The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-08
NO CAUSE FOR A SCARE.
COL. sCREVEN SAYS sAVANNAH's
OILS ARE ALL RIGHT.

Agriculture Has shown some Diff
ference From FOrmer Tests-TNO
Out of Nine Samples Taken at the
Warehouses by Inspector Raines
Were Found short of the Required
Standard-Other Tests Are Now Be
ing Made-SaVannah Market Has
Been Furnished With Il High Grade
of Oil, Col. Screven Says.
Quite commotion has been caused
among the oil men throughout the state
| recently by reports sent out from Atlanta
| that an investigation conducted by the
| commissioner OF agriculture had resulted
in finding large quantities of oils at var-
| Gus places in the state which were not
up to the required test. Il was further
stated that the investigation would be con-
tinued and that there was a probability
that large quantities of oil would be seized
in compliance with the law which pro
/ vides for the selling of oils which are
| found to be below the required standard
| The impression naturally created by
these reports was that the inspectors of
! oils had been lax in the performance of
! their duties and that the existence of low
| grade oils in quantities within the state
! was due to their carelessness or incom-
| potency. Col John Screven, inspector of
oils at Savannah, when seen yesterday.
stated that the impression which has been
created by these reports is as unjust to
| the oil men as it is to the inspectors
| themselves.
An impression of this kind is liable to
do great damage to the dealers in Oil
both wholesale and RETAIL" said Col
| Screven, "as well as to lead the consum-
ers to believe that they are handling a
dangerous product. The contrary is the
case. The oils sold in Savannah are well
up to standard and consumers need have
| no fear on this score
That some oils have not come up to
the tests which have been recently made
| said Col. Screven, is due to the fact
that change has recently been made
IN the manner of making these tests
| The rules which the inspectors have been
| following in making their tests were those
! prescribed by law. 1t has been evident
| for some time that this system did not
| give accurate results in all cases. In fact
| there was considerable room Tor variation
| in tests of the same oil made by different
inspectors. new and more careful meth
Cd of making the tests has been instituted
| by the department of agriculture and the
| inspectors throughout the state are now
being instructed in this method. Tests of
! oils have been made by the general in
spector under this new method which
nave shown some difference from the ties 5
under the old method"
Col. A. NJ. Raines of Dawson, a general
II spector sent out by Commissioner Stew
ems, spent day in the city with Col
Screver this week, and instructed him in
| the new method of making the tests. For
| this purpose the three oil warehouses in
the city were visited and samples OBJ
| tanned OF the nine samples tested by
Coils. Raines and Screven seven were fully
| up 10 the standard by the new method
while two were slightly below. Other sam
| PIES have been taken, and Col. ScreVen
was engaged all day yesterday in making
| tests. A report of the results secured so
far was forwarded to the commissioner of
agriculture last night Col. Screven de-
! clined to say, however, what We're The re
! suits of these tests, preferring to leave
this to the commissioner of agriculture to
| announce.
There need be no apprehension on the
| part of the public as to the quality of the
Oils sod in Savannah" said Col. Screven.
| The oils put on the market here are of
| standard quality and often are of much
higher grade than the standard required
| oy law. For instance the fire chef is
required 70 report TO me any cases OF ex-
plosions of kerosene lamps and to fur
nish samples of the oil used. In making
tests of these samples l have always
found the oil up to standard. A G;rlv
lamp, in which the tubes provided for the
escape OF the gas from the heated oil are
choke1 up, is always liable 10 explode"
Testing The OILS is a tedious proceeding
which requires great care. The inspector
does not go about with an automatic test
" oh ha ip1r ~
and guase the quality of The contents in a
few moments. The test is made I'm a dark
ened room with all doors and windows
closed in order TO prevent drafts. A small
cylindrical furnace is used, very small
alcohol lamp at The bottom furnishing the
heat. \ vessel containing a small quantity
of The oil is placed within another vessel
partly filled with water at the top of the
cylinder. A thermometer is suspended
above with The globe of mercury resting in
the Oil The normal temperature of the oil
during summer weather is so to 81. The
test required by the state is 120 degrees.
AS a matter of fact, the test always APP
piled by the inspectors is 1913 degrees. If
the oil burns below that point it is not up
to standard Under the old me hod the oil
was healed to 81 degrees and the lamp re-
moved when the heat remaining within the
water beneath the oil would cause the
temperature TO continue TO rise. When the
mercury registered IS a lighted taper or
piece of paper twine was passed across the
top of the vessel within a quarter of an
inch of the oil. The next test was at 102
and each subsequent test was seven de-
grees higher, thus placing the last test at
123 degrees. IL is frequently the case that
oil viii fash a several of these testing
points. bur so long as it does not burn IL
is considered all right. The agricultural de-
partment has dec dcd that this test is not
sufficiently accurate. Under the new meth
cd ancil which flashes al SO must be tested
at each separate degree from l16 to 123.
The flashing at the earlier stage of the
test is considered an indication Of .n1am-
inability. An OH which burns before the
required standard is obtained is rejected
at once as beihg below grade.
Co. Screven said that he had no idea
OF any of the oil at Savannah being con-
iscated, as it is not the fault of the COM
panies that some Of the oil on hand did
not meet the requirements of the new
method of testing As a matter of fOcr