The daily tribune., 1909-01-19
UNITED OIL co.
IMPROVEMENTS

ing unloaded today at the refinery.
1t is mammoth piece of machinery,
weighing so 900 pounds. 1t will be
installed Immediately and when
placed in position will more than
double the capacity of the wax plant.
1t is the largest size press that is
made for the purpose used, and the
management expects to have it in
operation by February first. With
this addition the company will be
able to utilize the entire contents of
the crude oil produced in this field.
In addition to this filter press the
company is also installing additional
refrigerating plant and chilling ma.
chinery. Many other improvements
have been recently made, and still
Others are in contemplation. They
have just completed large storage
tank near the still house in the center
of the refinery yards intended for the
storage Of crude oil pumped from the
various parts Of the field. They have
also rebuilt the old gaso line tanks
which were destroyed by last spring
floods. They have increased the ia.
ciliiies for handling their coal by ad.
ding to their traokage from the Santa
Fe, so that now fuel may be handled
from one road as readily as from the
other. They are surveying a piece Of
land just south Of the D. and r. g.
track for the Continental Oil com.
pany's offices, and as soon as stakes
are set. the old continental office is
to be moved.
Another story is to be added to the
United oompany's brick offices for the
accomm odation Of the field supeIin.
tendent, drafting room and additional
clerical room. This contemplates the
combining Of all the offices Of the re.
finery under one roof instead of being
in several places. The old frame Of
flee building In the center of the yard
is to be torn down and moved away.
In addition to undermining the Of.
fee buildings and thereby increasing
the efficiency of the work, the ques.
tion OF danger from fires and cost Of
insurance enters into the abolishing
Of the wooden structures. With these
changes completed, there will be left
no frame buildings in the refinery
insurance alone makes a very large
sum Of money from the fact that the
rates are very high on the refinery
and very much increased by reason of
these buildings which have been in
a sense n menace to the risk.
Few people realize the magnitude
of the improvements made by the
United Oil company in the last three
years since DR.. Knoch has taken
charge here. The sggreg ate amount
will not miss s20o 900 very far. The
lubricating plant, wax plant and its
equipment alone amoonts to fully
100000. The improvements now un
der way and just completed will add
about another $50 900.
We sometimes think that we do not
fully realize the Importance of the
United Oil company to this com.
munity. 1t has been here so long and
paid out each thirty days 80 many
thousands Of dollars that we accept 1t
as a matter OF course. When some
prospective project shows up, we man.
ifest much concern and enthusiasm
and hail 1t with great Joy, and com.
paratively few Of the proposed insti.
tutions materialize while the Oil
company goes steadily on In Its quiet
way, aud has paid out in the years It
has been established here n constant
stream of millions OF dollars to Flor.
ence people, which In turn flows into
every business channel in the com.
munity.
II is human nature We see most.
ly the things that move, the red fire.
and the fireworks; and hear mostly
the big drum and blare Of the trum.
pet. We see mostly the moving pan.
Drama, the noise and motion of life.
Whatever pants aud pufYs and nils the
view with It's proportion occupies our
thoughts and inspIyss our action