The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-01-14

IA LII y vi less VI ILLS luGA G4u w
found standing around garages and
sheds where motor cars and tractors
are stored. They arc constantly being
shifted from one place to another to
get them out of the way for the time
being, and as it frequently happens
that the men working about them are
smokers there is always the possibility
of the gasoline being fired. Such a
practice is a direct step towards in
creasing the fire hazard, and will be so
recognized by thoughtful farmers,
those investigating conditions insist.
1t is insisted that these men who
have gone over the situation that the
farmers make mistake in not recog-
nizing that in gasoline they have one
Of the most powerful explosives known
and one of the most dangerous to
handle under all circumstances. Dyna-
mite, nitro-glycerine, T. N. T. are in
many respects safer to handle than
is gasoline, for they do not give off
fumes which in many ways can be
converted into a carry" of a fame
which is certain to cause an explo-
sion when it reaches the container
from which the fumes are escaping.
Another suggestion is that the place
where gasoline is being kept should
have a danger marker visible from
any approach to the locality. A red
tainted tin sign should be placed above
the container. Then a method of
locking the latter should be provided
and the key attached to a metal bar
sufficiently large to prevent it's being
carried off inadvertently.
Some method should be adopted for
drawing gasoline in certain quanti-
ties. It is not recommended that
pump be used, as too frequently per-
sons will thoughtlessly operate one
while smoking, or carrying lighted
lantern. Devices can be obtained
which control gravity flow and by
single operation will allow only so
much fluid to be drawn off at time.
If set to discharge gallon, that guam
tity and no more will be released. To
get five gallons, five distinct opera
tions are required. Being of the grav-
ity design, it is possible to adjust a
container to them so that there is no
danger of a slopover occurring, which
in time creates a danger outside the
main container, of highly inflam-
mable character.
While the State authorities make no
attempt to minimize the evil resulting
from the activities of firebugs, which
in certain sections of the State have
caused the loss of hundreds of thou
sands of dollars worth of property
within the past few months, the posi-
ton is taken that the elimination OF
carelessness in handling gasoline no
doubt will arise as to the nature of
the origin of fire. 1t is not assumed
that local authorities in any section
have been wrong in the conclusion
that many of the recent fires on farms
are the result of incendiary plots. The
entire attitude of the State authori-
ties is merely that of the guardian
who forsees methods of avertlng
dangers found to exist and then at
tempts to secure their voluntary adop-
ton.
May Invoke Legislature
There has been considerable talk of
amending certain laws governing the
storage of explosives, to make them
applicable to the keeping of gasoline
on private properties. Some such step
it is said, will be taken unless it be-
comes evident that voluntary re-
sponse to the suggestions of the au-
thorities makes it unnecessary. 1t
would be a very easy matter to put
through the Legislature bill regu-
latig the storage of gasoline so as to
make it illegal to own and store any
quantity, except under given condi-
tons. Such law would result in
considerable expense to thousands OF
auto owners throughout the State.
But it will be formulated, it is as
serted, unless proper precautions are
observed hereafter by motor car users
in handling and caring for their gaso-
line supply, particularly in country
districts, where firefgthing is difficult
and where the losses attending the de-
struction of buildings are always
heavier in proportion than where they
occur in towns maintaining adequate
fire protection.
Agricultural laws of the State are
being studied by commissions sent 10
Pennsylvania by other States. AT
nrosant such a Connecticut Commits