The morning times., 1897-02-10
THE OIL TANKS MUST CO
The Standard Company Enjoined
by Judge Ilagner.
t1i g -
FIRE MARSHAL CRITICISED
An Injunction Was Also Issued Re-
straining the CONSTRUCTION of an
Additional Tank, for Which COM
missioners Had Issued Permit.
The Judges Caustic Remarks.

Tie Standard Oil Company was yesterday
ordered To abolish by une the use of it's
oil tanks in South Washington, near South
Capitol and h streets. An in njunction was
also granted restraining the further con
struction OF an additional oil tank, for
which the District Commissioners recently
issued permit. The opinion was rendered
by Judge Hagner in tie injunction suit
brought by Mr.. John j. Oeser, Of No. 1000
South Capitol street
The court, in disposng Of the case, made
several caustie remarks concerning the free
dom With which persons lend themselves
to tile making Of affidavits. In another
connection Fire Marshal William o. Drew,
OF the District, was remarked about for
his Favorable report on the company.
Mr. oeser charged that for some time
past the Standard oil Company has MAIN
-tained its oil tanks in the vicinity Of his
home, Which is directly across the street
from the oil warehouse. 1t was allegedt that
the oil tanks We're dangerous to the
houses in the community and several
reasons assigned in support of the asscr-
ton. one was the proximity of the Bal
timofe and Potomac Railroad roundhOuSe,
into which engines were constantly en-
tering and emitting sparks, which might
set fire to the oil. The ncarness of a GER
tain stable and the fact that oil was
brought into the place in trains was also
cited. 1t was even claimed that some
OF the tanks leaked This the oil COM
pany denied, explaining that what was
regarded rs leaking oil was really con-
Mr.. oeser and many other persons swore
that obnoxious and unhealthful odors arose
| from the tanks, some of which contained
gasoline and others coal oil. They feared
il a flying spark dropped into one or the
tanks it might cause an explosion
The Standard oil Company, not only in its
answer, but by several affidavits, entered
q specific denial. asserted that there were
no odors which were manifest outside OF
| their premises, ana that such odors were. i'll
fact, beautiful 1t was contradlcted that
the oil is explosive or fnnammable and
claimed that the sparks OF the locomotives
did not reach their premises The state
LiltAI was Ilti'4t IlHb ~ Il ilStA'4 lilitNli
were dropped into the tank the flame could
! be put out
1t was shown that Oest.r and at least half
| a dozen other residents had protested 10
| the Commissioners. and IN reply the Fl re
| marshal was sent TO report on the request
| for permit. He reported that there We're a
| few houses to the south of the premises,
| a few to the west'and thatthe James Greek
| Canal founded ipon the ca St
In delivering his opinion Judge HaGner
said that the fire marshal might Just as
| well have stated that the city hall is
| louHded on the west by Seventh street.
| TIC court referred with much severity to
| a certain class of alleged affidavits Of
| fcrcd 10y the Standard Oil Company, and
| pointed out that they were within the
| form Of letter, ana all exactly similar,
| showing their collective PREPARATION Many
| OF the statements were palpably in error
| and Judge Hagnrr said he viewed with
| amazcment such assertions
What do people do with their con
| Sciences he inquired. II am not alto
| gethcr surprised, though, at some Of them -
| Referring TO a denial that od0r existed, he
| remarked: To say that such oil does not
| smell is to say wood does not burn He
went into the details OF a certain affi
| davit, made by a man named COnnors, an
| employe of tie Baltimore and Potomac
| Railroad Company. Connnrs is unable to
| write He originally made a sworn state
iuent favorable TO Mr.. Oeser, which was
! filed with the bill of complaint. Later
| Mr. Bauglinan. OF the Standard oil Com.
| pany. filed one of the affidavits referred
| to by Judge Hagner. 1t was addressed to
| BaugiInan. and Tepudiatcd any assertion
| that sparks from the railroad engines could
| reach tile oil tanks. Mr.. Clarence Bran
| denburg was vtsibly surprised when the
| court began reading a third affidavit from
| Connors, which set forth that ne had been
| coerced by his foreman at the roundlrouse
| to give tile affidavit favorable TO the oil
| company Tie last statement charged in
| detail how coercion was used and no W Con-
| nors believed his position was in jeopardy.
| Tie suggestion Of fraud was also made
| Judge Hagner decreed that the censtrue-
| ton of tile additional tank should be en-
Joined and that the oil works should be
| abolished after June 1.