The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-04-05
STANDARD OIL.
A Little Talk About a Gigantic
Business.
The Standards Offices and Agency in
This City, and What a Walk
Through Them Re-
Veals.


There are probably not half dozen
well informed readers of the DEMO
ORAT but what knows more or less of
that gigantic corporation known as the
Standard Oil Company, and there are
perhaps none but what have heard of
it. AS fearless as it is great, the Stand
ard Oil Company has grown to stupen-
dous proportions, and today there is
scarcely a grocery store in city or coun-
try where the illuminant manufactured
by this company cannot be found on
sale.
The Standard Oil Company has re-
Gently been especially conspicuous for
reason of its dabbling in Ohio State
politics, and has, moreover, the reputa-
ton of being one of the greatest mo-
nopolies with which any country has
ever been blessed, or the opposite. But
nevertheless it is not to be doubted
that with its bitter it brings some
sweet, and that it has contributed in
many ways to the best phases of finance
and society.
The writer paid a visit last evening
to the Standard Oil COmpany's branch
office in this city, and was Nis0wn
through by the clever manager Mr.,
McNally.
The office is situated on South Plum
street, near the Ft. Wayne C!Ossing.
The interior Of the Office is fitted up in
substantial style. Quite large tract
of ground is occupied by the company.
The reporter noticed six large tanks ly-
ing in position on frame work. These
are the oil tanks, and have capacity
of ninety barrels of oil EACH The oil
from tanks on the cars, which bring
fresh supplies from Cleveland, is
pumped into these six tanks by means
of hose and force pump, without the
loss of a drop of oil.
After the oil has been pumped into
the tanks from the cars, it is flowed
| into barrels by an ingenious cOntriv-
ance whereby four barrels are filled at
one time, at the rate of four barrels
every four minutes.
Prior to filling, each barrel. especially
those fresh from the cooper shop, is
taken and coated on the inside with
glue. A very large ladleful of melted
| glue is poured through the bunghOle,
the bung inserted and the barrel
knocked around for while, and then
placed in a trough and the glue drained
out. This operation makes the barrel
proof against leaking.
Canton is the supply point for half a
| dozen counties and more than half a
hundred cities, towns and villages, Car
rollton, Cambridge CoshoctOn, Massil-
Ion, GAINESVILLE and others. The sales
to these points average one thousand
barrels month.
Besides this the agency has large
city trade, and is supplying families
| and retail stores in Canton with oil, the
Ties from thier wagon averaging two
hundred gallons per day. This wagon
which can be seen on the streets any
day, has a capacity of about twelve
| barrels.
Connected with the agency is a well
conducted repair shop, where the rheu-
matte and shaky old barrels are given
prompt attention, and thus made to
do service again. The interior of this
shop resembles large cooperage
works. Barrels are constantly being
filed and sent out, and empty barrels
are received every day to be examined
and refilled. In the barrel room art
now upwards of 800 barrels.
The agency is adjacent to the For
Wayne and the Valley railway tracks
and filled barrels are daily loaded upor
the cars.
With the opening of spring it is the
intention of the company to replace the
old tanks now in use with new upright
reservoirs, which will have capacity
of nearly 10000 gallons each. Other
improvements will be made in keeping
with the standing of the Standard Com
pany. The agency here handles lubri
eating oil and gasoline in addition tC
the regular illuminating carbon oil.
Altogether, a walk through the agen
cy will repay anyone who takes the
time to make the inspection. The
agency is not often spoken of, but it is
nevertheless, one of the big institutions
of the growing city of Canton.