The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-07
A STANDARD OIL "vILLAGE." :"

Point Breeze, Philadelphia, a City in
 Itself-Its Extensive Refneries
 Thousands of the Old Worlds peo- ple to whom the existence of a locality
 termed Point Breeze Is unknown, says the Philadelphia Press, would suffer incalculable hardship were the vast oil refineries there shut down In many parts of Europe, Africa and the Orient it is probable that a famine of the fuel for lighting would prevail for some time. because it is estimated that at least one-quarter of the oil exported from the Atlantic coast goes out from the works at the lower end of PhiIadel- phia.
 Every year hundreds of tankers, car rying an average of 26,000 gallons. leave the wharves of the Standard oil company on the Schuylkill while the number of sailing vessels, bearing about 100000 gallons each in cases. that work their way over the Atlantic and around the Horn, is said to be just as large.
 Every seafalng nationality Is repre- sented in this fleet of oil carriers Sometimes, when the wharfs of the re- finery are crowded with vessels, the crews standing about on the docks make up veritable congress of na- tions.
 Tn it's area and the number of per- sons employed the Point Breeze works is much like a good-sized city. The ter ritory over which the tanks and build ings are spread is several miles in size T +Io, r roll. Except in case of fire the officials of the plant depend little on the out side world. They have their own guards to keep out persons who may wish to obtain secrets concerning the refining of oil products of various kinds, and they are on the lookout al- ways for matches and for lighted pipes and cigars.
 Even the vessels that tie up at the wharves are not allowed to have fires or lighted pipes aboard. An inspector Is always on the lookout for a trans hitter of sparks. During the time ship Is awaiting or taking on it's cargo electric light wires are run over the sides and incandescent lamps take the place of lanterns It is impossible to heat the vessels with safety, so the men are forced to go without warmth This causes great hardship in the win ter months.
 The refinery officials never ask the city to dredge near their wharves. When that is necessary, as it has been recently, the work is done by the com pany at it's own expense. Thus 2s- foot depth is always maintained near the docks and in the channel.
 Tankers take on their cargoes on the western side of the river at what is called the ballast wharf. This wharf is built upon sand, and stone from all parts of the world, as it was deposited by steamers which carried it in lieu of 
 Efforts to protect the works from fire are always being made. Gangs of are employed to build and keep in good condition dykes of mud four feet high around the tanks, which are supposed to hold burning oil in check during a fire.
 Altogether, it is estimated that about 10000 persons are dependent upon the works The vast majority of these live in the 26th and 36 wards colony of several hundred has grown up in the immediate vicinity of the works, too, In one thoroughfare, in the shad- ow of the vast plant, Point Breeze Place, the houses are all occupied, it is said, by the families of men, who are employed in the oil works