The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-09-18
By N. SPARKS

limited time. 1t remains possible that
II the use of loaded gasoline becomes
widespread conditions may arise very
different from those studied by US,
which would render its use more of a
hazard than would appear to be the
case from this investigation. Longer
experience may show that even such
slight storage Of lead as was observed
in these studies may lead eventually
in susceptible individuals to recogniz-
able lead poisoning or to chronic de-
generative diseases OF a less obvious
character.
Your committee begs to report that
in their opinion there are at present
no good grounds for prohibiting the
use of ethyl gasoline Of the compost
ton specified, provided its distribution
and use are controlled by proper reg
ulations."
And now the joker! Quickl A list
of regulations are drawn up which are
recommended to the several states.
Somewhat similar to the way regula-
tons against lynching and child labor
are recommended to the several
states.
However, altho this report is half
hearted vindication, it is nevertheless
a vindication. Was it based on an
impartial investigation? Let us con
suit the technical journals
An editorial from Chemical and Met
allurgical Engineering: Early re-
sumption of the national distribution
of ethyl gasoline as a result of the
favorable outcome of the surgeon-gen-
erals investigation will be welcomed
by more than one of the chemical en-
cheering industries. The raw
material required in this synthesls
and other ingredients in the
anti-knoek compound held an interest
for many branches Of chemical indus
try"
An engagingly frank note in the
Journal of Industrial and Engineering
chemistry: "Too often the enthusiasm
Of the manufacturer leads him TO min
imize the hazards both to the employe
and the public and his Investigations
are not a. thorough az could be
wished. Then, too, in contrast with
the present case" (of course, in con-
trast with the present CASEY "an emer-
gency may arise and pressure be
brought to bear upon him before he
discOntinues manufacture"
And now, having seen how danger
GUS ethyl gasoline is, let US attack the
whole fraud about its indispensability.
Are there, as the Ethyl Gasoline Cor
poration would like to maintain, no
other substances which eliminate the
knock? There are several. Each has
its own advantages and disadvan-
tages.
First: A mixture of 60 per cent ben
zol and 40 per cent gasoline produces
absolutely no knock. So effective II
this mixture that it is taken as a
standard in discussing anti-knock
properties. "MitchelPs gas" is an ex-
ample of benzol blend. The dis
advantage is that there is no present
possibility Of producing benzol in any
where near sufficient quantities to
take care Of all the gasoline used.
Second: Gasoline produced by the
process know as cracking" -so-called
Cracked gasoline"-has natural ant-
knock qualities. due to the fact that
it contains oils OF the benzol type. It
is claimed, however, that cracked gas
oline does not increase in efficiency
with higher compression.
Third: The Gulf Refining Company,
the Sun Oil Company, the Texas Com
pany are all selling gasolines OF I'M
specified composition which they claim
are anti-knock. Their claims as to
the efficacy of their fuels are just as
much Tor as little) worthy OF belief as
the claims Of the louder-mouthed
Standard Oil.
One thing Is certain. that in couple
OF decades the attempt Of the Ethyl
Gasoline Corporation to manufacture
and distribute for general use such a
fatal substance as tetraethyl lead win