Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1897 — Acetylene Gas. [ARTICLE]

Acetylene Gas.

To The Public; There are two sides to almost every question. The article in Monday’s issue of The Evening Republican gave one side of the Acetylene gas question and in this article we desire to present the other. This gas is explosive, but it is not considered by the underwriters any more explosive or dangerous than other gases or explosive liquids, as Kerosene, Gasoline, Naptha, or Benzine. The article quoted has reference more particularly to Acetylene Gas manufacturd from liquid Acetylene. The use of which is absolutely prohibited by the underwriters. The gas usedin Ferguson & Wilson’s office is generated directly from Calcium Carbide by an Acetylene Gas Machine or Generator, which has been approved by the Royal Insurance Co. and recommended by them, which is stronger argument in favor of the use of the gas than can be possibly used against the use of it. The Insurance Companies view such matters from a disinterested stand-point as to pecuniary results but wholly as an interested party as to the results from a loss or danger point. They are not likely to indorse a method of lighting which would increase the physical hazard of a risk. This gas is used through gas pipes in the same manner as carbon gas. The burners are of the latest improved pattern and so arranged that no mistake can be made in turning out the light, as the key locks when the light is out.

The ordinary Carbon gas tip burns 5 feet of gas per hour and when the light is blown out and the tip is left open there will be 5 feet of carbon gas escape into the room per hour. The largest tip burns only one foot of Acetylene gas per hour and if Acetylene gas would asphyxiate a person it would take 5 times as long from the largest burner and 20 times as long from the smallest, which in the first instance would be about 25 hours and in the second about 100 hours. In an ordinary house plant there is only from 3 to 5 feet of Acetylene gas generated at any one time and that under a pressure only sufficient to distribute it through the pipes of the building. Coal oil is dangerous and can not be kept for sale in larger quantities than 5 barrels of 110° U. S. Standard, Gunpoicder is explosive and dangerous and restricted to 25 pounds in closed tin cans. Gasoline is explosive and very dangerous. The quantity is limited, so also is Naptha, Benzine and all other light products of Petroleum. Permission is required to use electric lights and the rules governing the use of the same are very rigid, and unless the lamps are properly installed very dangerous. Permission is also required and granted by the Insurance Companies to use Acetylene gas lights, and strict rules are furnished for the installation of the apparatus which can be complied with. We feel grateful to our friend who has invited an investigation of this subject and we are prepared to satisfy any one that with the same care and judgment exercised in the use of Acetylene gas that there can be no more danger from it than from any of the above named methods, or elements of lighting. We can also show yon that in point of economy the Acetylene gas leads them all. Yours Respectfully, F. & W. & F. P.