Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-09
USE OF A%CETYLENE.
THE ORDINANCE REGULATING
HANDLING OF CALCIUM CARBIDE.
HEAVY PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION.
IL II Based ON the Ordinance Now in
Force In New York. md IL the Re-
tercstcd Not Disheartened.

The Board OF Fire Commissioners stands
arrayed against the introduction Of
acetylene gas In any form. either for
use or storage. into this city.
This attitude Is the result Of enquiries
made at the instigation of President
~frischkorn. wherever the gas has been
used or investigation has been made.
and was first made known at a meeting
of the Council Committee on Ordinances
last night.
The commissioners recommend the
adoption of an ordinance similar in every
respect TO the one now in force in New
York, controlling the transportation.
sale, storage. and use Of calcium carbide
and the installation OF acetylene gas
generators" Such m ordinance was sub
mitted TO the commissioner for 4 report
and at the last meeting the representa-
tiyes OF the new company, which seeks
to establish the use Of these generators.
asked that a free investigation and wide
enquiry should be made concerning the
gas.
THE ORDINANCE.
me COMMISSIONER HOM ffA'iiiih'AN III
adoption Of the following ordinance, with
a penalty OF not more than 500 nor less
than $50 for each violation:
All calcium carbide in transit through
the city and on storage must be IN her-
metically sealed iron Ieceptacles ana
plainly marked. calcium Carbide-Dan-
gerous if Not Kept Dry" No single n
package to exceed one hundred uvV)
pounds in weight Of carbide.
STORAGE.
Calcium carbide in Theoretically sealed
iron receptacles and In quantity not ex-
ceeding one hundred 600 pounds IN the
aggregate, may be stored IN lsolateu
buildings of fre-proof construction, WhsIe
il will not be an exposure 10 any adjoining
property. provided the building is water
proof. well ventilated and drained, with
floor raised abOve the grade upon which
II stands, under the following exceptions
and restrictions.
If the building is used exclusively for
the storage of calcium carbide, and II II
is detached at least % feet from other
buildings. a written permit may be given
by the Board OF Fire Commissioners Tor
the storage of quantities I'm excess or lO
pounds and not exceeding 800 pounds IN
the aggregate. and in such buildings no
artificial light or heat snail be permitted
SALE.
Not more thar twenty pounds Of CAL
cium carbide, either in bulk or IN cart
ridges, shall be stored or kept IN any
building used for dwelling, mercantile, or
manufacturing purposes, and thls amount
shall be kept only on permit obtained
from the Board OF Fire Commissioners
which shall provide that all. quantities IN
excess of two pounds shall be IN ugh
metal packages, and kept elevated al least
six inches from the floor, in a nre-proOt
safe or vault, located above the street
grade.
GENERATING APPARATUS.
All apparatus used for generating or
holding acetylene gas shall be 50 con-
structed, located, and used as TO secure
the greatest measure OF SAFETY. G., cop
Der and all alloys OF the same must not
be used i'm any part of the apparatus;
the various parts shall be Of adequate
strength.
Escape of gas from the apparatus must
be carefully guarded against.
Satisfactory provision must De maze
against dangerous development or neat.
Satisfactory provision must oe MADE
against the dangerous effect OF undue
pressure by the employment OF an APP
prOved safety device connected with an
escape pine dischareing into the open air
above the roof OF the highest contiguous
building, and a suitable pressure gauge
must be attached to each apparatus.
Provision must be made Tor the resi-
dunn of calcium carbide being deposited
out of doors immediately upon It's being
removed from the apparatus, so th2t IL
will not be an exposure TO combustlble
material
rating apparatus until he has oeen pro-
rerIy instructed in its manae n@nt.
no acetylene generating apparatus sha.i
be used. except under permits o~ptalheu
from the Board of Fire Commissioners.
LOCATING OF GENERATING APPA-
RATUS.
All acetylene generating and gas-Aolding
apparatus. except as hereinafter provided
for. must be Installed in an outholse
building Of fre-proof constructors anu
with approved ventilation, and 50 located
that If will not be an exposure 10 ad-
Joining property: the dimensions OF SAID
building must be connned 10 the it4"IIc
ments of the apparatus and the limited
supply. as hereinafter mentioned, Il sur
plus calcium carbide-Vlz.:
Generators having a capacity OF not
more than twenty-five pounds, and, I'm adj
dition. fifty pounds of surplus caicium
carbide. may be located in an outside
vault, separated from the main building
by a blank wall and an ar spa OF az
least five feet. provided SAID vault Is pIo-
perly ventilated and drained.
Captain Andrew PizZini, Messrs. George
Schoen. ID. Dow, and Wilson, who are in
terested i'm the establishment of acetylene
gas generators. and the sale and use OF
calcium carbide I'm this city, were present
TO oppose the recommendation OF the pas
sage OF the ordinance. captain Johh II.
F%rischkorn, president of the Board OF
Fire commissioners. was present TO urge
the adoption of the ordinance.
In order to allow those Interested IN
the manufacture Of the gases mentioned
To be heard fully on the subject, the or
dinance was referred to a subcommittee
OF two. consisting of Messrs. Pollock and
Winston, for consideration and report.
The sum of 800 was ordered TO be paid
CAPTAIN Carlton Mccarthy on account OF
the codihcation Of city ordinances.
INSPECTION OF WIRES.
From the Common Council, referred
February 6. 1899. was received the ordi-
nance as to the erection, construction,
and inspection Of wires, appliances, etc.
The ordinance, as originally reported by
the committee. put the power in the
hands of the Board of Fire Commission
ers. but the Council, by its action last
Monday. agreed TO an amendment. which
provides that a joint standing committee
of the Council, consisting of four mem
bers of the Common Council and three
members Of the Board Of Aldermen, shall
be appointed TO have charge Of the cleo
trical affairs of the city.
After some discussion, the ordinance
was referred to a subcommittee of three,