The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-06-16

hundred barrels per hour. Through
this long condencer the fifteen pIls
which issue from the top of the stl'i,
pass, and gradually decrease 10 size
from four inches in diameter at the
still, to bali an inch at the other end.
The stills are placed Immediately over
a large and substautisl brick furnaces.
The oil is put into the stills and an In-
teuee fire 10 kept up under them 'or
about thirty-six hours. The
heat vsporizes the oil in the
still until it passes out through
the pipes mentioned above, and coming
in contact with the cold water il is
condensed into q clear white liquid OF
from $50 to $50 gravity, which is 3
highly inAsnmable substance known
as benziue, paphths, &c. At 63' quality
it is called distilllate and 10 fan from
this degree down as low as 4S0 gravity,
into what IS called the distilate tank.
From this tank the oil is pumped
through long lines OF pipe into large
tank, lined with heavy lead, with a
copnical shaped bottom and, al the
season OF the year, q large stream
OF cold water is run through the oil, 10
cool it. Early in the morning the oil
tester puts into the tank sulphurIc acid,
or oil OF vitrol, about Eve csrboys,
leach containing from l75 10 lS5
pounds) to the hundred barrels, and
while this is going on a powerful oil
pump 10 sgtsting the oil aud acid. mix
ing them thoroughly. There are few
more beautiful sights than the bubllng,
sparkling oil and acid, as it
dashes from side 10 eide in this
spscious tank, rejecting in the sum
light all the brilliant shades and
colors of thousand rainbows. When
thoroughly sgrtaled, the acid gathers
up all the impurities Of the oil, and be-
ing OF much denser character, itis
allowed to settle to the bottom. carrying
with it sll the impurities. Although
this acid when put into the oil, Is per-
fectiy limpid, when drawn off it has be-
come transformed into the very back
ness Of darkness.
To neutralize the acid and carry
away ell other impurities that may yet
rem ain iu the oil, csustic soda ia next
put into the tank, after which
powerful stream. OF cold water is run or
dasn ed into the tank with the oil, and
the whole again thoroughly agitated by
the air pump and then the water il
drawn of and the oil run into large
wide settling pane, which are placed
in a large house nearly the whole top
OF which has skylights, where the oil
is allowed TO remain until it is settled
and bleached by the rays OF the sun.
which completes the process OF manu-.
facture aud leaves it clear. lmped and
bright, ready Tor barreliDg aud chip.
ping.
In addition to the refined oil above
described, the firm has process for the
preparation OF lubricatipg oil oi a de-
cidedly superior character, which tbus
far no Other nrm has been able In at
tain, and they are now furnishing a
large number OF railroads with it,
As have remarked the facilities OF
this firm are exceeded by none. They
make from eight TO nine thousand bar.
rels OF oil per month, and have also a
tankage OF over forty thousand barrels
within their enclosure.
/ cannot close this without express
ing my thanks TO Col. VIM. q? Thomp-
son, for his Kindness in showing me
over their premises. aud should you
deem this worthy OF publication, will
10 my next say something about the
large barrel factory, aud explain the
Interesting process by which q cumber-
som block OF oak wood is converted in
10 handsome barrel.
OBSERVER.