The San Francisco call., 1903-01-24
OIL FLASH TESTS.


l. submit a report in favor OF fixing the fash test
Ior oil and crude petroleum. when used fuel, 40
degrees instead OF present. The issue thus
presented is one OF grave importance and if the re-
port be adopted the consequences will have far
reaching effects not only upon the oil industry but
upon the present and prospective manufacturing in
teress OF the State 1t therefore behooves the Super
viso-s consider the subject carefully and
well what viii be the result OF their action.
1t may be conceded at the outset that the mem
bers OF ths Fire Committee iavoring the establish
OF d high fash test have no other thought than
that oi guarding against danger from explosions and
fires That issue, therefore, may be considered first
1t is incumbent upon the Supervisors to inquire
whether high test IS necessary for protection and
whether there Is any danger in leaving the standard
oi fuel oil as II Is to-day.
Upon that issue ample evidence is at hand We
do not have TO go abroad for to consult for
eign authorities Oil as fuel has been extensively
in use IN and around San Francisco for a con-
siderable period OF time-a period long enough at any
furnish thoroughly comprehensive test Of
the oil under nearly all conceivable conditions OF use
1t has been used here in factories OF many kinds in
Locomotives and in steamships Yet there has never
been a single FIRE due to the use OF oil nor a single
explosion except the one on the Progreso, and the
evidence given in that case shows the explosion to
have been due TO causes quite different from the low
fash light OF the oil stored in her tanks
Expert testimony given before the Fire Commit
tee confirms the results shown by all our experience
with oil fuel Professor Rising Of the State Uni
versity stated that with OF explosions would
not occur if there were proper ventilation while il
there were such ventilation there would be danger
OF explosion II the oil stood flash test OF 200
degrees In fact fuel is free from danger if reck-
lessly used. Not even coal nor wood possesses the
quality OF absolute security but when ordinary care
exercised oil fuel with fash test OF 10 degrees
is as safe any other The large use Of it in San
Francisco for long time without single disaster
resulting is sufficient proof on that point
If it be said that raising the test will have no
other effect than that of increasing safety the
10 that the assertion is erroneous The proposed in
crsase viii have consequences affecting almost all OF
ourk manufacturing industries At the present time
there are number of competing companies offering
fuel oil in our market. These companies could not
furnish oil the fash test OF I4o degrees proposed
because they have not the equipment for so refining
II. The company that can so refine If is the
Standard Oil Company. That corporation by refn-
ing the oil, taking from il all the lighter oil. raises
The fash OF the residue which it oers,for fuel
1t will be then that the immediate effect of the
raised test would be to give the Standard Oil Com
a
pauies would be crushed once The price OF oil
could be fixed absolutely by the Standard Company
and the manufactures well as the oil industry OF
the State would be made subject to the monopoly
At the present time have bright prospects OF
developing a diversified manufacturing industry in
California that viii be OF immense benefit and will
increase with the years. We have not been able to
compete with Eastern factories in the past because
have not had the cheap fuel needed for such en-
tcrprises. The discovery and exploitation of our oil
have turned the scale in our favor Factories
have been started in considerable numbers and other
factories have been planned. Not only local but
Eastern capitalists have had their attention drawn n
The potences Of California as manufacturing State
the supply Of oil fuel has been demonstrated to
be ample. Shall be so foolish as to kill the
goose that lays the golden eggs?
Let II be understood that no one charges the Fire
Committee OF completely with the Standard Oil Com.
azay. All that is meant is that the committee could
rot more thoroughly have served the Standard Com
Yany nor more effectively worked to give it Z
monopoly had II been paid do it. than il has don,
by proposing test for oil fuel that will crush ou
the smaller companies and leave the big one in ex
elusive control Of the market