The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-15

tons between the wells and It's own
tanks, some OF which have Il holding
capacity OF GO,0nO barrels each and more.
AS soon as the well tanks are full, Or
whenever -he owner desires to market
his product, he notifies tho pipe line Of
flee and an cmploye Is dispatched to,
the we'll with Instructions to gauge the
tanks. determine the quantity by barrels
and fractions and run It into the storage
tanks. The owner Is then given run
ticket, or n practical credit for theE1uan-
tty4 of oil theron recorded, and this
credit Is entered on the companys books.
so thatit may be used at the convenience
of tho owner. Tho price for the OIL ~
net at the wells. with the charge for.
running deducted. and when the owner
wishes to sell all he has TO do Is to no
#tify the pipe line office to that effect,
when he receives q. check in return. It
IS not necessary to say, perhaps, that
these checks are never dishonored. In
fact, they are current exchange when
the pawee or endorser is known. AS one
producer put It the other day: ITS the
prettiest business in the world. II you
have the oil. you are certain or an m
come SO long as the production lasts
and all your sales are made for cash. e
HOW. OIL81S REFINED. II
No one man Is capable of describing
all OF the various processes by which
tho many by-products Of petroleum. are
manufactured. and the purposes of this
article will be answered BY giving a brief
account OF the manner by which kerosene
or Burning oil is refined. Practically
speaking, the crude oil is boiled, or, It
least, the heat underneath the still Is
brought to Il temperature sufficiently
high to cause the crude oil to give off
It's yapor.i This vapo: is rum through,
a goosc-neck into a long series Of pipes
contained In a water-filled tann. Tho
vapor is gradually cooled off and con-
densed, the first result being an abso-
&lutcly white and almost transparent
liquid OF high gravity classified as gaso-
line Of various degrees or grades and
being run from the tail-house int sepa-
rate tanks for each grade. After. the
gasoline and napthas are run off, the
next stage Is the treatment Of the dis
tiIlatc. or The succeeding yield from the
still, for. the manufacture of burning oil
Of various qualities. This distihate IS
pumped into the agita tor--a high, circu-
lar tank of a size proportioncd to the
capacity OF the refinery--is treated with
acid in order to eliminate foreign sno-
stances and is thoroughly agitated by
means of compressed air 84
After the acid has been drawn off, the
distllate is run into different receptacles
according to the color and fire-test and
is bleachcd by exposure to the sun rays
and occasionally by spraying. When
these processes are completed, the kero-
scne Is pumped into tanks and is ready
for barreling. The more commonly-used
grades of Kerosene range from what are
technically known as ''15O degree fire.
test water-whlte" to a 40 degree nobel"
tho latter grade is also known as ex-
port oil, but is quite generally shipped
into the country districts Of Virginia, the
only State in the Union that does not
have an ispection law as means OF pro-
lection for the users Of Kerosene.
The use of Kerosene does not necessarl-
Is involve any element Of danger. When
the right quality and properly handled,
is provides n safe, economical and pleas
and light may literally be said to con
stitute5 q means by which America has
succeeded in illuminating tho world
Yet how many arc there, outside OF
those now reading The Tines-Dspatch,,
who know whence kerosene comes ana
how srature and Science have joined
forces in It's production?
TIARRIOTT CFIABRETON.