Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
STRINGENT LAWS ON EXPLOSIVES
Effort to Eliminate Accidents VIII Re
suit in Lasting Good

Important changes have been made
in the state laws regulating the sale of
products from petroleum, and dealers in
kerosene, gasoline or naptha violating
the new provisions after August |. will
be subject to heavy fines, Imprisonment,
or both.
The laws have been changed in order
to give to the public higher grades of
oil and in an effort t. lessen the num-
ber of accidents which result yearly
from products containing gasoline hand
led by purchasers often in dangerous
manner, unwittingly.
THREE TEST FOR OIL.
Hereafter, all oil coming into the city
will be examined by inspectors while in
the car tanks and will be subjected TO
flash, burning and gravity test. This
record shall be printed upon the tank
wagon delivering the oil, and the law
reads as follows concerning violations
thereof:
Any person. who shall personally or by clerk or
agent sell or offer for sale for who shall
ia any manner dispose of or attempt dispose Of
any oil. gasoline naptha or other products Of
petroleum under whatever name called for iliumi-
mating, heating or power purposes which shall not
have been examined or tested under the provisions
of this act. or which. having been SO tested shall
have been marked as rejected. who shall know
ngly or furnish for use for illuminating. heat
6ny or power purposes any oil gasoline benZine,
Nnaptha or other like products of petroleum, which
shall not have been properly examined or tested
and stamped sealed or marked as herein provided.
shall be liable to fine of not less than S5 nor more
than $500.
HOLD MERCHANT RESPONSIBLE
In case injuries result to the person
purchasing condemned oil. the mer~
chant will be held responsible for all
damages. This provision will doubtless
have a salutary effect, as few dealers
will risk being named as defendant in a
heavy damage suit.
Persons found aduterating illuminat-
ing or heating oil are subject to fine
of from $50 to $500 or a Jail sentence of
not more than six months
Deputy inspectors stamps will be
placed upon the casks or barrels in
which the oil comes, and if these casks
are refilled without the stamp having
been destroyed. the dealer is liable to
punishment Provision is made for
punishment in case of misrepresenta-
tion of products and care will be taken
by the deputies that no oils sold which
has not been tested by them and Their
seal annexed thereto Dealers will be
compelled to post in conspicuous place
the results of the various tests to which
the oil which they handle hs 5 been sub
jected to.
All dealers, either wholesale or re-
tail, shall deliver gasoline or benzine
only in red cans or barrels, as the law
has provided for several years.
SALE IN DRUG STORE
A new provision affects the sale of
gasoline in drug stores and reads as
follows:
In case Of gasoline benzine and naphtha or
other like product of petrol cum being sold N
bottles, cans or packages. or 2nv product that
contains gas oline. benxue or naphtha or Other
/ like produSs of petroleum is consistent part
thereof. Of not more than one quart for cleaning
and similar purposes it shall be- deemed sufficient
if the contents of such bottles cans or packages
/ are so designated by label securely pasted or at
| taehed thereto with the words gasoline, ben
! zine" or naptha," unsafe when exposed TO heat
or fire. printed in bright red ink in letters moi
| less than Jne fourth inch IN size. Any persof
violating any Of the provisions OF this section shat
be punished 10y fms of not less than five noi
/ more than fifty dollars by Imprisonment in the
county jail not 10 exceed three months. or by
both such fine and imprisonment
This section, it is believed, will dc
away, TO a great extent, with danger
Gus accidents which occur yearly be-
cause products containing gasoline
such as stove polish and cleaning fluids
are placed near heat or flame and eX.
plU5ions result.
Recently there was such an accident
in JanesviIle. A woman bought GER
tain brand of stove polish and cleaned
a hot stove with it, She placed the
can nearby and the whole contents eX-
ploded burning her badly.