The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-04-14
THE GREAT OH PIPE LINES.
How Petroleum is Transported From
thc OIL Regions TO fhc Seab0ard.

How Petroleum. is Transported Fr0m
thc OH Regions TO fIlc Seab0ard.
The construction of the long-distance
pipe lines was begun in 1880. They were
the New York Seaboard line, the Pennsyl-
vania line, the Baltimore line, the Cleve-
land line, the Pittsburgh line, and the Buff
falo line. The Seaboard line extends from
Clean, Cattaraugus county, N. Y, to
Saddle River, N j., a distance of 800 miles.
A description of the seaboard pipe line is
practically description of all the rest
Olean its starting place, is 500 feet above
tide water level. The pipes are wrought
iron and are made with the greatest care
They are tested to bear pressure of 1900
pounds to the square inch, and are screwed
together at the joints. In order to keep the
pipes of an even temperature, they are
buried in the ground to depth of twenty
inches. This prevents contraction and ex-
pansion of the iron. The line follows the
physical contour of the country through
which it runs, turning aside for no obstacle.
nor adding mile TO its length that advan.
tage may be taken of an easier but round
about way. II climbs to the summit of
mountains 9, 500 feet above tide, and drops
abruptly down into deep valleys. 1t trav-
erses the widest of forest depths, and finds
thoroughfare through the densest swamps
and jungles. II is buried in many streams
and rivers, follows across miles of cultiyat-
ed farms, and has right of way through a
score of towns and villages. At one point
in Allegany county the line overcomes an
elevation of nearly / 800 feet within dis
lance of four miles. The route of the line
carries it along the southern boundary of
New York State, through the counties of
oattaraugus, Allegany, Steuben, Chemung,
Tioga, Broome, Delaware, Sullivan, and
Orange, and across the northeastern corner
of New Jersey, through Sussex, Morris,
Passaic, Bergen and Hudson counties.
At distances of about twenty -seyen miles
along the line the pumps are located. They
are at Clean, Wellsville, Cameron, West
Junction, Catatonk, Osborne, Hancock,
Cochecton, Swartwout, Newfoundland, and
Saddle River. AT these pumping stations
there are two immense iron tanks of a en-.
pacity Of from $4,000 to 50 900 barrels
each, pump house, boiler house. and a
telegraph office. In the pump house there
are two of the great Worthington compound,
condensing, pressure engines, invented and
made for the work they do. The peculiari-
ties of these pumps are the independent
plungers, with exterior packing, valve boxes
subdivided into separate small chambers
capable of resisting very heavy strains, and
leather-faced metallic valves with low lit
and large surfaces" The engine attach
ment has no crank TO determine the travel
of the piston. There is no cam or eccentric
10 move the valves. The stroke of the
pump is double. Each pump has twenty
eight suction valves and the same number
of supply valves. Every time the piston of
the engine passes forward and back barrel
of oil is sent seward. A barrel of oil il
forced on its way every seven seconds every
hour of the twenty-four. A mercury pres
sure gunge shows the engineer constantly
the pressure the pipe is being subjected to.
and makes known instantly when break
occurs in the line between stations. There
is also gauge that indicates every stroke
of tho pump, and shows at glance how
many barrels of oil have passed through
the station. These pumping engines are
from 200 to 1000 horse power, as the loca-
ton of the station requires. The pressure
brought to bear on the pipes by these
pumps is equivalent to an elevation of 2, 800
feet They deliver $4,000 barrels of oil
at tidewater every twenty-four hours. Each
station is manned by two engineers, two
fireinen, and two telegraph operators-a
force for day work and one for night work.
Operations never cease on the pipe lines.
The pumps are pulsating and the stream OF
oil is flowing ceaselessly three hundred and
sixty-fiye days in the year and twenty -four
hours in every day.
Following the lines Of pipes their entire
length is the private telegraph wire Of the
company. The system of oil piping has
been brought to such perfection that it is
very seldom that leak occurs anywhere
along the lines II one of any magnitude
does occur the mercury gauge at the pump
ing stations indicates it at once, as stated
To detect any possible leakage that may be
too small TO influence the delicate gauge,
each section Of pipe between stations il In
charge of IN employee known rs a linenan.
The pipeman walks along the section once
a week, making the round trip in four days.
Each lineman il instructed sufficiently in
telegraphy to understand cutting the tele-
graph wire and attaching to it n pocket in-
strument ne carries with him. II he dis
covers leak he at once connects his instru-
ment to the wire and sends word TO the
pumping station Repairers are despatched
at once to stop the leak