FE Volume 1 Issue 1

The following is a simple and infallible test to ascertain exactly the quality and explosive point of any sample of kerosene oil, no matter by what fancy, attractive name it may be designated in specious advertisements. Take a common tin pan of water, or an ordinary tin pail, say seven inches in diameter and five inches deep; fill the vessel with water and place it on the stove, or over a lamp, so as to heat very gradually; put an ordinary thermometer upright in the water, to indicate the gradual rise of temperature; take a little pan, such as is used to bake small parties, sold for one cent each; in the putty-pan put a tablospoonful of kerosene and let it float on the surface of tho gradually heating water.

A protracted meeting took place last Wednesday, all the members being present. After the adoption of the minutes, as read by Secretory Col. Jussen, the trials were proceeded with, the first case being that of J. W. Cummings, of Engine No. 23, charged with intoxication, absence without leave, and neglect of duty.

An architect liable to punishment would take pains to calculate his strains, his weights, and the strength of his materials; to study his fire escapes, and other contrivances for the security of life, and zealously to supervise the construction of his piers and arches and ties; and a builder, under the same circumstances, would neither construct nor advise as to the construction of a staging, without far more careful consideration than he seems to bestow under our present happy-go-lucky system, where neither forethought nor caution is encouraged.