The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-12-06
Why Lamps Give a Peor Light.

Mr.. John A. Magcvney, of the
Standard Oil Company, has sent the
"Times-Democrat' the following
s.pointers' on how to secure the best
lamplight from Illuminating oil. The
suggestions are pulled from recent
bulletin issued by the State Chemist
Of Alabama, and are Of great value to
lamp-users.
Many Of our people are strongly Of
the opinion that an oil which falls
below the limits prescribed by law is
poor oil, in the sense that it will
not give good light. This opinion
is incorrect. An unsafe oil need not
necessarily be poor illuminant, and
generally is not. Many have poor
lights because of a lack of care and at
tention to their lamps and wicks.
The following points should be care
fully needed by those who would get
the best results from their lamps:
l. Use good wick. The open
woven wick known as the "American
wick, is excellent. Do not use too
long wick; cut it only few inches
longer than necessary to reach the
bottom of tho lamp. Do not have a
great coil Of wick in the lamp.
2. In adjusting new wick, ftit to
the burner, soak the wick in the oil,
light the wick, let the lamp burn few
minutes, then blow it out and trim
your wick by moving the finger over
the charred part evenly and smoothly
in one direction only. Repeat until
the surface feels smooth and even;
this is always the best plan to pursue
in trimming the wick. Do not use
shears unless perhaps to cut off long
and uneven threads at the start. AL
ways trim the wick in this way after
| each nights use.
8. Remember that dirt will get
into oil, little particles that perhaps
you cannot see, and this floating dirt
will gradually accumulate in the wick,
which acts as filter to hold back the
dirt as the oil ascends the wick.
After time this dirt chokes up the
pores or intestines in the wick and
partially destroys its power of cap
illarity. Then the light begins to
fall, because the oil cannot get to it.
So don't economize on wicks. They
are much cheaper than eyesight. Put
ina new one when needed. Don t
pin or sew red flannel on to the end of
your wick to exc out its existence and
at the same time expect to get a good
light.
4. Remember that occasionally, say
once in ten days, or whenever need
ed, the dirty, dreggy oil in the bottom
of the lamp should be thrown out.
1t may be saved if desired by 6ltering
it through piece Of fine cotton cloth.
Then rinse out the lamp with some
clear, bright oil. Don't clean the
inside Of your lamp with water; if you
do the light will probably be bad
when you next use it, sputter and give
you trouble.
5. Occasionally, say once in ten
days or when you see it is needed,
give the burner thorough cleaning,
boil it with hot water ard soda so as
oget all greasy dirt and open up the
air passages. Then dry it thoroughly
in the sun or over the stove before
using.
6. Don't buy red oil; it never gives
as good light as the same quality of
oil without the red coloring matter.
If you attend carefully to all the rules
and still get poor light then you may
abuse the oil companies, but not be-
fore.
In all the cases of ''poor light and
chad oil I have so far investigated,
the trouble must have been due to
neglect of some of the above simple
precautions, which ought to be adopt
ed in every well-regulated household.
Remember that the State will see to
it that no unsafe oil is furnished you,
and tha. because lamp gives a poor
light is no evidence that the oil is
unsafe. In the recent oil investiga
tion | examined some oils which were
undoubtedly unsafe and below the law;
but yet when | burned them day after
day in properly cared for lamp no
fault could be found with the light
they gavc.-New Orleans Times-Dem-
Ocrdt
Mutually Agreeable.
On one of the recent warm days,
I I