38 



Kansas Academy of Science. 



Of these it may be remarked that No. 2 was evidently " Standard," sold by mistake 

 or fraud for " 150 test." Nos. 6 and 7 were probably " W. W." No. 8 was a fraud, clear 

 and white, but evidently mixed with naphtha; and No. 9, which had already occasioned 

 several explosions, was simply gasoline, sold by mistake for "Headlight." But one of 

 these oils exceeds the bare point of safety, though only three of the nine cost less than 

 30 cents, and two of the nine could only be used by making certain that neither in lamp 

 or can could their escaping vapors come in contact with flame. Those who knowingly 

 buy cheap oil, cannot perhaps complain; but certainly there can be no excuse for permit- 

 ting manufacturers or dealers to palm ofl' with impunity highly-dangerous mixtures on 

 those who, willing to pay the highest price, have a right to assume that the oil is at 

 least inexplosive at the temperature of a summer's day. Already in 1882, statutes had 

 been passed by many governments, regulating the character and sale of burning fluids, 

 as may be seen from the following table, taken from Mr. A. H. Elliott's excellent report 

 upon the subject to the New York Board of Health (2d Annual Rept., 1882) : 



State. 



Canada, . . 

 England, . 

 France, . . 

 Japan, . . 

 Sweden, . . 

 Germany, . 

 Georgia, . . 

 Illinois, . . 

 Indiana, . 

 Iowa, . . . 

 Kentucky, 

 Louisiana, 

 Maine, . . 



Flashing 

 test. 



95° 

 100 

 95 



Fire 



Maryland, . . . 

 Massachusetts, 

 Michigan, . . . 

 Missouri, . . . . 

 New Hampshire, 

 New York, . . 



Ohio, 



Pennsylvania, . 

 Vermont, . . . . 

 Wisconsin, . . 

 Rhode Island, . , 



100 



120 







120 



104 

 110 

 150 



100 

 130 



120 

 110 

 110 



150 

 120 



110 

 110 

 120 



Among our own statutes is one regulating the sale of oil, framed apparently by the 

 manufacturers to prevent action by consumers, and setting forth a fire test in such an in- 

 definite way as to make it impossible to secure a conviction for selling any grade of oil. 

 Besides, it imposes such onerous burdens on the complainant, that so far as I can learn 

 no one has yet had the hardihood to avail themselves of its provisions. A bill presum- 

 ably in the interests of the people fell flat in our last Legislature; another at the session 

 before. I am well aware that the propriety of such legislation may be called in ques- 

 tion. I yield to none in confidence that for our country at least the doctrine of "lassez 

 faire " is the only safe policy. I see that since the production and refining of oil have 

 fallen into the hands of one corporation, it bears the appearance of class legislation. 

 1 appreciate the inconsistency of permitting the sale of very dangerous gasoline, and 

 prohibiting the less dangerous adulterated kerosene. But on the other hand it must 

 be remembered that kerosene, especially the cheaper grades, is burned chiefly by the 

 ignorant, who cannot protect themselves; that indeed we are all practically without 

 protection except by machinery put in motion by the State; that the use of such oil en- 

 dangers my neighbor's property equally with my own; and that while it is true that gaso- 

 line is more dangerous, so too is powder, but the danger of both is understood and 

 guarded against ; and moreover, the gasoline is quite fit for the use to which it is to be 



