The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-02


oil at its next regular meeting. s;onad
oy a number OF the fire insurance under
writer's OF the city, asking that the oil
tanks be moved to safer location. A
TIMES reporter yesterday interviewed a
number OF the most promi nent under
writer's on this subject, with the follow
ing results:
Thomas Lewis &c Co: "If lightning
present location during q heavy rain.
the oil would be carried into 'FRONT.'
run. which would burn the city in spite
OF all that could be done. It ia no I'M
common thing for lightning to strike
Oil tanks. Suppose this had CHANGED
to occur on the night Of the food.
Ihere would not have been business
house left In the city. Our streets easily
overflow and an ordinarily hard rain
w0ulo oe SUFFICIENT to carry the burning
oil not only along Trout run, but over
the streets, spreading destruction eyery-
where. The fate OF Oil City should be
warning to exercise the utmos care
in this matter. BY all means we think
that these tanks should be removed, ss
the safety OF the town demands it,
j. f. Wingfeld: "The present Local
ton OF tho oil tanks is such that if one
OF them were to burst the oil would
flow at once into Trout run and along
that stream through the city and under
many good business houses. Lightning
frequently strikes these tanks in other
cities, very often causing large destruc-
ton OF property. and it may at any time
do tho same thing here. II this had oc.
Cured on the night OF the cloudburst
the city of Roanoke would have been in
ashes before morning. An ordinary
rain, however, would be sufficient to
spread oil from these tanks so as to cause
widespread destruction. All other cit
les exercise the utmost precaution with
Oil tanks, and l think Council should at
once take the necessary steps to have
them removed to place of safetym
Charles Lunsford & Son: "In ALI
cities the utmost precautions are taken
to place oil tanks where they cannot
damage property. The location of the
tanks in this place is such that if light
ming were to strike one of them the
water would carry the burning oil into
Trout Run, which would burn the city
despite every effort to save it. Had
these tanks been struck during the re-
cont flood the burning oil would not have
confined itself to Trout Run, but would
have spread over the entire lower part of
the city, causing almost universal de-
struction. it Is true that the lightning
might not strike one Of our tanks in a
long time, but 1t Is also true that it NAV
do SO at any time. It is best to be on
the safe side, and Council should at
once take steps to have these tanks re-
moved to place Of safety.
Traders Loan and Trust Company:
There is no doubt about II. the oil
tanks are in a bad location. Travelling
special agents of various fire insurance
companies have noted and spoken Of the
danger the city runs by permitting
these tanks tn remain where thew are.
II lightning should strike one of them
during heavy rain, it would burn the
city in spite OF all efforts to save 1t.
Once when oil was being pumped into
these tanks q largo quantity OF oil
was spilled, which flowed into Trout
Kun and could be dipped Off the water
below the city. If match had. been
carelesslp dropped into that stream the
result would have been a big confiaqra-
tion and heavy losses. Lightning may
strike them at any time, and If it should
do so during heavy rain the city would
be reduced to ashes
I'm Philadelphia the tanks are placed
as far out as possible, but every once Ii,
awhile they are struck by lightning,
and property is destroyed. The fate OF
OH City should be warning to US, and
the City Council should at once take
where they will not endanger the city,
Roanoke Trust Loan and Safe Deposit
Company: That the present loca ton of
the oil tanks is nuisance to the oisy.
no one can doubt who will examine the
location. Being higher than the bust
ness part Of the town the water flows
directly from the tanks into Trout run.
If ono OF these tanks should be struck
by lightning during rain the direct
result would be the burning of choice
section OF the city. 1t Is impossible to
extinguish oil under these circumstan-
ces and any effort in that direction
would only tend to scatter the fire and
increase the danger. II an accident Of
this nature had occurred on the night OF
the cloud burst no human power could
have saved this city. It is something
OF hardship to compel the ownere to
move the tanks from this ground which
they own, but the safety OF the city ia :
TO be consulted before individual con-
veniences, and in view Of the fact that
lightning often strikes oil tanks 1t Is
the duty of the city to have the tanks
removed to place OF safety"
A New Tobacco Combine Formed.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.,Sept. 1.-TSpeciall--
A powerful combine, to be known as the
Leaf Tobacco Company, was formed
here yesterday whose object Is to COM
pete with the newly.organized tobacco
combine ct Cincinnati. Eleven Of the
wealthiest warehouses In this city are In
the deal. The capital stock is placed as
S2,500.000. Articles of incorporation
were filed last night and the combine (
will begin business Immediately.
Blaine wnl Not Speak.