The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-03-14

the oil such foreign ingredients as dirt
tar and other impurities that may still
have mingled with it. These settle
down and rest upon the concave' bot
tom of a vessel, by their own greater
specific gravity, and are taken away
separately. Their color is dark purple
or nearly black.
The oil IS next washed with clean wa
ter and again agitated for a period of
fifteen or twenty minutes, this process
being repeated several times, so as to
remove from it every particle of acid
4 After being washed it is treated to a
dose of alkali Casually soda), in the
proportion Of five gallons to thirty bar
res, whereupon 1t is submitted to a
| "hydrometrical test" The alkali gives
it brilllancy and removes every particle
of acid that may have remained In it.
! Next it is drawn into the "bleachers"
or settling tanks which are large
shallow wooden tubs The liquid has
now whitish or blush white color, and
Is measured by the hyrometer. This in
strument Is found to rest at a point
| marked forty-seven degrees on the
scale, sinking to the level of higher
| figure in proportion to the lightness of
the oil. Its range varies from fifteen
| to eight degrees. The coal Is not so
white as that distilled from petroleum,
which is more of straw color than the
former.
From the settling tanks 1t is drawn
off into barrels of from forty to forty
five gallons each. These are made of
Iar hi l. Iai. i,,uf doc hal Y,er
carefully lined with glue or soluble
glass previous to being filled. If the
barrels are returned for refilling, the
same process is again gone through, 1t
being judged unsafe, by means Of
crack in the coating to leave particle
of the wood exposed to the insinuating
action of the petroleum. Moreover, the
loss of material In such a case Is some
times great and the liquid is liable to
take fire and excite general confla-
grafton.
Before regluing or reglazing the oil
coat is melted and drawn off by means
of a Jet Of steam.
After distillation, the first liquor that
comes off Is naphtha or benzine, very
light, volatile and inflammable sub
stance, its hydromtrical test varying
from sixty-flve to seventy-five degrees.
When the discharge commences, the
condenser descends to sixty or sixty
two, the naphtha is cut off and let run
to oil If cut off at sixtyfive or seven
ty the oil will be very light, rather in
flammabe, and insufficient to stand the
fire test. In different states various
tests as to the quality Of the liquid in
this respect have been established, he
instrument used being termed a "py-
rometer," or fire measure"
The standard in New York is one
hundred and ten degrees. In Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio one hundred The py-
rdmeter is little brass vessel, the bot
tor Of which contains a small quantity
of water, heated by applying a gas
lamp. Immediately above the water Is
placed small cut containing refined
oil, which III heated equally with the
water.
The test means the point at which
vapor igntes when lighted match is
held above IT. If It takes fire at low
figure in the scale there Is danger Of
such oil when placed In the lamp. igni-
lluS did IL w SAPlouC, Shi,c u
certain portion Of the heat is commu-
ncated to it from the flames above.
If the gas blows, out the light 1t is
erfned the 'vapor test;' II It ignites 1t !
is the regular fire test The difference
beween these two Is not apt to be FIVE |
degrees. There are three grades of oil |
prime white, standard white, or light !
straw color, and the straw color. The |
last named usually stands a fire test of |
one hundred and fifteen degrees
That which runs from the stills after |
benzne and oil Is paraffine. a whitish,
inilamfnable substance, used |
In making candles, and occasionally |
manufactured Into sweetmeats. The
residue coming from the condenser Is
tar, which Is commonly used as tuel.-
Pittsburg Post.