The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-05
STORAGE OF EXPLOSIVES.
This Is a Matter That Should Be
Looked After.

The City Council of Orangeourg
should pass an ordinance regulat-
ing the storage Of gasoline, dynamite
and other explosives in this city be-
fore we have a terrible catastrophe
like the one that recently happened
in st, Paul, Mimi, where house
was blown to pieces and seven people
killed by the careless storage OF
gasolene. The same thing is liable
to happen anywhere where gasolene
or other explosives are allowed to
be kept in the house, where ire is
handled or men are allowed to
smoke. Most cities have stringent
ordinances regulating the storage of
explosives and Orangeburg should
have one also.
Gasoline especially is dangerous
explosive and should be very care
fully handled. At an ordinary tenn
perature gasoline continually gives
OF infamable vapor, and q light
some distance from the material will
ignite it through the medium of this
vapor. The vapor from one pint Of
gasoline will make two hundred
cubic feet of air explosive. 1t de-
pends upon the portion of air and
vapor, whether it becomes burning
gas or destructive explosive. 1t be-
ing heavier than air it will lay near
the floor should it escape and cause
terrific explosion should fire come
in contact with it.
In entering a burning building
where gasoline is kept above the
ground members Of the fire depart
ment are subjected to unusual risks,
and never know when they will be
blown to atoms. In fact all the peo-
pie and property in the neighborhood
of the burning building would be in
danger of destruction from an ex-
plosion of gasoline in building,
whether the building was on fire or
not.
In many cities the insurance rates
have been materially raised because
of the improper storage of gasoline,
and the universal use of this COM
modify today, makes it imperative
that every one pay some attention to
the proper handling of so dangerous
an explosive. Hundreds of people
are annually killed because of the
explosion of gasoline and it Is es-
timated that ten thousand persons
have been blown up or otherwise
crippled or killed in this way.
Property owners particularly
should be Interested in the passage
of so important measure as the
proper storage of gasoline, and other
explosives. BY renters frequently
keeping any quantity Of gasoline
above the ground, absolutely invali-
dates insurance policies. A recent
disaster in Sylvania, Ca, where four
persons were killed and two Sc
riously injured by the explosion of
FIVE gallons Of gasoline in an auto
mobile is only one Of the thousands
of illustrations of the terrible danger
Of gasoline. Only Friday night two
prominent young men of Atlanta
were terribly burned, while the tank
in their automobile was being filled.
We urge the city council to look
after this matter before some valu-
able life is lost or our city suffers
terrible conflagration from the
careless storage and handling of
of gasoline and other explosives.
Let the members read up on this
subject and they will find that what
we say is true. We would also
warn those who handle gasoline
particularly to be careful with it if
they value their lives. 1t is worse
than any other explosive that we
know of, because it throws of gas
that is liable to ignite the whole.
"A stitch in time saves nine"