Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-03-14
PETROLEUM REFINING.
Process Used in the Industry-Thc
Mig Products and Their
multiplication

Bulletin Io just published by the bureau
Of the census, contains a report on pet
roleum refining prepared by Charles +.
Munroe, professor of chemistry in George
Washington University, expert special
agent This bulletin, which forms part
Of the census Of manufactures of 1908,
contains statistics covering the calendar
year ending December 81 1904
The statistical discussion of the bullet
In IS followed by n brief comparison of
the kinds of petroleum found in different
parts Of the country and description of
the processes of refinng-hv settling, by
filtration, and by dstillatlon-and of the
various stills in common use. The classif-
cation of petroleum products is also
carried out more technically than was
practicable II the statistical tables, and
the uses of the different products az we'll
as the methods of transportation are
described at soma length Two append
ces conclude the report, the first finishing
a photography of the subject and the
second a digest OF the United States
patents relating to petroleum refining.
REFINED PETROLEUM.
In 1905 there was 1O4 petroleum refneries
in operation. Their total capital was
earners; paid IN wages s9,9S9367; used
materials costing slS9,3S7213; and manu-
featured products to tho value of sl75,-
Oo5, 800. AS compared with the totals for
the industry at the census of 1900. these
figures represent increases as follows:
In number of reflneries, 2s7 per cent; In
capital 40 per cent in number of wage
earners, 37.5 per cent; in amount Of
| wages paid, 4s.7 per cent; in cost of ma
terials, 95.5 per cent; and In value of
products, Az per cent
LEADING STATES.
| The refneries reported in 1905 W IRE dis
tributed among 10 states. Pennsylvania,
with 49, ranked first a position which the
state has held since the stitstics this
| industry were first collected in 1880
| California, with 10 refincrics, ranked
second displacng Ohio and New York,
| which jointly held this rank in 1890. Ohio
ranked third, with l. refineries; New
York fourth 18th Q; Texas, fifth with :;
ana New jersey. sixth with C. In none of
the other states We're more than re-
iineries in operation in 1905.
PRODUCTS
| The number of products which may be
derived commercially from petroleum is
so great Il make 1t impracticabe to
| obtain returns for each of ther separ-
! atey, and therefore a somewhat arbitrary
but well recognized classification has
been adopted. The principle products,
together with the value OF each, were as
follows: Burning oils, including the diff
ferent grades OF both Illuminating and
fuel oils, slOo,57l,S 25; resduum 80. 1873 96l /:
paraffin wax, slo0U1,21+; reduced oils SIC
795,7S9; naptha and gasoline s21 3l4S37;
neutral filtered oils, sl,942 l53; and "all
other products" which includes coke
carbon points, and black naptha, s15 OPS
500.
The total volume of refined products
for which quantities were reported in 1906
was 80 400 barrels of 30 United States
gallons each. This included 3i,34+ 500
barrels of burning oils and ssh $50 barrels
of naptha and gasoline. the former pro-
duct representing 81 per cent of the total
quantity and the latter 10 per cent These
classes also include the principal pro-
ducts when rated by value, forming,
respectively. T,5 and 1872 per cent of the
total.
The various classes of products show
substantial increases In value between
1900 and 1905, with the single exception OF
neutral filtered oils, which decreased 1873
per cent. Burning oils increased 22.3 per
cent in total value; naptha and gasoline,
1913 per cent; reduced oils, 1868 per cent;
residuum, 2S9.l per cent and all other
products, 1863 per e'rt.
CRUDE PETROLEUM.
According to the reports of the United