Year: 1869

The Investigation by the Fire Commission.


crs-A Large Amount Of Highly C0mbustibl0


Oil In the Market.


The Board OF Metropolitan Fire Commissioners
have, In consequence OF the numerous complaints
made and accidents arising from the use OF kerosene
oil OF inferior and highly explosive qualities been
for some time past investigating the subject.
under the provisions Of the law Of 1860.
referring to the storage OF combustiblcs
within the limits OF the Metropolitan district. They
obtained 800 samples from various dealers In this
city and placed them In the hands OF Mr. G..
Tagabue to he tested upon scientific principles
with the apparatus known a. the pyrometer. These
showed the fact that the mass OF samples submitted
were OF terribly innammable nature scarcely any
thing else indeed, than pure naphtha or bcnzinc.
1t Is 10 be wondered a IN view OF these facts that
In those sections Of the city In which the
use Of Kerosene prevails there stands an unburned
house. IL was discovered during the investigation
that Of the 800 samples submitted only four reached
the full standard OF non-cxplosiveness required by
law. About q dozen almost reached the proper de-
gree, and all Of the remainder were far below the
required scale. The Board should now 1nd on
whom rests the responsibility for these sales
There is no doubt that the retail dealers
are often deceived by the wholesale re1ners-
In many cases the smaller dealers buy solely upon
the representations Of the renners. That these are
always strictly honest Is not OF course, the case.
Nor do they escape deception sometimes even when
they demand the application or test. In making
these before their customers the reners mostly
use an open cup MFR. Taqllabue used In conducting





operation and the vap0r emitted by the warming OH
begins TO riee from It's surface. There beng
nothing TO protect II against the draughts Of
air floating about 1t Ia more than liable TO he waited
away by them. To insure its dissipation the seller
often, placing his head near the cup blows II away
with the breath which he uses ostensbly for tho
purpose OF c0nyersing with his patron while pro-
fessedy watching the rise or the thermometer In the
testing cup. Is not consequently untf1 the vapvr
arises from the body OF the OIL IN heavy unremIf-
ted stream that its ignition ensues upon the appli.
cation OF the match. The vaporizing point u by
this device frequently placed from ten To
twenty degrees above its actual spot. These
facts have for some time been In possession
OF the police authorities and yet we have heard of
the commencement OF no prosecutions against auv
OF the dclinquents they point out whose prosecution
the law as well ~ humanity and Justice demand.
One effcctual way OF stopping the traffic In these
dangerous burning fuds ~ TO pass law yesting In
the Fire Commissioners authority 10 the oils
by all dealers and 10 grant certificates to those
whose os successfully respond to the proper test.


Meeting Of the Board Yesterday.


The regular weekly meeting OF the above Board
was held yesterday General Shaer in the chair. The
committee on storage OF combustIbes reported that
they had removed the ten cases OF nitro-Giycerins
seized on yawl at pier No. East river TO the maga-
zine or the Hazard Powder Company, under the PAIL
eades. petition was received from the horsemen
and laddermen or the department. asking for In
crease OF salary 70 5000 per year. Referred to tho
Finance Committee.