gas "A number OF gas
mo how to recommend the use Of acetyicne In ap-
p.ication have replied. Have the cylinders put
vel. away from the building. The gas expands Win
heat and there naturally would be an explosion
without this prccaution.' We have not been called
upon to underWrlte acetylenc Ia an official
manner. for H." reason that 1s yet none OF II mas
been mad" In this country. the gas which Is used
in an experimental way having been imported
from Germany Ny position Is substantially that
OF the New-York Iioari and ! fully concur with
what Professor Morton says In connection with
acetyl,ne and IT. upon a commercial scale. |
have been told. but how true this s cannot say.
that an explosion took pi4c" In this city quite re-
Gently. so YOU see th" objections against the new
gas are not purely tho o1rcticaA"