The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-07-19
Oil Seized and Tanks
Locked By the Inspector.
Held Because of Failure to
Pass the Test.

Atlanta, July 13.-The sensational
feature of the oil investigation came
today when Col John Screven, oil
Inspector at Savannah, flied bis report
with Commissioner of Agriculture o.
B. Stevens
The contents of the report, though
every effort was made to keep them
secret, shows that two tanks of oil in
Savannah, which is the distributing
point of the Standard Oil company in
the southern part of the State, have
been seized and locked by Inspector
Screven.
The amount of oil in the tanks
which are held in the name of the
State is not known to the department
of agriculture or to Inspector
Screvsn: The capacity of the tanks
is very gres.. and it is believed
according to the report, that thou
sands and thousands of gallons of
oil. probably half million gallons,
are contained in the locked tauks
because 81 the failure Of the oil to
come up to the standard test now in
force
Inspector Screven has been at the
department of agriculture all day
IN conference with Commissioner
Stevens
He declined to make any statement
relative TO the amount of the oil in
the tanks.
esThe oil did not pass the required
and legal tests, y said be today, "and
have locked the tanks with pad
locks and hold the keys 1t is
Impossible for any oil to be taken
from the tanks unless bottles or
buckets were let down from the top
with ropes, and this would not be
attempted under any condition
aAThe amount of Oil In the State
which has failed to pass the test is
now estimated IN rough figures at
600. 600 gallons
At first it was not supposed that
more than $4,000 gallons would be
found.
A few days later the figures took g
Jump and went to 200, 600.
This amount gave way to 300. 900
Monday.
The rumored amount this morning
is placed at 100000 and while
Commissioner Stevens and Commis
sioner Wright, as well as all others
interested, decline to discuss the
matter while the investigation is
pending. it is believed that the end
has not yet been reached, and even
more oil than is now believed to have
been seized will be reported before
the investigation is over.
Oil has been found that failed to
TO pass the test in Toccoa, Dawson,
Social Circle. SavaBnah and several
other places which are low rec ewing
the attention of the department of
agriculture.
The oil that has been tested in
Atlanta, has been found to come up
70 the ties. required.
Several days ago it was rumored
that in Atlanta large quantity Of
oil which had been expected and
tasted had failed to pass. but this
proves to have been an error
Whether there will be oil found
later on, as the investigation becomes
more searching, that will fall, is
matter purely of a speculative nature
at present
Samples of oil have been received
at the Office and laboratory of the
state chemist from all portions of the
state, and it is said authorita,ively
that the Investigation, far from being
complete, is but we'll under way, and
some sensational Developments are
anticipated in the next few days
Atlanta is the distributing point
FOR the Standard Oil company in the
northern portion of the state aud
thousands and hundreds of thousands
of gallons of oil are handled in this
city.
Commissioner Stevens addressed
letter to Attorney General Terrell
this morning for a conference rela-
tive to the direction which should
now be given the iuvensigation and
as to what legal action should be
taken
Attorney General Terrell was
engaged during the morning in
apotber case and the conference was
not held uutil late this afternoon
at the conference were commits
sicuer Stevens, State Chemist
McCandles, Assistant Commissioner
Wright. Attorney General farrell,
and the question of law will be pass
ed upon
What the attorney general will