DANGERS OF GASOLINE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1020, 8 January 1880, Page 4

DANGERS OF GASOLINE.

The following is an extract from a report by Mr Charles Watt, Aasayer and Government Analyst, Sydney, to the Fire Brigade Board of that city, aa to the extra risks on buildings where the above gas is made or used. Mr Watt says : "Atmospheric air gas is prepared by saturating air with Carbon of a very volatile fluid compound of Carbon and hydrogen. Illuminating gas thus obtained does not possess any properties which render its use, even should there be any leakage, attended with more risk from fire than in the case of coal gas. Under the circumstances above stated, it is only necessary for me to describe the nature of the hydro-carbon used for this purpose, and to point out what special risks attend manipulating with it, and are involved in its storage. A sample of this article sold under the name of gasoline, which recently came into my bands, had a specific gravity of about 640 at GOdeg. Fah. A portion poured upon the hand evaporated with great rapidity, and its vapour mixed with air, ignited not only when a flame was brought near to it, but when it was approached by a substance at a full red heat. The value of gasoline for the purpose now under consideration depends entirely upon its rapid and complete vaporisation at the ordinary temperature of the atmosphere, and the mixture of the two is not so easily ignited but is cable of exerting some amount of explosive force. It is clear that manipulating with an article of this character requires more than ordinary care, and special precautions should be used, even in transferring it from one vessel to another. A careless or ignorant person would be very liable to an accident ■with it. The storage of, gasoline, even in what may be considered small qu&ntites, must always be attended witL risks from leakage,-as it will easily find its way out of small holes; and the breakage of a vessel containing it, even should only a match be ignited near it, or some person be smoking, might lead to a serious conflagration. The source of danget would not be entirely removed, even should the mixture of air and vapour of 'gasoline 1 have to find its way into an adjoining room before reaching the means for its ignition. I think it would be difficult to find any article more likely to cause accidents by fire than the ' hydrocarbon ' named, and even its conveyance about the country in drays, &c, should be carefully watched."