The sun., 1919-08-24
How Maximum of
Safety Was At
tanned When the
Road S w ere
Jam med w it'll
War: Time rattle
WAN I'M
% unp Gxs1 coo o ossBR~loes

the same commodity is charged with
the death of seventy-eight, the injury
of GOT and the destruction OF more
than a million and a half dollars OF
PROPERTY.
Automobiles Increased Dangers.
In spite of the fact that the almost
universal use of automobiles has made
practically every one familiar with the
fact that gasolene Is a liquid highly
infiammable in itself and giving off u
Napor which Is not only infiammable
but explosive when mixed In certain
proportions with atmospheric air, the
accident bulletins issued by the Bu-
reau of Explosives are filled with in
stance after instance of fires and ex-
plosions caused by the examination OF
gasolene tank cars and other recep-
tacles by employees of railroads, ship
pers and consignees who used lighted
lanterns in searching for leaks or as
certaining the contents.
The clearing Of wrecks in which
tank cars containing gasolene or fuel
! oil have been derailed is another fea.
ture toward which the efforts of the
|
! to secure greater freedom from the
disastrous fires which have frequently
occurred in this connection. One Of
the most difficult problems in connec-
ton with derailments of this character
| is the difficulty invariably experienced
in keeping away trespassers who
usually attempt to steal gasolene from
the damaged cars.
A typical case of this kind occurred
in November, 1918, when three tank
cars in a freight train We're derailed
ana turned over on their sides so that
The contents leaked from the domes OF
all the cars. No attempt was made to
lear the wreck at once on account Of
the obvious danger of permitting loco
motives or steam derrick cars to ap-
proach the overturned cars and watch
| men were posted to keep trespassers
| away. They were not entirely sue
Cessful. however. and several persons
obtained gasolene from the leaking
tanks and carried It away in recep-
| tacles which they brought with them.
The watchmen for some reason were
withdrawn during the night and one
PARTY of trespassers returned after
| cark and attempted to fill receptacles
, with gasolene by the light Of an Oil
| lantern which was held near the leak.
The usual result followed, three per-
| sons were killed and another seriously
injured and the fire destroyed the con-
tents Of all the cars and badly dam
aged the cars themselves, with an esti-
| rIated property loss of $7,150.
The bulletin in which this accident
! is set forth contrasts the methods used
in this case with the precautions taken
/ in another Instance of a similar de-
| raiiment when proper guards were
| posted night and day, persons smok
| ing or carrying lanterns were rigidly
excluded from the vicinity OF the
wreck and it was cleared without per-
sonal injury of any sort and with
; property damage of only few hun
dred dollars
! Nitric Acid TroublOus.
Nitric acid generally shipped in
! glass carboys, is another source OF
| danger If proper precautions as to
| shipping and handling are not OBJ
/ served. Rough shocks in shifting a
car containing freight of this character
| sometimes result in breaking one OF
! the carboys, the acid attacks the
/ wooden floor OF the car, setting It on
fire, other carhoys are cracked by the
| heat and unless the accident is
promptly discovered and vigorous
measures used TO check the progress
| of the flames the loss Of the entire
car and its contents frequently re-
suits. The action of sunlight throug's
| the glass containers sometimes deyel-
ops internal pressure within the car
! boys sufficient to burst them and set
! fire to the car or other freight one
| of the Investigations undertaken by
the chemical laboratory of the bureau
| has been the det 'rmination of the
proportion Of sulphuriC acid which
must be added to nitric acid in order
that It may be shipped in steel drums
| or tank cars without undue corroSion
of the metal Results obtained so far
indicate that the addition OF 10 per
cent. sulphuric acid gives a mixture
safe for shipment in steel containers
Moving picture Aims are another
commodity now frequently handled b.
rail which have received attention
from the bureau both 10y rea son OF
(C0atiRReG Oh botiVUthV Fa0t.y