Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1908 — Safety of Gasoline Tanks. [ARTICLE]

Safety of Gasoline Tanks.

A gasoline tank rarely explodes. It cannot unless it contains gasoline vapor and air in explosive proportions, which latter condition Is almost never present. It does not explode because It coutalnß too little air or too much gasoline. Even if a tank of gasoline were to burst from heat applied to its exterior, the confined heavy gas would not explode If in contact with flame or fire, hut would burn Instead. A tank of gasoline with no vent could do considerable damage were it to burst and throw burning oil and flaming gas about, but 1.000 gallons of gasoline in a vessels bilges would not be so dan gerous from explosion as a hundredth of that amount. The larger quantity would burn rapidly, while the smaller would be sufficient. If mixed with the proper amount of air. to demolish utterly almost any boat.