The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-24

WIN VIII Dt IAtNu1stu "
day-High Brick Wall is to be
Erected, Will Have No Gateway and
Can Only be Entered by Means of
Laddcrs-Othcr Precautions to be
Used-Sidcwalks by the Lot to be
Paved With OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF Tank Will Not Increase Insur-
ancc Rates
Building Inspector Bonitz returned
last night from q visit to WASHINGTON.
Alexandria,, Va, and Baltimore where
he went to see what safeguards were
used around oil tanks. This trip was
made in view of the great complaint
made in regard to the erection of a
tank on the corner of Second and
Brunswick streets. The board of alder
men gave the Standard Oil company
permission TO erect the tank and then
Mr.. BOnitZ took a hand and stopped
them until he could make certain in
v~estigatiOns.
Last Saturday Mr.. Bonitz left here
for Alexandria. He reached there on
Sunday morning and not caring to lose
any time went out that day and made
an inspection of the tank. When he
returned he brought photographs of
h tanks showing just the manner in
which they are located and the wills
surrounding them. He states that Il. |
Alexandria the tanks are in the down
town district and near the water
front The largest of the tanks is 50
Sect high and there are several smaller
ones. Lot is surrounded by a seven
foot brick wall with braces on the IN
side. Buildings are in close proximity
tic the tanks.
On Monday he went to washington.
There he found the tanks in the north
eastern section of the city and not
pnany blocks from the capitol. Several
tanks are i'll Washington, the highest
being 40 feet and there is another 80
feet nigh. A wall eight feet high en-
closes the lot. Several buildings are
within eighty feet of the tanks and
there is Il brick stable within fifteen
feet and within the Enclosure. A short
time since the stable caught or fire
n tWenty-One horses were burned
to death. Mr.. Bonitz has photographs
of the stable and it shows signs of the
fire. The oil tanks within fifteen feet
of the burning stable were filed with
Oil but a steady spray of water was
kept on them and the fire did not
spread from the stable.
In Baltimore the tanks were found to
be in Camden, a suburb. A wall also
surrounded this lot and there are Dusi-
ness houses only a short distance off,
and Immediately across the street are
several tenement houses.
In view of the conditions existing
found in the cities visited, Mr.. BOnitz
has decided that the tank can be
erected at the point desired withou,
persons living in that vicinity having
my fear of a conflagration on account
Of anne AS far as the building III
spector is concerned, the Standard
Oil company will be given permission
to commence work today at noOn pro-
vided they follow requirements as
specified by the building Inspector and
this they have agreed to do.
The tank will be erected on the
southern edge of the lot on the corner
of Second and Brunswick streets, the
lot being 90 feet on Brunswick and
runs back 155 feet. On the southern
end of the lot along what IS known as
Bettie's alley, the company will be
required to build a 10-foot brick wall
13 inches thick and to have Il inch
pilasters every 10 feet. On the east
side there will be Il similar wall II
on Brunswick and Second streets I
foot walls. Tank will be 35 feet high
and the enclosing wall will be more
than sufficient to hold the entire c0u-
tents should the same burst. At the
southeast corner of the lot is to be
a concrete safety trap and from this
will be a six inch pipe leading to the
tanks in the bottom and should it be
desired to empty the tank = gould be
done within from four ~ hours.
A hydrant is to be plasOSn the corner
of Second and Brunswick streets-to
be paid for by the Standard Oil COM
pany-and there is to be a spray nozzle
hose supplied, as in fighting an OF
fire a spray is far better than a heavy
stream. Company has agreed to pat
granolithic sidewalk down on both
the Brunswick and Second street side
of the lot.
This. it is thought, will end all
trouble in regard to the tank and GER
-tainly does as far as the city is con-
cerned and the only way to stop the
work now is to get out an Injunction.
Last night the streets and wharves
committee, composed of Aldermen
rO'Brien, w. H. Yopp and Karr met in
the mayors Office and Mr.. Bonitz re-
ported to them the conditions he found
prevailing in the cities visited and told
them what would be done in regard
to the tank in this city. 1t appeared
to be satisfactory to the committee.