New-York tribune., 1902-09-26
CONCERNING ACETYLENE.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Your issue Of August % published state
ments under the caption "A Remarkable Motor
Gas" which must surely have escaped the eye Of
your scientific editor and know it would not
be your purpose 10 uisinform the public or to do
unwarranted injury 20 any legitimate industry.
take the liberty Of addressing you this line
The article IN question. perhaps quite uninten-
tionalIy but very pointedly states that acetyene
IS dangerous. Now. there could be no objection
10 any person exploiting his own commodity. even
though II he as mysterious that which the aru-
Gle describes. But you would not justly permit
him 10 decry the commodity OF another which
he rnantfestlv knows little about Acetyene is not
dangerous Witness the rapid growth OF its use
in England and Germany. countries notorious for
| timid conservatism IN all new fields Witness
again the fact that the underwriters. In at least
one civilized country charge to-day a lower rate
for acetylene risks than for coal oil risks, ana
that all admit acetylene under proper regulations
as TO installation
Ace+vIene accidents have occurred but always
by reason of gross careessness. The same is true
Of every other nluminant man has ever used
Under the same conditions of reasonable precau-
ton thev are no more likely TO occur than are
coal oil or coal gas accidents and vastly less SO
thln those due TO gasolene ,,,., ,
fully eeta bshed reason for existence, no IN
elligent man shou.d ne ioesa igm1Ja o articles ike
the one mentioned above, let your redders selI
for sample copy yr OF OF .T6e Acetylene journal
OF Chicago-I speak for no commerclaI hrr1, anu t
themseiyes from the most reliable sources, what
/ tremendous strides this new INDUSTRY IS mdhlHs'
has already made, in the broad "orlo5 POND
State College. Penn. Sept, II. 1902
r7-be-a may he n1anv different degrees Of risk
IN the handling of any explosive. There is no
sbarnIv defined line of separation between abso-
Int safety and extreme danger. The peril Incl
don't IN the use Of acetylene has dlmln1sheo
within the last five six years. but II mas not
entirely disappeared. 1t cannot be pronounced
absolutely innocuous. Certain safeguards ana
nrecautions must he observed in its use exactly
as with electricity steam. gasolene ana oyna-
mite The danger is 1essened as people learn the
traits and qualities Of these agents aho fio
lessor Pond wisely recommends the study OF
.....Ioo,, ,,ot,,re and uses But he comedies
.,4 .hra have been accidents with this gas,
90 - 6 hard to see how they could have hap
,o7 a,.en with the grossest Carelessness ana
,gporsnca unless there had been inherent IN tne
acatv1ene itself something which rendered II
dangerous
".I CAN'T GET OUT SAID The SlAf'i1l-'''
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. In an evening paper last week hotiIe al
or+tora about some Western men about TO come 10
New York in an airship- In jocose VEN 1t l sat"
that by land sea air every one Seehie
mined get here. ef1,, a5tbout
I,+-arsad from home friends. FAMILY "ltilou'
o,c,,,oept Though 1 have eagerly sought II Ioi
weeks without results. am hVlhs III
lodging house with element OF PeoP'o '
wish I never knew and with s. between "ie a. ~
q darl future | write to ask your dN'
van m give A word OF encouraseiieiiI "
avs+enca of mine. am a man ~ .Ut aT-e
~ n+aiIigence and toerably good 80 willing
49, iS and am anxious TO get Is or one Of
70 40 ANYTHING attain thaI emu. h1If
SJ,nS-a5s SIMILARLY situated, suPPe0 arebin or
@ .ta, ,,eans of transit 10 get aWdy son1e re-
Sork with as much enthusiasm 20 gat here
re-red To In the evening paper nav - A z. B.
New-York. Sept 3. Is'-'
AN APPEAL, TO PRESBYTEFlA-
To tho E,5;+or Of The Tribune.
Sir. For over A quarter of a ce1tuiy -. .o-,o
bava feIt an increasing dissatislaclioi1 ..-rt -,
-. - .beir creed which they can s.
During a few years past they have ios, Iarxroen
ITO, several learned. honored, u' ,,bI,, 70
This serious loss aroused the "ehe - h.rsbness
80 sor,a action toward softenlhs 'tte - ra
7 as+ year n appointed comnnit'eo r.;ttaa has
20 rsnort needful changes lhis ,so,+ed the
ats +ha General Assembly mas ~. a.
changes suggested and sent the .o,5 the fnaI
tor ar rejection of the synods ihA -. the rro-
ortpori+v These are beginning 10 <.aI MISTAKE
r,osad ,hapges Adoption would De d 49,, The
,rt .h = amended creed self-col'i a -, al
harshas+ Feature oS<rbe old cTese q &