Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-02-07
A Visit to an Oil Refinery.

ment In Sucn depfeclatlVe manner
that I much feared our newly arrived
English visitor would be nettled.
1t is not very marvellous circuln-
stance, observed. "My own expe-
rience has been that the proportion of
Americans who have not been to Mag
ara Falls is larger than the proportion
of Englishmen who have never visited
Straford-on-Avon."
"Doubt it, sir; doubt ii" responded
James, who was of a disputive and COM
bative temperament. A member of the
Ohio Legislature, he has acquired the
nickname of " Hotwater" Lowell; and
it was fortunate that just then slight
spluttering of my study lamp suggested
sedative for him.
Human nature persistently over
looks pleasures at home. But let me
ask you question, James: You re-
side in Cleveland, do you not, sir ?"
81 do" promptly replied james in
the manner of witness before IN in
vestigating committee.
"And within half mile of your
house there are several large oil refin-
cries 2"
There are."
Did you ever visit one p
"Never."
"And you know nothing about the
wonders of oil refining p
Nothing; but don't you see, Robert
-" James began to apologize.
Confess, then," I said, that you
are even worse than our English friend
in neSlecting the curiosities of your own
country"
But you see, L"
Confess"
knew that Cousin James would not
confess, and was glad that our English
man here interposed.
am much interested in that sub
ject-oil refining--and have thought of
a journey to Cleveland expressly to wit
ness the different processes.
GA journey to Cleveland is unneces-
sary for that purpose" 1 said. "One
of the largest, if not the largest refner-
les in America, is almost next door to
us--in Williamsburgh."
If it would be agreeable to you and
James, l should really like nothing bet
ter than to visit it,
Agreed, agreed" I said, and on
the next day our English friend, whom
l had better introduce as Francis Sib-
thorpe, reminded me of the engage
ment by reading the following para
graph from newspaper, with evident
astonishment.
Mrs. Toodles attempted to light
her kitchen fire with kerosene last Mon
day. She left husband and thirteen
children, totally unprovided for"
That is q grim kind of humor that
may he said to have had its rise in the
great number of accidents occurring
from the use of inferior burning oils
/ remarked; and on our visit to the
refinery we may see something of the
process by which the crude oil is not
only refined, but also made non-explo-
sive."
Inow went to the business house of
Charles Pratt & Company, and ex-
planned my desire to visit their astral
oil works in Williamsburg, was very
courteously supplied with letter of
introduction for myself and friends to
one of the superintendent.
In the afternoon we started-Mr.
Francis Sibthrope, barrister of Eng
land, Mr.. James Lowell, State Senator.
OF Ohio, and Mr.. Robert Southcot, the
writer, a member of the Metropolitan
press. Two nephews Of mine, George,
aged ten, and Samuel, aged thirteen,
accompanied us, and supplied not the
least interesting part of the conversa-
ton. We crossed the East river by the
Greenpoint ferry, and short walk
through an insalubrious district, thickly
settled with manufactures, brought us
to our destination. There was no miss
ing it, rs man from whom we asked
our way had told us. The works cover
an entire block, and consist of series
OF immense brick and iron structures
conspicuous both from the road and
the river. A telegram announcing our
coming had been sent over a private
wire connecting the company's office in
New York with the works, and after we