Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-07-04
s-Wsbstsr OIL gonpapy.-<

Never before in the annals OF the oil
business has an institution experience
ed greater degree OF success than that
which has favored the Webster Oil
Company II required only a few
weeks of operating after Its inclpiency
to convince the most skeptlcal that the
venture was grand financial success.
The company was organized In
1898 with a capital of S150,000, 100000
of which was used in the purchase and
equipping of a plant in Titusville, Pa.
After operating there about one year,
MIR. Webster, the prime spirit Of the
company, concluded after careful in
spection, that Marietta afforded great
er advantages in every way to an in
stitutfon of this description, having
better and cheaper modes OF transpor-
tation and closer access to the Oil,
which is acknowledged by competent
judges to be as good as the best pro-
duced by oil producing coun-
try; So "a purchase was made OF a
tract of ground on Virginia street,
containing about IL acres, and by de-
grees the whole Titusville plant was
moved to this point, and after com
plete reorganization of the company,
they began the erection of what Will
be upon its completion one of the
most complete oil rafineries and manu-
featuring plants in the country.
Feeling sure that the readers OF the
Leader would like to know more about
what has and will be done at this
plant we will take advantage OF this
opportunity to enlighten them.
Starting with the barrel house. one
| is Immediately impressed with the air
OF solidity and substantiability which
he finds on further investigation per-
vades the whole plant. This barrel
house is a two story and basement
brick building with massive stone
foundations, 10 feet wide and l3O
feet long One first enters the main
barreling coopering room. which
occupies about half the first moor.
Leaving this cross over the railroad
track, which runs right through the
center of the building. to the COM
pounding room, which we find equip
ped with all the most improved appll-
ances used in the compounding OF Oil
Back Of this will be located the wax
works. The machinery in this one
branch of the business will cost over
500 900. Upon the second floor OF this
building Is located the department de-
voted to putting up in small packages
harness oil, bicycle ellis and petroleum
specialties. Leading from this
building is an underground pass
age, or subway, which extends
down to the river and is used in
loading products on board OF boats
This subway will be covered by
nice walk leading up to the front o.
the building. The basement of this
building is used entirely for the stor
age of barreled oil.
Leaving this building we next entel
the pump house. This Is perfectl!
fireproof building, with iron ceiling
cement floors and brick walls. Thes'
pumps pump all the oils to this poin
and distribute it to The different tank
from which it is drawn into barrels II
the barreling house and into tanl
cars.
Neyr in order comes the gasoline
house. a two story brick structure
Here a high grade Of gasoline Is man
ufactured by an improved process
known only by the management. Thi
gasoline commands ready sale at tol
| prices, for it is known wherever use'
to be a perfect. gasoline. In tn
building is also located large stean
still for bringing up fire test upon ex
port oils.
Next comes the engine rooms, Il
which Is located their engine and elec
tric light plant, the latter furnishin
light for the entire establishment
Then a little further on is the boile
house, containing three large boiler
and space for fourth. Coal is deilv
cred into this house through a trestl
right off the cars.
Now comes the still house, In whlc
is located three large stills, with
; capacity of 900 barrels per day. IN
crude oil is here pumped u
| into stills and subjected t
heat which converts it into va
por. This vapor passes throug
: enormuos coils of pipe, lying on tn
bottom of large square tanks hlle
with water, cooling and condensin
=, the yapor into liquid form agalr
Back of this house is the receivin
house. where the condensed vapor
are separated and run into tank dis
1 tillate; from there into the lead line
agitator. where 1t is treated to chem
calls. From agitato: it is drawn, the
5 bleached and settled and made read
S for market.
3 This company uses only a hig
grade of crude oil. drawn throug
their own pipes from the Webstt
Producing Co.'s wells located abo,
r two miles below the city, in the mani
Z facture of their output, which speal
. well for the quality of their goods.
On the east side of the railroa
}. switch running through their plal
\. ond buildings Ia located the II
e tering house. in course OF constructio
This will be a large t~
: story brick building, with all II
|. latest appliances for manufacture
! high grade engine oils, neutrals al
cylinder stocks, etc. Beyond this on u
; same side of the track, is located
u three-story brick building, the hr
It floor of which Is used as their blac
y smith shop; the second is fitted
= with all appliances for pipe fttin
:, etc. This room t. also stock'
II with full line of everything used
W this work.
Is Now. on the third floor of this bull
~ ing we find one of the unique featur
of this manufacturing plant, and ol
which fully displays Mr.. Webster
is philanthropy. II is dining roo
Ie and Kitchen, which has in connects
o. bath rooms and dressing rooms. II
70 dressing rooms are supplied with loc
= ers for each workman. Here the M
D can secure a nice warm dinner for
n ly fifteen cents; coffee will be free
-. the men at any time. Mr.. WeDst
advocates that a man Is better M
10 when warmed by good cup OF cont
asnaoiaIIv on n stormy day. Mr.. We